SAPscript Tutorial

- Introduction -
Page 1 of 9

Often there are instances where an output from a SAP program is required on a physical paper in
a pre-designed format. Using normal ABAP code this is not possible. Instead SAP provides an
object called SAPSCRIPT to generate such kind of documents which can contain logos, tables
and other objects and which can look like pre-printed documents.

This article focuses on the design and use of Layout sets in ABAP programs to generate
beautified output in SAP.

A layout set is a template designed in SAP to place the stream of data coming from a SAP
program on different parts of a physical page. The designer needs to lay out the various
elements that need to be printed on the page and store it as an object in the SAP system. An
ABAP program will subsequently call this object to generate an instance of the template – thus
generating an output document from the program.

In this 7 article tutorial we will cover subjects such as:

• Main elements of SAPscript

• Commands that can be used in a layout set
• How to include a graphical image
• Commands that can be used in SAPscript
• Step-by-step walkthrough of example
• Example layout set
• Example SAPscript code

- Main elements -
Page 2 of 9

Language

Language in which the data coming on to the layout set will be printed. Generally, this will be the
language that has been set up as default in the SAP system

Header

Section to define the various attributes of the layout set on a global level. Changing these
attributes will affect all the components of the layout set.

The various components of the header are explained below

• Administration Information
 This shows the information about the layout set – details of the designer, details of
changes occurring to the design, development class of the layout set and the language
details for the layout set

• Standard Attributes

1. Description - Brief description or title of the layout set

2. Default paragraph - The base paragraph that is globally applicable to the document. This
can be overridden at lower level of the layout set by using other paragraphs
3. Tab Stop - The base tab-stop that is globally applicable to the document. These can be
overridden at lower level of the layout set by using other tab stops
4. First Page - The start page of the layout set
5. Page Format
6. Orientation - The direction of printing the data on a page – P for portrait (vertical) and L
for landscape (horizontal)
7. Lines per inch
8. Characters/inch

• Font Attributes

Here the various attributes and the base font applicable to the document can be defined. This font
setting can be overridden at a lower level using the character strings

Paragraphs

Used to define the start and end positions for the different texts and objects that need to be
printed on the output document.

- Main elements (more) -

Page 3 of 9

Character Strings

Used to define the fonts and the formatting and printing styles for each and every character that
needs to be printed on the output document. The start of the character string is indicated by
<string name>, while the end of the character string is indicated by </>

Pages

The designer needs to organise the template as a series of pages. When an actual output
document is printed, it will refer to each page for putting the data coming from the ABAP program.
The order of pages is also taken from the template i.e the layout set defined.

Windows

Various parts of the output document can be conveniently organised on the pages using
windows. Thus the data stream coming from the ABAP program can be logically grouped into
various parts and can be placed on different locations on a page

There are 2 main types of windows that can be used in a layout set:
MAIN - A layout set can have only one MAIN window which is created by default. This window
can flow over multiple pages.

CONSTANT - A layout set can have any number of constant windows. A constant window can be
used once per page

Text Elements

Any text that needs to be written on the output document should be placed within a text element.
This includes constant text as well as variable data like internal table data coming from the ABAP
program.

It is advisable to group logically related data within one text element.

The fields of various tables defined in the ABAP program will be included under these text
elements. These fields are carriers of data. Every field should be included in a pair of &
characters. (e.g. &aufk-aufnr&)

Page Windows

All the windows that form a page of the layout set.

Choose the window and click the Text Elements button to go to the Layout Set Editor. This
consists of 2 parts

The small space on the left is for specifying the type of command, while the window adjacent to it
is for writing the command or the text that needs to go under a text element.

Including Graphical Images -

Page 4 of 9

The various types of commands that can be used within a layout set are
tabulated below

Command Purpose

* Default paragraph

Blank Continuous text

= Extended Line

( Raw Line

/ Line Feed

/= Line feed and extended line

/( Line Feed and Raw Line

/: Command Line

/* Comment Line

/E Text Element

<PN> This is either the name of the paragraph that should be applicable from that line of the layout
set

- Layout Set Commands -

Page 5 of 9

The steps for including graphical elements in the layout set are as follows

• The graphical element (like company logo) should be in valid graphic file format like .bmp
or .jpg

