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Use

By using SAPforms Forms, those users who do not use the SAP GUI for Windows can access the functions of the SAP System.

By using the SAPforms forms you can:

The data can be transferred to the SAP System either online (synchronously) using RFC or offline (asynchronously) using e-mail.

The form integration functions supports "approval workflows" where a workflow is started and an associated work item executed with just one form. Compare the two application examples below.

Prerequisites

To use the functions described here, you must install SAPforms on your PC. This also applies to local PCs, such as notebooks used by external staff, which are used to access the SAP functions offline using mail.

You also need a development environment (Microsoft Visual Basic or Microsoft Outlook) to Create the SAPforms Forms.

Specific default settings are set for data exchange using e-mail. This also applies to starting the workflow and executing a work item.

For more information, see SAPforms - Administration.

The following tables show what functions are available from which release:

Start Workflow
 

RFC

SAPMAPI

Microsoft Visual Basic

3.1G

4.5A

Microsoft Outlook

4.5A

4.5A

Execute Work Item
 

RFC

SAPMAPI

Microsoft Visual Basic

3.1G

4.5A

Microsoft Outlook

4.5B

4.5B

Features

The SAPforms Interface

This graphic is explained in the accompanying text

After you have created the SAPforms form with Microsoft Visual Basic or Microsoft Outlook, you must prepare it for communication with the SAP System. This is the task of the SAPforms Designer.

When you are working with the SAPforms Designer, you use plug-ins to define the following:

With the SAPData type plug-in, you specify the interface to the SAP System that is to be used by the form. The following interfaces are supported:

With the SAPform Type plug-in, you specify the development environment (Microsoft Visual Basic, Microsoft Outlook) in which the form was created.

With the SAPXmit type plug-in, you specify the communication method that is to be used to exchange data with the SAP System. Communication using RFC and SAP MAPI Service Provider is possible. Work items can also be edited offline using SAP MAPI.

The binding between the form and the SAP System is also defined using the SAPforms Designer.

The SAPforms Designer then inserts a few lines of program code in the form when it is generated to evaluate the binding definition at runtime and communicate with the SAP System.

You can also call the SAPforms Interface directly, that is, without using the SAPforms Designer.

Example

Examples of the scenarios described here are provided in the directory ...\SAPforms\Samples.

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