Defining an Output Device for Front-End
Printing (SAP GUI for Windows) 
Use
To use front-end printing using the SAP GUI for Windows on your work station computer, you must have specified an output device in the print window that was specifically created for this print method.
The output device is created using the device definition. You do not need to create different device definitions in the SAP system for your work station printers. You create a generic output device that forwards the print data to the front end, from which the print request comes.
There are two types of front-end printing. Front-end printing with access method F, which works with the transfer program SAPlpd, is the traditional type of front-end printing. Since SAP Web AS 6.20, there is also a new procedure for front-end printing available to you, which you can use in parallel: front-end printing using control technology with access method G. This no longer requires SAPlpd. The print window is also no longer displayed in the SAP system. Instead, a Microsoft Windows printer selection window is called directly from the control. The restriction on the length of printer names therefore no longer applies.
You can use both types of printing in parallel for front-end printing in the SAP GUI for Windows.
Prerequisites
· You require authorization to create output devices.
· The Microsoft Windows operating system is installed on the front ends (work station computers).
· For front-end printing with SAPlpd (access method F), the most up-to-date version of SAP GUI and SAPlpd should be installed on the front-ends.
The newest versions have the same version number as your SAP release.
· For more information about additional prerequisites for front-end printing without SAPlpd (access method G), see Front-End Printing with Control Technology.
Procedure
Follow the procedure below to create a device definition for front-end printing:
...
1. Call transaction SPAD, and choose Output Devices.
2.
If you are not in
change mode, switch to this mode by choosing 
Change.
3. You can now do the following:
¡ You can create a new device definition by choosing Output Device ® Create.
¡ You can use an existing device definition as a template.
To do this, click the entry for the output device that is to be used as a template, and choose Output Device ® Create Using Template.
4. Fill out the mandatory fields of the device definition as follows for front-end printing:
|
Field |
Entry |
Device Attributes Tab Page |
Output device |
Enter a name for the output device that makes it clear to your users that this is the front-end printer, such as LOCL. |
|
Device type |
We recommend that you use the device type SWIN, SAPWIN, or a language-specific version for Microsoft Windows PCs. However, you can use any device type. Use the device type pdf1 or a language-specific version for Front-End Printing Using SAP GUI for HTML. |
Host Spool Access Method tab page |
Access Method |
Enter the access method F or G for front-end printing, depending on which type of front-end printing you want to use. |
|
Host Printer |
Enter the name __DEFAULT to use the default printer at a Microsoft Windows system. In the case of front-end printing with control technology (access method G), the printer selection window of the Microsoft Windows operating system is displayed. You can choose a printer other than the default printer in this window. In the case of front-end printing with SAPlpd (access method F), the option No Device Selection at Frontend must be inactive for the user to have the option of selecting a printer other than the default printer in the print window of the SAP system. |
4. Save your entries.
Result
When you save the device definition, it is available for your users’ use. To print documents using their front end, users must enter the name of the output device that you have just created in the Output Device field of the print window.
Example
The following example shows the device definition for front-end printing with the output device LOCL (access method F). If users enter LOCL as the output device, their operating system default printer is used.
As the option No Device Selection at Frontend is not selected, the user can enter the output device LOCL in the print window and choose enter. A list then appears showing the other printers defined on his or her work station PC, from which the user can then select the printer that he or she wants to use.
See also:
Output Devices in the SAP Spool System
