Document templates via web browser in 46B

[Rickayzen, Alan]

Hi Peter,
Word attachments are displayable in the IAC Web inbox (BWSP), however they
cannot be changed. New data can be appended instead. The difference between
Word attachments and the 'Create from Document template' step is that the
latter can display variables from the workflow container and the attachments
cannot.
 
I have not tested what will happen when you use Word references (network or
otherwise) instead of attachments.
 
So perhaps the Word forms would be a crude solution where the workflow
provides minimal support (such as routing, logging, tracking) but there is
no data handling. The question is whether this will give you enough ROI,
compared with converting a few of the Word scenarios to fully fledged forms
scenarios. You alone are the judge of this.
 
One of the key issues is  what happens to the data captured in the Word
forms in your current process? Is it rekeyed into a separate system or
simply printed  out and filed somewhere? The advantage of a forms-based
process is that you can do the post-processing of the data from the forms
automatically, as well as using the forms-data within the workflow process
(e.g. sophisticated routing, field masking, branching, merging data....).
 
Kind regards,
Alan Rickayzen
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Roehlen, Peter [mailto:PRoehlen at powercor.com.au]
Sent: Montag, 15. April 2002 11:09
To: SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: Re: Document templates via web browser in 46B
 
 
Hi Jocelyn,
 
Thanks for your quick response.
 
My intention was that we could quickly and cheaply create workflow templates
for each of the existing Word and Excel forms.  Each form would be uploaded
as a document template in it's own respective workflow template and the
first step would be 'Create from Document template'.  The rest of the
process (e.g. approve, action, resubmit etc) could be quickly modelled and a
start transaction for the workflow template created using SWUG.
 
So I think the answer to your questions are:
 
1) A start transaction (created via SWUG) would be used to kick off the
workflow
2) The workflow would create the form (Create from Document Template)
3) The form instances would be stored wherever SAP stores them - SAP
database?
 
 
The key thing is that many of these Word/Excel forms could be turned into
SAP workflows for only a few hours development effort each.  I think that
this is still workable and worthwhile, but I think my manager was hoping
that the start transaction could be set up as an ITS service?  From what
Alan says, it seems that the later part isn't doable.
 
Regards
 
Peter Roehlen
Powercor Australia Ltd
(03) 9683 4807
0409 950 263
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Dart, Jocelyn [mailto:jocelyn.dart at sap.com]
Sent: Monday, 15 April 2002 6:35 pm
To: SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: Re: Document templates via web browser in 46B
 
 
Hi Peter,
What exactly are you trying to do?
Use the workflow to create the forms? - that's "create document from
template"
Or use the forms to kick off a workflow?
And where are the forms stored - in R/3 as office documents? in R/3 using
BDS?
on a network server?
Regards,
        Jocelyn Dart
Consultant (EBP, BBP, Ecommerce, Internet Transaction Server, Workflow)
SAP Australia
Email jocelyn.dart at sap.com <mailto:jocelyn.dart at sap.com>
Tel: +61 412 390 267
Fax: +61 2 9935 4880
 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Roehlen, Peter [mailto:PRoehlen at powercor.com.au]
Sent: Monday, 15 April 2002 6:12 PM
To: SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: Document templates via web browser in 46B
 
 
Fellow workflowers,
 
Our company currently has many forms that are either MS Word or MS Excel
templates.  These templates could be very easily 'workflowed' in SAP using
the 'Create Document from Template' step and a workflow start transaction.
 
My manager has asked how easy would it be to access these workflowed forms
via a web browser?   We already have ESS installed and running and are on
version 4.6B.  Does anyone know what steps I need to take (broadly speaking)
to do this?
 
Thanks and regards
Peter Roehlen
Powercor Australia Ltd
(03) 9683 4807
0409 950 263
 
 
 
**********************************************************************
Powercor Australia Ltd. This email and any file attachments are
confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or
entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in
error please tell us immediately by return email and delete the
document.
**********************************************************************