Workstation Application for Processing Originals

The original application files that you manage with document management (DM) are usually produced digitally. You can create and process these original application files directly from the document info record using workstation applications (such as Microsoft Word or AutoCAD).

Integration

Any program that can read a file name as a parameter can be started as the workstation application for processing the original application file.

This even works in heterogeneous networks. The application can be installed on any computer in the network. An original application file can therefore have any format and content. For example, it can take the form of a large text file, a photograph, a film, or a drawing.

The following data determines which workstation application is started for processing original application files:

Make the technical settings for the workstation application in Customizing for Document Management under General Data Define Workstation Application .
You enter the file that is to be processed by the workstation application in the document info record (storage location data).

Prerequisites

The settings required for processing the original application files are defined in Customizing for Document Management General Data .

The following settings are necessary:

Settings	Activity in Customizing
You must define a data carrier for your frontend computer. Example: PC (PC with a Windows operating system)	Define data carrier Define data carrier type "Server, frontend computer"
You must enter information about the transfer of data when the original application files are located on another computer.	Define data carrier Define mount points and logical drives
You must define the workstation application that you use to process the original application file from a document info record and the path for the program call.	Define workstation application and Define workstation application in a network

Settings

Activity in Customizing

You must define a data carrier for your frontend computer.

Example: PC (PC with a Windows operating system)

Define data carrier Define data carrier type "Server, frontend computer"

You must enter information about the transfer of data when the original application files are located on another computer.

Define data carrier Define mount points and logical drives

You must define the workstation application that you use to process the original application file from a document info record and the path for the program call.

Define workstation application and Define workstation application in a network

Recommendation

Enter a default value for the workstation application when defining the document type. The default value will be suggested when you create an original application file and additional files.

You can set default values for displaying and printing in a user-specific profile.

End of the recommendation.

Defining Workstation Applications

Each program you want to use to process original application files must be defined as a workstation application in this activity. Many processing steps for the original application files can be more effectively carried out by means of additional settings.

For example, the following settings can be used for document management (DM) on the SAP GUI:

You specify that original application files are deleted locally after they have been stored in a secure storage area.
You can visualize the workstation applications in the document info record by assigning program icons.

For DM on the SAP GUI and the PLM Web UI, you set the scope of the original model. You can save important processing statuses of original application files in content versions. Each content version can have one or more additional files assigned to it.

Defining Workstation Applications in Networks

You can assign each file format an application for displaying and changing the original application file in this activity. You enter the path for the program call. The program call depends on the data carrier type of the frontend computer (for example, a PC with Windows) and the workstation application (for example, Microsoft Word).

You can also make settings for the integrated viewer that is used for displaying technical drawings and 3D models (see Viewer for Displaying Original Application Files on SAP GUI or Viewer for Displaying Original Application Files on PLM Web UI).

Recommendation

You can define the program call so that the system automatically determines the program to be started for frontend computers that have the Windows operating system. The application (for example, Microsoft Word) no longer has to be installed under the same path for all frontend computers.

End of the recommendation.

For more detailed information, see Customizing for Document Management under General Data Define Workstation Application in the work step Define workstation application in network.

Note Note

For information about the required Customizing settings for document management on the PLM Web UI, see SAP Note 1946629.

End of the note.

Features

The workstation application allows you to view and process original application files directly from the document info record.

For document management on the SAP GUI only: When you define a secure area in your enterprise, you have an area that requires special authorization for access. You can simplify processing original application files with Microsoft Office applications (such as Microsoft Word) by changing special settings in Customizing for Document Management. For more information, see Desktop Office Integration.