Using SAP i-Forms question

[peter_jarsunek]

Hi guys!

I'm new to SAP Interactive Forms, just have seen some videos.. What I understood from the materials - it is possible to use i-Forms with guided procedures and create some document flow based on processes. Since guided procedures are available from NW 2004s release, I'd like to know, whether it is possible to solve my issue with i-Forms on NW2004 release. It means - without guided procedures..

Thanx for answer, Peter

[Former Member]

Peter,

you can implement a webdynpro application for each process or you can integrate another BPM engine (since GP is not available for NW04) in SAP WAS.

Regards

Sebastian

[peter_jarsunek]

Thanx 4 reply, Sebastian!

Let's say, I need to implement some approval process. Is this possible to implement it in Web Dynpro?

For example: I need a vacation approval, so I run the Web Dynpro app.. But how do I ensure, that my request will appear in my boss' UWL?

Can you point me to some documentation about using different BPMs?

Sorry, if the question are "stupid", but I'm not very experienced in this field..

Thanx a lot, Peter

Of course, points will be assigned

[Former Member]

If you want to use SAP Business Workflow you have to connect your WebDynpro application via RFC connection to R/3 (i.e. RH_INBOX_VIEW_CREATE to get items from a users inbox).

We have implemented a solution for some employee self services which uses jBPM (JBoss Group, Opensource, <a href="http://www.jboss.com/products/jbpm">http://www.jboss.com/products/jbpm</a>) as BPM engine instead of SAP Business Workflow. The jBPM framework is completely written in java, therefor there is no problem to integrate it in SAP WAS. Of course this solution is not directly integrated in the sap world, but this is not required for our processes.

You have to consider: is it acceptable to implement a custom workflow system, or is it required to use the integrated sap solution.

Regards

Sebastian

[markus_meisl]

Hi Peter

your questions aren't stupid at all, but the answers are also not simple.

First of all, you need to understand that forms and workflow are - technologically speaking - two totally separate things. Both are in NetWeaver, but separate.

To bring these two worlds, which from a business point of view are often closely related, closer together SAP offers a couple of environments/frameworks that are supposed to make it easier to set up forms-based workflows, e.g. for approval processes.

1. One has been around in mySAP ERP (and R/3) for a long time and is called Internal Service Request (ISR, http://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp2005/helpdata/en/4e/3120386827c23ce10000009b38f842/frameset.htm). From ERP 2004 (NW04) it also supports the use of Interactive Forms.

2. The other is Guided Procedures.

3. For completeness' sake: You can also build processes like these from scratch with SAP's standard Business Workflow (http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw2004s/helpdata/en/a5/172437130e0d09e10000009b38f839/frameset.htm).

If you use the ISR as part of ERP 2004 (more information at http://service.sap.com/isr - especially the cookbook), you can set up approval processes relatively easily, and that includes the UWL.

With workflow, you'll have to sift through quite a lot of related documentation (among others http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/39/a1bb5c4c0d4ab4a417e87ef35f1efa/frameset.htm) to set up and configure the complete environment you need, including the UWL.

This is only some introductory stuff, the rest is reading...

Kind regards,

Markus Meisl