About dynamic offline interactive form

[Former Member]

I have a request for working with pdfs in netweaver java, but the requisites are quite tight and I don't know if it will be possible to achieve with interactive forms.

I need to:

1- Generate a pdf file (many in fact) using preloaded data from backend for offline use.

2- The pdf must be interactive so the user can introduce new data or modify the preloaded data.

3- The user should be able to change dynamically the format of the pdf: add rows to tables, make visible/invisible parts of the document, fire different events...

4- The user should be able to save his work in the file including the format (if he has added rows to a table or made invisible an object it should be saved).

5- The user should be able to send the data to the server through a send button.

In short, strange as it may sound, I need to simulate a web dynpro application using an offline pdf.

I've been searching and I think 1 and 2 are not a problem. I would just need to use a template created in LiveCycle Designer and link the data source to Web Dynpro context. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I think 3 can be done using scripting and events set in LiveCycle Designer, though I have 0 experience with it.

I don't know if I can achieve 4. From what I've read dynamic content can't be saved. That is, if the user changes dynamically the pdf format and saves it will be lost when opened again. Is it true?

I don't know about 5 either. With online interactive form of course, but with offline? I've seen examples that use and upload control in a Web Dynpro application as an alternative but I'd like to avoid that if possible.

I'd like to get some indications about if these points can be done or not, if possible with some references that illustrate it (links to blogs, sap help...)

Some tips and references about how to implement the different parts of this scenario (specially from point 3 and beyond) would be really welcome.

Thanks in advance.

[OttoGold]

Hello, I wonder if the ideas of Chintan helped you? Would be cool to read some feedback so the other people can read this "solution" instead of asking their own questions about the same topic. I also wonder if you think the question is answered now or not?

Otto

[Former Member]

Not really. Too little specific, 0 examples, 0 references... and I already new about the search thank you, which was what I did before asking and lead me to this post, given the lack of structured and introductory information I got.

[OttoGold]

Please check here: [original link is broken]

Note the last chapter about Adobe forms, read through the parts you think that might be relevant for you and ask more specific questions. I can understand this is all new for you, but these tutorials should help you understand how this works.

Sometimes we forget that this is a daily bread for us and we may forget to provide enough details.

Regards Otto

[OttoGold]

There is also this one: http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/adobe?rid=/webcontent/uuid/10ccb5af-08a8-2b10-77a1-ca0d1e20baca [original link is broken]

Otto

[chintan_virani]

Almost all things you mentioned are quite possible with Adobe Forms.

1- Generate a pdf file (many in fact) using preloaded data from backend for offline use.

You can do this by creating a Interactive Form using ABAP or create an online form using WD ABAP and just save the required form when done to be used for offline use

2- The pdf must be interactive so the user can introduce new data or modify the preloaded data.

You need to have Adobe forms License in case you want your forms to be interactive. In ABAP I think in the driver program you need to set FILLABLE = X or something like that and for WD there is enabled property which needs to be set true.

3- The user should be able to change dynamically the format of the pdf: add rows to tables, make visible/invisible parts of the document, fire different events...

The user can add rows to table and depending upon conditions you can set the required fields as visible/invisble

4- The user should be able to save his work in the file including the format (if he has added rows to a table or made invisible an object it should be saved).

If your form is fillable and interactive the data can be saved by end user.

5- The user should be able to send the data to the server through a send button.

There are different types of Submit options available. You can use Submit by email so that the user can submit the form via email.

Also I would strongly advise just try Search on forum and I am sure that you would get plenty of links/examples to work with.