SAPSprint & PDFCreator - auto save pdf-files

[tobias_ptz]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a solution that prints any spool jobs over SAPSPrint to a PDF Printer (PDF Creator).

Downloaded and installed:

- PDFCreator-1_2_0_setup.exe

- xSPrint_5-10008892.exe

Settings:

- SPrint: port change to 5150

- PDFCreator: auto save on / directory like g:\pdf_export

Printersetting SAP:

HPLJ4 (tested also with SAPWIN)

U: via Berkeley

Host: PDF

Server: IP (10.10.10.10)

Port: 5150

If I check the PDFCreator settings with a simple test print, a pdf will create in my given directory. All fine!

But if I send a simple ABAP list (SP01 (spool overview), I see the document in the queue of the PDFCreator printer (called PDF), but no pdf will create in the directory!

I guess SAPSprint is changing something or PDFCreator can not handle SAPSprint.

During the test print, the print job appears in the normal printer queue and in the pdfcreator queue.

The SAP print job will only appears in the normal printer queue ..

Anyone have installed PDFCreator and use it with SAPSprint?

Some settings I have to set?

Any other solution?

Thanks!

Best Regards,

Tobias

[markus_doehr2 · Accepted solution]

> I'm looking for a solution that prints any spool jobs over SAPSPrint to a PDF Printer (PDF Creator).

There are various methods in doing this. Instead of using "frontend" printing you can try to render the PDF in the system itself, use "email printing" or print to a file on the windows hosts.

Note 161516 - Printing into a file or anywhere else in NT

Note 311037 - Printing using e-mail

The easiest way would be to use the system rendered method because then you only have to configure one system. If all your users need to get the software installed then you have to maintain them all.

Markus

[tobias_ptz · Accepted solution]

Hi Markus,

thanks for the quick reply, but hmm, that's not that what I'm looking for.

Note 161516 - Printing into a file or anywhere else in NT

- Method 1 runs, but only on the application server

- Method 2 runs too, but the dialog box in which asked for a file name is not that what I want!

Hi Ignasi,

that was the first way that I have checked, but I have the same problem like you, I don't want to overwrite the files!

So, any other way to do that job?

Want to print pdf from an application server (ECC6) to an other windows server as file.

Important is that the file will be print from the AS over the network to a special server.

About this requirement I come to PDFCreator, because this tool has auto save.

Any other solution?

Regards,

Tobias

[markus_doehr2 · Accepted solution]

> - Method 1 runs, but only on the application server

If you create the script so that it uses UNC names and you create the user running the SAP system (SAPService<SID>) on the target server it works also "remotely".

Markus

[ignasi_montserrat · Accepted solution]

Hi Tobias,

It worked for me using PDFCreator however I would like to use standard windows FILE port printer.

I think your problem is that you have to install PDFCreator server version instead of client version.

You can also activate trace and see whats wrong.

PS: Is there any limitation with this free software?

Its better to use SAP standard spool to PDF report RSTXPDFT4 to manage PDF conversion?

I want to do the conversion on host spooler to increase SAP performance.

Best regards,

Ignasi

[tobias_ptz · Accepted solution]

Hi Markus,

well I've choosed method 1, thanks for the unc path tip

I gave 'everybody' the writing permission and everything works fine!

Here's my print.cmd, maybe someone searches for the same solution:

@echo off

set "var=%1"
set file=%var:~30%
set var=%var:~30,10%
set var=%var%.pdf

rem %1 Dateiname
set ziel=\\10.10.10.10\PDF_Export
REM Datei kopieren
copy %1 %ziel% >> %ziel%\error.log
move %ziel%\%file% %ziel%\%var%  >> %ziel%\error.log

What I get now is: 0000014094.pdf and not 000001409400001.SID

Hi Ignasi,

I've tested it with both version, client and server, but .. i don't know where's the issue.

No there are no limitations, because it's free for personal use but not for commercial.

But befor we buy some products, they have to work ..

The report RSTXPDFT4 is fine and simple, but not usefully for daily work.

In that case, thank you Markus and Ignasi for your help.

Best regards,

Tobias

[ignasi_montserrat · Accepted solution]

Hi Tobias,

In my case is working fine using xPPrint_3-10008891.exe+PDF Creator.

Is it posible that you send me detailed instructions to config SAP (unix based) and host spooler (windows based) to use Method1 and avoid using PDFCreator?

Also with Method1 are you able to get on host spooler full output request title as file name?

Thanks in advance,

Ignasi

[tobias_ptz · Accepted solution]

Hello Ignasi,

well, maybe some differences between the operating systems.. what the hell!

Our SAP is based on NT and I don't know if the transfer parameter %1 can be used with the unix shell.

Unfortunately we haven't any unix/linux system running at the moment, so you can only try if it works or check note 6753.

The script must be a part of the kernel directory. I think for you is it not 'print.cmd' but 'print.sh' or so ..

What I've done was just the things described at note 161516.

Created a printer:

Name: PDF

Device Type: PDF1

Host Spool Access Method: L: Print Locally Using LP/LPR

Hostprinter: PDF

Edit > Command set

Command Set ID: 1 (double click on it)

Desciption: Your description

Command to transfer print data:
10.10.10.11\sapmnt\<SID>\SYS\exe\nuc\NTAMD64\print.cmd &F

Command to query job status: cmd /c echo.

My print.cmd:

<code>

@echo off

set "var=%1"

set file=%var:~30%

set var=%var:~30,10%

set var=%var%.pdf

REM %1 Filename

set ziel=
10.10.10.10\PDF_Export

REM copy files

copy %1 %ziel% >> %ziel%\error.log

REM move files (rename files from e.g. 000001409400001.SID to 0000014094.pdf)

move %ziel%\%file% %ziel%\%var% >> %ziel%\error.log

</code>

I don't think you are able to get the title as file name.

I've checked the transfer parameters %1 to %9 but only %1 is set.

Maybe anybody else have any idea?

Best regards,

Tobias

[ignasi_montserrat]

Hi Tobias,

You can use device type PDF1 that automatically converts file into PDF.

Then on the host spooler server you just create a windows FILE port printer type using as port

g:\pdf_export.pdf

Then every time you print from SAP the spool will be converted into PDF with default file name defined on windows printer port.

In my case its not a good solution because I want to keep spool title to avoid overwriting previous file, but maybe this can help you.

I also think it doesnt make sense to use additional software to convert PDF (such as PDFCreator) because you can use standard SAP solution.

Best regards,

Ignasi