SAP Status to show Assigned Document

Question

Good Morning DMS users,
I am new to this functionality (DMS) and would like to incorporate it into SAP PM to have documents assigned to :
A) Functional Locations
B) Equipments
C) Work Orders
My Questions are as follows:
A) If a document is assigned to any of the above 3, is there a "Status" symbol that will/can be displayed when viewing the Functional Location/Equipment or PM order to show the end user that there is an attachment?
B) Is there any functionality either in standard SAP or a specific ABAP program that will print the attached document when the PM order is printed that contains either the Functional location, Equipment or is directly attached to the PM Work order?
C) WIl you please confirm that when using DMS (CV0X transactions) that the documents are not stored in the SAP server but either in a local PC or a networked server.
And Final Question;
What are the advantages of using DMS over just creating "Attachments" directly to the Functional location, Equipment and PM Order? (I have to convert some sceptics that DMS is the correct/best method)
Thanking you in advance
Leslie

Answer 1

Leslie,
     Please find answers to your questions
A. Status Symbol
As with my experience I am sure that a majority of these transactions have no display mechanisms if there are underlying DMS attachments to it. Normally they are attached to additional data or to the attachment button.
If you have to develop this, you can incorporate it via screen exits, if they are available. Also you can develop a custom transaction.
B. Printing attachments
They are also not part of the standard functionality. Custom ABAP has to be developed to accomplish this.
C. Document Storage.
It depends on how you have configured your DMS. The default storage is the SAP database. However you can reroute it to any other storage mechanisms.
E. Why DMS for attachments?
You use DMS for attachments primarily to leverage the enhanced capabilities offered by SAP. For example if you use DMS
                              1. Search and retrievel capabilities are available for the document. Advantage here is you need not know the underlying SAP object behind it.
                               2. Same document could be shared by multiple objects in SAP.  If it has reusability in material master or other areas and f you add as an attachment to each of these objects, multiple maintainence and storage is required. So the clear advantage is change could be propogated from a single source.
                               3. Enhanced internet availability of documents.
                               4. Sap standard features such as Archiving is available, if you use DMS.
Hope you are clarified enough with the above explanation.