Smartforms or Adobe Interactive Forms?

Hello Folks,
my client currently are beginning the decision making process to replace all of their current Jetform based SAP printing solution to a newer more stable solution - and they are interested in the possible options available.
Note that this is a major project as we have to migrate all documents (invoices, orders, POs, account statements etc) defined in multi languages and versions. Currently we are running SAP4.6C - but there is the possibility of an upgrade in the near future too.
To me the most stable alternative right now appears to be SAP smartforms - as this is a tried, proven and well integrated technology. Now I read here about the possibilities offered by Adobe interactive forms - and that from 6.40 onwards they will be integrated into the ABAP workbench. It is not clear to me though if Adobe interactive forms are intended to replace Smartforms or if they are merely an alternative approach - and what the pros and cons are of each technique.
Also it is not clear to me how well Adobe forms can be integrated with standard NAST table style output control - is it possible to integrate adobe forms to the standard output control?
What we are really concerned with is that we spend a lot of effort migrating to Smartforms only to find out that it is yesterdays technology and that we subsequently have to remigrate to Adobe interactive forms...
Can anyone there at SAP or on SDN provide any advice as to the pros and cons of the Smartform solution when compared with Adobe interactive forms, and any advice you can offer as to which solution to opt for in our migration project?

Hi Julian,
it sounds to me that all your current forms are output forms (for printing, faxing, e-mailing, etc.) i.e. non-interactive.
Interactive Forms based on Adobe software is SAP's new solution for forms development. Its first release has the focus on interactive use of forms. High-volume printing is supported in principle, but - being a new solution - the performance has not yet reached the same level as Smart Forms or SAPscript, two established solutions that had years to grow. Interactive Forms is the only solution that will continue to be enhanced with new features, while SAPscript and Smart Forms will be supported without limitations.
When (or if) to move to Interactive Forms depends on your requirements. For interactive forms usage, i.e. the new functions, you have no choice, as the existing solutions don't support it. High-volume print scenarios need to be carefully analyzed to see whether your concrete requirements can be met at this point.
However, it is possible to move to Smart Forms and design your forms in such a way that a migration at any point in the future would be but a small step. Smart Forms offers from Web AS 6.40 a migration wizard to Interactive Forms. Technically, everything can be migrated, but we recommend against things like ABAP program nodes, for example.
You are not forced to ever go to Interactive Forms if you don't want to. It really depends on whether your client needs any of the new features in Interactive Forms. Also, if they are currently working with JetForms, they could enquire with Adobe directly what migration path they offer to the joint solution.
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Markus Meisl
SAP NetWeaver Product Management

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https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/adobe
Improving the Performance of Adobe® LiveCycleu2122 Designer Forms(scripting)
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/livecycle/articles/lc_designer_perf_guidelines.pdf
Interactive Forms Based on Adobe Software: Overview
https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/servlet/prt/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/e635e290-0201-0010-a9be-9e8e4ce04770
Adobe Interactive Forms
http://www.saplounge.be/Files/media/pdf/Huberland-Interactive-Forms-2007.10.10.pdf
Taking interactive forms to next level
https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/go/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/8c103c36-0301-0010-cda8-f6b381bedb6e
Introduction to Adobe PDF Library SDK(PDFL SDK)(Simply scroll the document)
http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/en/webseminars/PDFL_WebSeminar.pdf
Creating Interactive forms in webdynpro for java
https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/servlet/prt/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/5f27e290-0201-0010-ff82-c21557572da1
PDF-Based Print Forms/SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04s/helpdata/en/c8/4adf7ba13c4ac1b4600d4df15f8b84/frameset.htm
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http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/dd/60694fddb74ad88cdb7d2a094f3dd2/frameset.htm
Checking and Testing a PDF-Based Print Form
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04s/helpdata/en/c2/1fe9aa4d7b413e8515f90b73729e97/frameset.htm
Architecture
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/f2/21021b911f4c0cae11459a4ce0bc62/frameset.htm
http://www.nl4b.com/Adobe/Invitation_SAPBrussels_Q407.pdf
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Function:
Through the sharing context node between adobe interactive form and a WDA for ABAP, display the data of the sflight_node in the ADOBE.
version:
Acrobat Reader 8.1.0
currently both of the SAP-ABA and SAP-BASIS SP level: 9
ADS : Successful.
The following is my action:
1.     Create a interface (Z_SFLIGHT_INTF) with a attribute node (SFLIGHT_NODE) that type is "sflight" using the transaction code "sfp"
2.     Create a form (Z_SFLIGHT_FORM) using the transaction code "sfp" with the interface Z_SFLIGHT_INTF.
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Do you tell me whether is right for binding the context SFLIGHT_NODE using this way? If bind 3 context attributes in the sflight, how can I do it?
5.     Create a WDA for abap (ZZ_02_SFLIGHT), and create a view(MAINVIEW) using transaction code "se80" in the sap-gui with adobe interactive form. Set the templatesource(Z_SFLIGHT_FORM) in the adobe interactive form properties and saved, and then, datasource is "MAINVIEW_Z_SFLIGHT_FORM" automatically.
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Problem 2:
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Thanks a lot.
Best regards,
Tao

Hi, experts,
You can reply back to me via e-mail if you think we should discuss this internally at [email protected] or [email protected]
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