You can create print versions of BI applications. To do this, you first export the selected Web application in PDF format. You can then print the PDF version. A dialog is provided to support you in creating print versions. You use this dialog to specify the layout of the print version.
Note that when printing Web applications, it is only possible to export and print the following Web items:
● Analysis
● Chart
● Maps
● Report
● Info Field
● List of exceptions
● List of conditions
● Text
You cannot print MIME objects or other Web items. If you want to print MIME objects (such as logos) that you have inserted into a Web template, you must insert the relevant MIME object into the Web application by using the Report Web item.
You can create print versions for BI applications in the following BEx tools and applications:
Tool/Application |
Print Version Creation |
Web Analyzer |
● Using the Print Version pushbutton |
Web Application |
● Using the Print Version context menu option ● Using a pushbutton or a link that was defined with the Web API command Export Web Application with the associated parameterization (PDF) |
Broadcaster |
The individual functions for designing the layout of a print version listed under Features can be found in the broadcaster under the Layout and Header/Footer tab pages. You can set the theme on the General Precalculation tab page. Note that the output format PDF or Printer Format (PS or PCL) is required for creating print versions. See also Printing. |
Report Web Item |
● Using the Print Version pushbutton |
● The usage type BI Java is installed. It contains the usage types AS Java and EP.
● Before PDF files can be created, the system administrator must configure and manage the Adobe document services.
More information: Adobe Document Services Configuration Guide. You can also find this documentation in SAP Solution Manager under Solutions → Basic Configuration → SAP NetWeaver 7.0 → Usage Type AS Java.
● To export PDF files (and PostScript and PCL files) from the Web Applications, you have the alternative of using the Export Library for SAP NetWeaver BI. The Export Library is only intended for use in the BEx Java Web runtime. More information: Activating Export Library for SAP NetWeaver BI.
● To view the PDF document, Adobe Acrobat Reader must be installed.
The print version of the BI application can have up to 400 pages. The system may require some time when generating a print version of this size.
Using the dialog for creating a PDF document, you can design the layout of the print version. You can choose from the following functions:
● Scaling Factor
You can set the print version of a BI application according to the following options:
○ Fit to Page Width
The BI application is fit to the width of the page in the print version. You can display the column headings on the following pages.
○ Fit to Page
The BI application is fit to the size of the page.
○ Poster
The BI application is printed in the form of a poster in which individual areas of the BI application are printed on different pages. You can repeat lead columns and column headings.
Lead columns are the columns of the table that are furthest to the left. They typically contain the names of characteristics and characteristic values.
For report Web items, the settings that you specified in the Report Designer are applied. For this type of Web item, the Poster and Fit to Page properties are not available.
● Page
○ Theme
You can select which theme you want to use in the display.
Theme for Display
Display |
Black and White |
If you choose this option, the print version is created in the default SAP theme. |
If you choose this option, the print version is created in black and white. |
○ Size
You can select one of the following paper sizes:
■ Broadsheet
■ A0
■ A1
■ A2
■ A2-0
■ A3
■ A4
■ A4-0
■ A5
■ Executive
■ Invoice
■ Ledger
■ Legal
■ Letter
○ Alignment
You can choose between portrait format and landscape format.
● Margins
You can specify margins for the Top, Bottom, Left, and Right in mm or in inches.
● Header
You can specify whether the print version of the BI application is to have a header and whether the header is to appear on the left, right, or center of the page(s). You can define the content for the header.
○ Page 1
○ Page 1 of ?
○ Date
○ Date, Time
○ Date Time Page 1 of ?
○ Free Text
● Footer
You can specify whether the print version of the BI application is to have a footer and whether the footer is to appear on the left, right, or center of the page(s). You can define the content for the footer.
○ Page 1
○ Page 1 of ?
○ Date
○ Date, Time
○ Date Time Page 1 of ?
○ Free Text
In your Web application, you can make interface elements such as pushbuttons available with which users can create print versions. Using the Command Wizard (see Command), you specify which properties are to be preset with the user chooses the pushbutton.
You specify the layout of Report Web items in the Report Designer (see BEx Report Designer). When you do this, you also specify how the report is to be printed in the BEx Report Designer. A BEx report can be printed directly from the Report Designer or integrated into a Web application as a Web item.
A Report Web item can contain multiple sections with data providers. You can also insert charts and graphics into a Report item. You can insert charts and graphics in adjoining cells within a section. We recommend that you insert charts and graphics above or below sections with data providers. If you insert them within a section with data providers, they may be displayed more than once, depending on the row patterns selected.
If you include a report as a Report Web item in your Web application, the settings that are applied to this Web item are those that you specified for the report. The following rules apply to the print version when you use the Report Web item:
● Settings for the layout of the report, such as scaling factor, page format, and margins override the corresponding settings for the layout of the print version (see above).
● The settings for the layout of the print version (see above) apply to all other Web items in the Web application.
● Page breaks are automatically added before and after the pages that are required for the Report Web item.
You can specify various times at which you want to generate a print version. To do this, you use the BEx Broadcaster (see Scheduling Broadcast Settings).
The following functions are not available for the creation of print versions:
● The text direction running from right to left (like in Hebrew or Arabic) is not supported.
● When multiple Web items are embedded, they are generally arranged under one another in the print version. You cannot change how the Web items are arranged.
To produce a neater layout in the print version, use the Report Web item only (see above).
● To ensure that all Web items in the form appear in the print version in the same way as they appear on the screen, you can use third-party products as PDF converters. The following restrictions apply:
○ All BEx Broadcaster functions are not available.
○ Column headers and lead columns cannot be repeated on subsequent pages.
○ It is not possible to scale pages in the print preview.
● You cannot insert images, such as company logos, in the header of the print version.
● When you print the Web application or report, you cannot print documents that are based on metadata, master data or transactional data.
● For more information on creating print versions, see SAP Note 1069368 under service.sap.com/notes.