• Use appropriate software to convert the above file into a .TIFF file

• Use report RSTXLDMC to upload this file as a text module in SAP

• Execute the above program from the ABAP /4 editor

• Enter the location of the .TIFF file on the PC

• Specify BMON or BCOL as the raster image type

• The SAP system suggests a name for the file ( like ZHEX-MARCO-* ). The * indicates the
type of file. For e.g. if the file contains a logo then the name can be ZHEX-MACRO-
LOGO

• The ID should be ‘ST’ and give the logon language

• Running the program will convert this .TIFF file into a text element

• Incorporate this converted logo in the appropriate window under the appropriate text
element by giving

INCLUDE ZHEX-MACRO-LOGO OBJECT TEXT ID ST in the first line

- Commands -
Page 6 of 9
The commands that are commonly used in a sap script are as follows -:

Command Use

New-page <page name> Prints the text following this command on a new page (when a
page name is specified then that page is taken as the next
page)

Protect ….. Endprotect
This acts like a conditional page break. Putting the text within
this command prevents the breaking of the text across multiple
pages. If there is not enough space for the entire paragraph to
be printed in the space remaining on the page, then the entire
paragraph is printed on the next page

Box <xpos> <ypos> <width> <height>
<frame> <intensity>
Position <xorigin> <yorigin> <window>
<page>
Size <width> <height> <window>
<page>
The BOX command draws a box as per the specifications. The
x y co-ordinates are for the upper left corner relative to the
values in the position command.
POSITION command is used to set the x y co-ordinates with
respect to the start position of the window.
SIZE command is used to specify the size of the box that we
need to draw.

Varying these parameters also helps to draw a line instead of a

box.

IF ….. END IF This allows the conditional printing of the text on the output
document. The various conditional operators that can be used
are as follows

= EQ Equal to

< LT Less than

> GT Greater than

<= LE Less than or equal to

>= GE greater than or equal to

<> NE not equal to

The logical operators that can be used are as follows

 NOT, AND, OR

- Invoice Example Walkthrough -

Page 7 of 9

The best way to explain the various steps in designing a SAP script is to
visualize the creation of a document. The entire process is explained as a
series of steps.

Let us assume that we need to design the document Invoice.doc for the ABC Company Limited.

1. Understand the structure of the document that needs to be generated page by page.

2. Find out the different pages that form the document.

3. Decide the FIRST page of the document and the pages that are going to follow.

4. Find out the various fonts and styles (bold, italics, etc) that are used in the document.

5. Also try to group the data printed on the document into logical parts.

6. Create all the character strings that have been used in the document

7. Create all the paragraphs that have been used in the document

8. Create all CONSTANT the windows that have been uniquely identified in the document

9. Identify the MAIN window of the every page of the document

10. Define the pages that form the parts of the document

11. Assign the windows to each page

12. Define the text elements within each window

13. Use function module OPEN_FORM to open the layout set.

14. Use function module WRITE_FORM to write the text elements in various windows

15. Use function module CLOSE_FORM to close the layout set

Always remember to check and activate the layout set when any change is done to it,
otherwise the change will not appear on the output document that is printed!!!

- Example Layout Set -

Page 8 of 9
Layout set Z_TESTSCRIPT
Description Test SAP script

Standard attributes
First page FIRST
Default paragraph P1
Tab-stop 1.00 CH
Page format DINA4
Orientation Landscape
Lines/inch 6.00
Characters/inch 10.00

Font attributes
Font family COURIER
Font size 12.0 Point
Bold No
Italic No
Underlined No

Characters Attributes
B Character String Bold
Standard attributes
Marker No
Font attributes
Bold Yes

Paragraphs Attributes
P1 Default Paragraph
Standard attributes
Line spacing 1.00 LN
Left margin 1.00 CM
Alignment Left-aligned
Font attributes
Font family TIMES
Font size 12.0 Point

P2 Header Paragraph
Standard attributes
Line spacing 1.00 LN
Left margin 4.50 CM
Alignment Left-aligned
Font attributes
Font family TIMES
Font size 18.0 Point
Bold Yes

P3 Undelined paragraph
Standard attributes
Line spacing 1.00 LN
Alignment Left-aligned
Font attributes
Font family TIMES
Font size 12.0 Point
Underlined Yes

Windows Attributes
MAIN Main window
 Window type MAIN
HEADER Main window
Window type CONSTANT
FOOTER Main window
Window type CONSTANT

