Sending an email, containing an adobe interactive form, as a step in a gp

Question

I'm trying to create a process in gp.
the first step is an interactive form that is submitted to netweaver and starts the gp process.
second should be another interactive form that the system sends out to an email account.
wstarting the process by interactive form is not a problem, but sending out emails seems impossible to me :-P...
i tried by myself, but couldn't work anything out.
then i searched for a while in the sdn and found the following article by ginger gatling:
Guided Procedures:  Passing email address for Interactive Form step
it doesnt help either. dunno what version of netWeaver she was using, but at least in version 7.0 it's not working like she describes. also it's not possible to insert an email adress via predefining the appropriate field in the attributes tab.
i would be very glad if someone could provide me a hint to solve this problem.

Answer 1

This is the way how to send the form through mail.
Generate and Send the Form
The next step is to write the ABAP program which will create the form and email it to the vendor so that it can be filled offline.
The program will have the following steps:
u2022 Data retrieval and processing : A select statement for the pre-populated information
u2022 Obtain the name of the Generated Function Module of the form
u2022 Start the form processing
u2022 Call the Generated Function Module
u2022 End form processing
u2022 Send the form to the vendor using Business communication services (BCS)
Data Retrieval and Processing
This can be as simple as a select statement to complex data selection. In this example we select the vendor number, name and company code from the vendor table LFA1 based on the vendor from the selection screen
Get vendor data
select single lifnr name1 bukrs from lfa1 into wa_vndbnk where lifnr = p_lifnr.
Get the Generated Function Module
The next step is to get the generated function module. Call function module FP_FUNCTION_MODULE_NAME and pass the form name to it. The parameter e_funcname will contain the name of the generated function module name.
First get name of the generated function module
call function 'FP_FUNCTION_MODULE_NAME'
exporting
i_name = 'ZVK_TESTHD'
importing
e_funcname = fm_name.
Start the Form Processing
Form printing needs to be explicitly opened and closed. Use the function FP_JOB_OPEN to open the form for printing. The parameter ie_outputparams determines printer settings. This parameter is also where we ask the generated function module to return a PDF file back. Since this is an offline scenario and there is no printing involved we need to suppress the printer dialog popup as well. Optionally there is a parameter connection which can be used to determine the RFC destination for ADS.
Set output parameters and open spool job
fp_outputparams-nodialog = 'X'. " suppress printer dialog popup
fp_outputparams-GETPDF = 'X'. " launch print preview
call function 'FP_JOB_OPEN'
changing
ie_outputparams = fp_outputparams
exceptions
cancel = 1
usage_error = 2
system_error = 3
internal_error = 4
others = 5.
Call the Generated Function Module
This is similar to the generated function module in Smart Forms. Since the parameters of the function module are defined in the interface, this will vary from form to form. However, /1bcdwb/docparams is a standard parameter. This is used to set the forms locale. This is also where we tell the form that it is fillable. Once this parameter is set - if the ADS is configured correctly (including the credential) - a fillable savable form will be returned when the function module is executed.
Set form language and country (->form locale)
fp_docparams-langu = 'E'.
fp_docparams-country = 'US'.
fp_docparams-FILLABLE = 'X'.
Now call the generated function module
call function fm_name
exporting
/1bcdwb/docparams = fp_docparams
Z_VNDBNK = wa_vndbnk
importing
/1BCDWB/FORMOUTPUT = fp_formoutput
exceptions
usage_error = 1
system_error = 2
internal_error = 3
others = 4.
End Form Processing
Use the function FP_JOB_CLOSE to close the form for printing.
Close spool job
call function 'FP_JOB_CLOSE'
exceptions
usage_error = 1
system_error = 2
internal_error = 3
others = 4.
Send the Form to the Vendor
The PDF file generated is available in the parameter fp_result which is returned by the generated function module. The next step would be to extract this PDF and send it to the vendor using BCS.
CALL FUNCTION 'SCMS_XSTRING_TO_BINARY'
EXPORTING
buffer = fp_formoutput-PDF "PDF file from function module
TABLES
binary_tab = lt_att_content_hex.
CLASS cl_bcs DEFINITION LOAD.
DATA:
lo_send_request TYPE REF TO cl_bcs VALUE IS INITIAL.
lo_send_request = cl_bcs=>create_persistent( ).
Message body and subject
DATA:
lt_message_body TYPE bcsy_text VALUE IS INITIAL,
lo_document TYPE REF TO cl_document_bcs VALUE IS INITIAL.
APPEND 'Dear Vendor,' TO lt_message_body.
append ' ' to lt_message_body.
APPEND 'Please fill the attached form and send it back to us.'
TO lt_message_body.
append ' ' to lt_message_body.
APPEND 'Thank You,' TO lt_message_body.
lo_document = cl_document_bcs=>create_document(
i_type = 'RAW'
i_text = lt_message_body
i_subject = 'Vendor Payment Form' ).
DATA: lx_document_bcs TYPE REF TO cx_document_bcs VALUE IS INITIAL.
TRY.
lo_document->add_attachment(
EXPORTING
i_attachment_type = 'PDF'
i_attachment_subject = 'Vendor Payment Form'
I_ATTACHMENT_SIZE =
I_ATTACHMENT_LANGUAGE = SPACE
I_ATT_CONTENT_TEXT =
I_ATTACHMENT_HEADER =
i_att_content_hex = lt_att_content_hex ).
CATCH cx_document_bcs INTO lx_document_bcs.
ENDTRY.
Add attachment
Pass the document to send request
lo_send_request->set_document( lo_document ).
Create sender
DATA:
lo_sender TYPE REF TO if_sender_bcs VALUE IS INITIAL,
l_send type ADR6-SMTP_ADDR value 'email address',
lo_sender = cl_cam_address_bcs=>create_internet_address( l_send ).
Set sender
lo_send_request->set_sender(
EXPORTING
i_sender = lo_sender ).
Create recipient
*DATA:
lo_recipient TYPE REF TO if_recipient_bcs VALUE IS INITIAL.
lo_recipient = cl_sapuser_bcs=>create( sy-uname ).
Set recipient
lo_send_request->add_recipient(
EXPORTING
i_recipient = lo_recipient
i_express = 'X' ).
lo_send_request->add_recipient(
EXPORTING
i_recipient = lo_recipient
i_express = 'X' ).
Send email
DATA: lv_sent_to_all(1) TYPE c VALUE IS INITIAL.
lo_send_request->send(
EXPORTING
i_with_error_screen = 'X'
RECEIVING
result = lv_sent_to_all ).
COMMIT WORK.
message 'The payment form has been emailed to the Vendor' type 'I'.