SAP’s SmartForms SBPL

Include Method

Overview of Procedures
Version 070228-01

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http://www.satoworldwide.com
Table of Contents

1. Introduction ................................................................................... 3

2. Overview ........................................................................................ 4
2.1. Key components ............................................................................. 4
2.2. Overview 4

3. Procedure....................................................................................... 5
3.1. Creating Text Elements................................................................... 5
3.1.1. ZHeader Text Element ....................................... 6
3.1.2. ZFooter Text Element......................................... 6
3.1.3. ZText Text Element ............................................ 7
3.1.4. ZBarcode Text Element...................................... 7
3.2. Creating the SmartForms................................................................ 8

4. Print with SATO Device Type..................................................... 10

5. Advantageous of this method.................................................... 11

5.1. SAP Developers have better control over of what to be printed. .. 11
5.2. SmartStyles is not required ........................................................... 11
5.3. Customer supports ........................................................................ 11

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Overview of Procedures
1. Introduction
This document explains the SATO printing solution for SAP®’s SmartForms by using the
SBPL Include method.

It is assumed that the readers have the basic understanding of how the SAP®’s
SmartForms works.

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Overview of Procedures
2. Overview
2.1. Key components
- SAP®’s SmartForms (Transaction code: /nsmartforms)
- SAP®’s Text Element (Transaction code: /nso10)
- SAP®’s ABAP
- SATO’s Device Type (ZLB_SAT)
- SATO’s Printer Driver and printer

2.2. Overview
Windows Platform

Print
SmartForms ZLB_SAT
Device
Type
Include
SATO
Printer
Driver SATO
Text Element Text Element Text Element Printer
with SBPL with SBPL with SBPL

Control the content of the text elements

ABAP
program

Figure 1 Overview of the SBPL Include method

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Overview of Procedures
3. Procedure
The following section explains the steps to print a SmartForms using the SBPL include
method. The example used here will print a label that consists of:
- a line of text
- a barcode
- a frame or page border

3.1. Creating Text Elements

Text elements are created to contain the SATO Basic Programming Language (SBPL)
commands. It is up to the SmartForms designer or ABAP developer to decide the
content in the text elements.

For better understanding of the SBPL commands, SAP developers are expected to
use the Label Gallery to generate SBPL commands for the necessary print items, or to
work with the SATO support staff.

Figure 2 Creating Text Element

Text element can be created using Transaction code: so10. In this example, 4 text elements
will be created:
- ZHeader (to include the SBPL commands for header information)
- ZFooter (to include the SBPL commands for footer information)
- ZText (to include the SBPL commands for text)
- ZBarcode (to include the SBPL commands for barcode)

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Overview of Procedures
3.1.1. ZHeader Text Element

Figure 3 Text Element for ZHeader

This text element contains the Page opening command (^A), the rotation command (^%) and
the border command (^FW).

3.1.2. ZFooter Text Element

Figure 4 ZFooter Text Element

This text element contains the page count command (^Q) and the end page command (^Z).

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Overview of Procedures
3.1.3. ZText Text Element

Figure 5 ZText Element

This text element contains the SBPL command to print text with CG Time fonts (^RD), and
the commands to position the text (^V and ^H).

3.1.4. ZBarcode Text Element

Figure 6 ZBarcode Text Element

This text element contains the SBPL commands to print an EAN13 barcode (^D) and the
commands to position the barcode (^V and ^H)

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Overview of Procedures
3.2. Creating the SmartForms
Use Transaction code: smartforms to create a Smartforms.

Figure 7 Creating a Smartforms

Figure 8 Creating Text Elements in the Smartforms

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st
1 element

Last element

Figure 9 Include Text

After all the text elements have been included in the SmartForms, it has to be made sure
that the HEADER and the FOOTER text elements should be placed as the first and the last
element.

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Overview of Procedures
4. Print with SATO Device Type
SATO will provide the required Device Type files to customers.

The SmartForms will then be printed as usual using the device type. The device
type will point to the designated SATO printer.

* In this example, the content of the text elements are static. ABAP program is
required to control the content of the text elements during runtime. For example,
it might require the value of the barcode to be read from database based on
certain criteria. The ABAP program is responsible to manipulate the SBPL
commands in the text element.

The following printout will be produced from the above example:

Figure 10 Printout from GT printer

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Overview of Procedures
5. Advantageous of this method
After all, it is unlikely that the values of all the text elements are static. ABAP development
team is required to control the values of text elements to reflect runtime output during
printing. Using this approach brings the following advantageous over the normal method:

5.1. SAP Developers have better control over of what to be

printed.
By using the printer commands directly, it is easier to achieve the required printing result
such as a particular font printing, 2D barcode printing and rotation effect. Using Zebra
printer, this can only be possible by defining the SAP®’s print controls after
understanding the ZPL commands, which is a complicated process.

5.2. SmartStyles is not required

Using Zebra printer, SmartStyles has to be defined to specify all the required printing
items such as fonts and barcodes. This step is not required with SBPL Include Method
because the printing items are defined directly as SBPL commands in the Text Element.

5.3. Customer supports

Customers can use Label Gallery to design the label and then generate the required
SBPL commands by exporting to files. SATO support staff and its business partners with
strong knowledge of SBPL commands are always available to advice and to assist
customers to integrate the printer language into the SmartForms development.

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Overview of Procedures