Developing a Custom Fiori Application for Generating PDF Forms in S/4 HANA Public Cloud

This article describes a business case for generating PDF forms in S/4 HANA Public Cloud. The standard output for return delivery slips was deemed insufficient, so a native custom Fiori application was developed to gather additional information and create forms using Adobe's BTP Forms service. Prerequisites include ABAP development tools, Adobe LiveCycle Designer, and SAP Cloud Print Manager. The architecture involves SAP BTP for storing and binding templates with data, and S4HPC for generating PDFs via ABAP RESTful programming. The SAP Cloud Print Manager then handles physical printing. The process includes designing layouts in Adobe LiveCycle Designer, binding fields, and saving as .xdp files for upload to the template store.

In today's digital era, businesses are constantly seeking innovative ways to streamline their operations and enhance user experiences. One such area that has gained significant attention is the generation of PDF forms in enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems like SAP S/4 HANA. This article presents a business case for developing a custom Fiori application using Adobe's BTP Forms service to address the insufficient standard output of return delivery slips in S/4 HANA Public Cloud.

SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) offers an array of services that can be leveraged to create custom applications within the SAP ecosystem. One such service is Adobe Forms, which enables the development of dynamic and interactive PDF forms. In this scenario, ABAP development tools, Adobe LiveCycle Designer, and SAP Cloud Print Manager are essential prerequisites (1).

To create a native custom Fiori application, the architecture involves SAP BTP for storing and binding templates with data, and S/4 HANA Public Cloud (S4HPC) for generating PDFs via ABAP RESTful programming (1). The SAP Cloud Print Manager then handles physical printing.

Designing layouts in Adobe LiveCycle Designer is crucial for creating visually appealing and functional PDF forms. Once the layouts are designed, fields are bound, and templates are saved as .xdp files for upload to the template store (1).

A detailed setup guide and example objects can be found in the SAP-samples Github repository (1). After importing and activating the demo objects, the form templates are stored directly on the SAP Business Technology Platform and can be accessed by multiple systems.

By adopting this approach, businesses can improve their return delivery process, collect additional information, and generate customized PDF forms tailored to their specific needs. This enhances user experience, streamlines operations, and ensures regulatory compliance.

References:

1. SAP Community: SAP Forms Service by Adobe in SAP BTP - ABAP Environment. https://community.sap.com/t5/technology-blogs-by-sap/sap-forms-service-by-adobe-in-sap-btp-abap-environment/ba-p/13564053