Adobe document server (ADS) technical tips and tricks

This blog will provide technical tips and tricks for Adobe Document Server (ADS) used from ABAP stack.

Questions that will be answered are:

  • How to retrieve ADS version information from ABAP stack?
  • How to test if the technical and functional connection from ABAP stack to ADS is working?
  • Where to find information on Adobe LifeCycle Designer?
  • Where to find more information on further issue analysis?

Reading the Adobe Document Server version from the ABAP stack

Run program FP_PDF_TEST_00 (unfortunately no transaction linked, so you need to run it from SE38 or SA38). Result is the ADS server version information.

ADS link test programs

There are two main test programs to run to check the connection from the ABAP stack to the Adobe Document Server.

First run program FP_PDF_TEST_00 (unfortunately no transaction linked, so you need to run it from SE38 or SA38). The output will be the version number of the Adobe Document server. If this check works, the connection from ABAP to ADS is working at network level and low basis level.

The second test program is called FP_CHECK_DESTINATION_SERVICE (unfortunately no transaction linked, so you need to run it from SE38 or SA38). The output is just number of bytes sent. If this check works, the connection from ABAP to ADS is working for functional forms connection as well.

In case of issues with FP_CHECK_DESTINATION_SERVICE, most likely the roles on the ADS JAVA side are not correct. Read the OSS note (with video) 2378564 – How to configure ADS_AGENT roles SAP_BC_FP_ICF and SAP_BC_FPADS_ICF [VIDEO] for the solution.

OSS notes:

Adobe LifeCycle designer

For developing the forms you need to install Adobe LifeCycle designer on your developer laptop or desktop. The most recent list of versions and patches is kept on dedicated SAP wiki page.

Further issue analysis on setup

Follow the step in this SAP blog for further issue analysis. If this blog does not help, you can use the details from the very extensive OSS note “944221 – Error analysis for problems in form processing”.

Troubleshooting OSS notes:

Switching on standard SAP delivered ADS forms

SAP has delivered many ADS forms to replace existing SapScript and SmartForms. Unfortunately these are not default turned on. Also not on newly installed systems. To unlock all the standard SAP delivered ADS forms, goto SFW5 and activate the switch ERP_ALL_FORMS:

switch ERP_ALL_FORMS

After this is done, run report RERP_EHP_SHOW_FORM_LIST. This list will give you pointer for each form what to change in customizing to point to new ADS form.

SICF services

Adobe document server connection requires these 2 SICF services to be active:

  • /default_host/sap/bc/fp
  • /default_host/sap/bc/fpads

Check also these 2 OSS notes:

Adobe licenses

The general use to print output via ADS is included in the SAP license. If you want to use the advanced interactive form capability: this is subject to extra license. See oss note 750784 – SAP Interactive Forms: Licenses.