ALD API and ALD (Advanced Layout Designer) as a reporting tool for AddOns

Dear all,
as per SMP "ISVs and VARs can integrate combit's List & Label functionality into any SAP Business One Add-on without additional combit license fees", so am i right it means that LnL (ALD) has an API which allows to manipulate it right from SBO AddOn?
and yes, according to the combit site (e.g., http://www.combit.net/en/page1077.aspx?action=display&articleid=KBTE000662) this really has API.
so the questions are:
1. does anybody has any expierence with ALD as a reporting tool for the SBO AddOns (ALD API expierence)?
2. does anybody has any samples (how to call ALD API from AddOn)?
3. are there any elearning materials at the SMP regarding ALD API usage from the AddOns?
4. is ALD API available for the SAP 2005 SP01 as well as SAP 2007 versions?
please comment on this with your point of views and some attitude
thank you and kind regards,
A.

Hi Alexey,
I've got ALD running at sites (2005A SP1).
1) ALD is certainly more powerful than PLD in terms of presentation and formulas. The only limitation I came across was that you can only have 1 data table in a report (unlike other report writers like Crystal or Reporting Services). Also, working with special lines and serial/batch data in marketing documents is overly complex in my opinion.
2) There were some samples attached to SAP Notes. I'm afraid my samples would be useless because you'd have to have the same UDFs and my reports are quite site specific.
3) I've never seen ALD learning material from SAP but there was a decent enough manual that came with the addon.
4) Not sure. I think you'll need to ask Combit directly.
Pros:
a) I particularly like the sound of the API although I haven't had a chance to look at it yet
b) Some nice built in features like labels and the ability to create layouts for user queries (...PLD is capable of doing this, just not very well )
c) Software is part of 2007A (ie no additional license fee)
d) Integrated with SBO
Cons:
a) The integration is not perfect (eg if you use the SBO Mailer then report attachments still use the PLD layout and not ALD).
b) A bit buggy at times (although this was on an early 2005A version)
c) Formulas use a C++ type syntax which can be confusing for those not used to it though there is a formula builder to help out.
d) No reports built in. SAP/Combit should be considering having all marketing documents and maybe some other key reports built in as standard.
All things considered, ALD is worth looking at if PLD is not up to the job.
Hope that helps,
Owen

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Edited by: Susanne Klemm on May 7, 2008 3:19 PM
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