Pages Attributes
FIRST First Page
Standard attributes
Next page FIRST
Page counter
Mode START
Numbering type Arabic numerals
Page window
HEADER Left margin 00.00 CM
Upper margin 00.00 CM
Window width 20.00 CM
Window height 04.00 CM
MAIN Left margin 00.00 CM
Upper margin 05.00 CM
Window width 20.00 CM
Window height 20.00 CM
FOOTER Left margin 00.00 CM
Upper margin 25.00 CM
Window width 20.00 CM
Window height 04.00 CM

Text elements for following windows:

HEADER

Element HEADER
/: POSITION XORIGIN 2 CM YORIGIN '-0.5 CM'
/: BOX XPOS 1 CM YPOS 1 CM WIDTH 18 CM HEIGHT 1 CM FRAME 10 TW
INTENSITY 10
/
/
/
P2 ,,<B>TEST PURCHASE ORDER</>
/
/

MAIN

Element MAIN
P1 <B>Customer/Supplier:</>,,&KNA1-NAME1&
/
P1 <B>PO No:</>,,&EKPO-EBELN&
/
P1 <B>Part No:</>,,&MAKT-MATNR&
/
P1 <B>Description:</>,,&MAKT-MAKTX&
/
P1 <B>Quantity:,,</>&EKPO-MENGE&
/
P1 <B>Sign:</>&uline(81)&
/
P1 <B>Date:</>&EKKO-AEDAT&
FOOTER

Element FOOTER
/: POSITION XORIGIN 2 CM YORIGIN '-0.5 CM'
/: BOX XPOS 1 CM YPOS 1 CM WIDTH 18 CM HEIGHT 1 CM FRAME 10 TW
INTENSITY 10
/
/
/
P2 ,,<B>PLEASE SIGN THE PO BEFORE DISPATCH</>
/
/

Example Code -
Page 9 of 9

REPORT ZPSAPSCRIPT.
TABLES : EKKO,
EKPO,
KNA1,
USR01,
MARA,
MAKT.

DATA : BEGIN OF ZOPTION.

INCLUDE STRUCTURE ITCPO.
DATA : END OF ZOPTION.

PARAMETERS: P_EBELN LIKE EKKO-EBELN,

P_EBELP LIKE EKPO-EBELP.

CLEAR EKPO.
SELECT SINGLE * FROM EKPO
WHERE EBELN = P_EBELN AND
EBELP = P_EBELP.

CLEAR KNA1.
SELECT SINGLE NAME1 FROM KNA1
INTO KNA1-NAME1
WHERE KUNNR = EKPO-KUNNR.

CLEAR MAKT.
SELECT SINGLE MAKTX FROM MAKT
INTO MAKT-MAKTX
WHERE MATNR = EKPO-MATNR AND
SPRAS = SY-LANGU.

CLEAR USR01.
SELECT SINGLE * FROM USR01 WHERE BNAME = SY-UNAME.

ZOPTION-TDDEST = USR01-SPLD. "Output device (printer)

ZOPTION-TDIMMED = 'X'. "Print immediately
ZOPTION-TDDELETE = 'X'. "Delete after printing
ZOPTION-TDPROGRAM = 'ZPQRPRNT'. "Program Name

CALL FUNCTION 'OPEN_FORM'

EXPORTING
APPLICATION = 'TX'
* ARCHIVE_INDEX = ' '
* ARCHIVE_PARAMS = ' '
DEVICE = 'PRINTER'
DIALOG = ' '
FORM = 'Z_TESTSCRIPT'
LANGUAGE = SY-LANGU
OPTIONS = ZOPTION
IMPORTING
LANGUAGE = SY-LANGU
EXCEPTIONS
OTHERS = 1.

CALL FUNCTION 'WRITE_FORM'

EXPORTING
ELEMENT = 'HEADER'
* FUNCTION = 'SET'
* TYPE = 'BODY'
WINDOW = 'HEADER'
EXCEPTIONS
ELEMENT = 1.

CALL FUNCTION 'WRITE_FORM'

EXPORTING
ELEMENT = 'MAIN'
* FUNCTION = 'SET'
* TYPE = 'BODY'
WINDOW = 'MAIN'
EXCEPTIONS
ELEMENT = 1.

CALL FUNCTION 'WRITE_FORM'

EXPORTING
ELEMENT = 'FOOTER'
* FUNCTION = 'SET'
* TYPE = 'BODY'
WINDOW = 'FOOTER'
EXCEPTIONS
ELEMENT = 1.

CALL FUNCTION 'CLOSE_FORM'

EXCEPTIONS
UNOPENED = 1
OTHERS = 2.