PDF print. where save the file?

[former_member539700]

Hello,

on my system (SPAD) is defined ZPDF2 a printer for printing in PDF.

I want to know where to save the PDF? In a specific file system? How can I see this?

Best regards

Silvio

[Ranjith418]

Hi All,

I understand it's an very old post but let me post the solution for this issue as it will be helpful for others in future.

Windows XP -

When we try to print to pdf from SAP in Windows XP it will prompt for a file name. We need to create a printer with device type ZPDF1 and access method F in SAP and create a printer in Windows XP with port option as “FILE" and make it default printer in Windows XP. Try to print from SAP to PDF and it will work.

Windows 7 -

When we try to print to pdf from SAP in Windows 7 it will prompt for a file name. We need to create a printer with device type ZPDF1 and access method G in SAP and create a printer in Windows 7 with port option as “FILE" and make it default printer in Windows 7. Try to print from SAP to PDF and it will work.

Ref - Note 576973 - Creating a file printer on a Windows PC

Thanks,

Ranjith

[mckenzie_cutshall]

A little info for all as many appear to be confused on this issue. It is my understanding that this PDF printer defined in SAP handles all of the PDF conversion on the SAP Server side not on the client side so there is no requirement for the client to have a PDF creator/printer installed. How that is actually setup on the SAP side I have no input on.

What is required on the client side is a generic text printer named FILE in all caps just like that using the Generic text printer driver. It has been our experience that with Windows XP, you would be prompted for a file location and name but in our testing with Windows 7 it does not prompt for a filename or location: it simply saves the file to your standard Windows Documents location with the filename FILE (with no extension). This file can then be opened as a PDF.

I hope this helps a bit.

I am actually trying to find out why it no longer prompts for a filename. So if anyone has that answer, I'd be grateful. Thanks.

[mckenzie_cutshall]

To update my own post...

I did some digging on why I was not being prompted for a filename when using the PDF printer in SAP. Apparently beginning with Windows Vista, this became an issue and was corrected with Patch 9 for SAP GUI 7.10. However, I am using Windows 7 and SAP GUI 7.20 Patch 1 and it does not work properly there either. So, I have logged a support ticket with SAP and hope for a resolution soon.

[Former Member]

Hi McKenzie,

I've encountered the same issue of not showing the path to save PDF file using Windows 7 system. I am wondering if you have got any update to this issue from SAP? Thank you very much.

[Former Member]

Hi,

If I understand correctly, you only need to make a PDF document what you print from the SAP ... Correct ?

You can use your existing Printer ZPDF2 (SPAD) for this task..

What you need is -

1. download and install any FREE PDF PRINTER from the internet.

For example "CutePDF Writer" (You wil also need Ghostscript print driver which is also free).

2. After installing it, you will see new PDF printer in your printer settings.

3. Set it as default print device when you want to print to PDF.

4. It will ask you where to save the PDF document..

Regards.

Rajesh Narkhede

[former_member539700]

Thank you very much Rajesh,

but I do not need to make a pdf document.

I have to see how the printer (ZPDF2) is configured and when I launch a print and control the transaction SP02 I see that the printing is completed but I do not know if SAP has created a file and where to put it. Is there a log that tells me what happens when I print a SAP page?

[Former Member]

Hi,

It is not cleared what is your exact goal ?

see that the printing is completed but I do not know if SAP has created a file and where to put it

By default SAP saves the documents in users home directory "C:\Documents and Settings\<USER_NAME>\SapWorkDir".

Is there a log that tells me what happens when I print a SAP page?

in SP01/SP02 or SPAD you can see the status of the spool job (success or failed) or its attribute. But it will not tell you where you saved the file because this activity will not come under SAP's control.

If I am not mistaking SAP generates spool request as per the configured spool device in SPAD. Once you fire the print job it depends on operating system's installed printer (configuration) what to do with that request. Means whether to print as PDF document or send to normal print device.

If you want more control over print job, you can configure "Access Method" as "G: Frontend printer with Control tech." and set "Host Printer = _DEFAULT". So it will pop-up Operating system printer selection dialog box.

I hope, it will cleare your doubts.

One more thing:

You have 2 methods to get it done...

A) In case of standard transactions or report, use method as I said in previous post.

B) If it is custom development, you can take ABAPers help to do the same. below are the steps for the same.

Basic Steps .
1) Generate the classical Report output .
2) Create a Spool Request .
3) Search  the Spool Request .
4) Submit the Spool Request  for Pdf  Creation .
5) Download the Pdf Output in Presentation server  or Application Server .

Use the Standard Function Modules 'CONVERT_ABAPSPOOLJOB_2_PDF' and 'GUI_DOWNLOAD'

It will give you a freedom where to save the file..

Regards.

Rajesh Narkhede

[jgleichmann]

Hi,

it would be helpful, if you would provide some more information about this printer.

Is there any print server which convert this pdf for you?

Please go to transaction SPAD -> tab Access Method

Tell us the Host Spool Access Method and check if there is a specified Destination host. If there is such a host ask the responsible person for this server or check print server config by yourself.

Regards,

Jens

[Euna]

Hello Rajesh,

I've set up the access method as G, so that I can control a printer.

There pops up the box that I can select the printer, but it doesn't print out anything.

Any thoughts?

Regards,

Cellyn

[Former Member]

Hello,

You need to create file printer on windows. About how to create this, please see note-576973.

After pop-up windows, you can select the file printer and push "OK" then specify the location where

you will save the PDF file.

regards

zhiyuan

[Former Member]

Set host spool access method to G (Frond End Printing with Control Tech) and generated pdf file will be located in Documents folder of your Windows 7. Unfortunately generated file name is a permanent one, need to rename it manually from windows level ( to avoid overwriten by other spool request).

[former_member227283]

Hi,

Did you try to print anything in SAP using the DEvice type ZPDF2 ??

Try to print somthing, i thing while priting it should ask you the location forntend ( i.e in frontend at which location file need to be saved )

Thanks

Anil

[former_member539700]

Hi Anil,

I had already tried to do so but do not ask me anything.

[Former Member]

First, you need to add PDF Creator software (installed on your workstation) as default printer in printer administration and then try printing via the front-end printer using ZPDF2 in SAP.

[Former Member]

Hi,

How do you want us from the internet to know how your system is configured ?

You have to ask the person who created the printer.

Regards,

Olivier

[former_member539700]

Hi,

but if I can not ask anyone, is there a way to see where my system writes pdf files? There are some log? and where are they?