Smartforms interview questions with answers

Prepared By: Uttam Agrawal http://www.abapmadeeasy.com
SMARTFORMS – INTERVIEW QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
1. What Are Smart Forms In SAP System?
SAP Smartform is a graphical user interface tool to create and maintain forms. SAP Smart
Forms supports printer, fax, e-mail or internet (XML) as its output medium.
SAP Smartform is a tool for the maintenance of forms on which application data from the SAP
system can be output. Depending on the application, the number of forms to be printed can be
very high, and they might have to be printed in a short period of time, in a mass printing.
Examples of mass printing are monthly invoices sent by telecom companies or salary
statements.
Transaction Code to create and maintain forms is SMARTFORMS.
2. What Are The Differences Between SAP Scripts & Smartforms?
Differences between SAP Scripts and Smart Forms are:
• Smart Forms are client independent and SAP Scripts are client dependent.
• Multiple page formats are possible in Smart Forms which is not the case in SAP Scripts.
• It is possible to have a Smart Form without a main window where as you create a SAP
Script without a main window.
• Smart Forms generates a function module when activated, which is not the case with
SAP Scripts.
• SAP Scripts require a driver program to display the output whereas in Smart Forms the
form routines can be written so that it is standalone.
• An integrated Form Builder helps to design Smart Forms more easily than SAP Scripts.
• A Table Painter and Smart Styles to assist in building up the Smart Forms which is not
available in SAP Scripts.
• Smart Forms generates XML output which can be viewed through the web.
3. How Many Main Windows Can We Have In A Smartform?
Unlike SAP Scripts, in Smart Forms you can have only one main window. And that too its width
should be same in all the pages whereas height can be varied. Only one main window per
smartforms is allowed but you can have 99 sub-windows.
Main Window - Smartforms – Only 1.
Main Window – SAP Scripts – 99.
4. Is It Mandatory To Have A Main Window In Smartforms?
It is possible to create Smartforms without a main window also. In case, confirmation of a mail
to client or customer is required there is no need of main window, this can be achieved or done

through smartforms without main window.
5. What Are The Types Of Windows Available In Smartforms?
Four Types of windows available in Smart Forms. They are:
• Main Window
• Secondary Window
• Copies Window
• Final Window
6. Explain The Significance Of Main Window?
Basically, we use main window when there is a need to display text or data which can
cover several pages. Say there is a requirement to display data of all the rows of a table (a
table in which you are not very sure as to how many row it has), in such cases we always use
main windows.
As soon as a main window is completely filled with text/data, the system continues to display
the text/data in the main window of the next page. It automatically triggers the page break.
Only one window can be defined in a form as main window. The main window can be called in
other pages of the form but it must have the same width on each page, but can differ in
height.
A page without main window must not call itself as next page, since this would trigger an
endless loop. In such a case, the system automatically terminates after three pages.
7. Explain The Significance Of Secondary Window?
Basically, secondary window is used to display text or data output with a fixed length.
Secondary windows are used when there is a need to display text and data in a predetermined
output area. There is no flow text display with page break.
If we position a secondary window with the same name on several pages, the system displays
the contents of this secondary window on each page.
Text & data that do not fit into the secondary window are truncated and not displayed.
8. Explain The Significance Of Copies Window?
Basically, Copies Window is a special type of secondary window for making pages as copy or
original.This window type is used to output data either on original, or on copies, or both.
In simple words, Copies window is to be used when there is a requirement to print copies of
the pages.
Copies window is used to define an output area for the print output, whose content you want
to appear either only on the copy or only on the original. This allows you to flag copies as

copies when the form is printed.
9. Explain The Significance Of Final Window?
Final window is to be used where there is a requirement to show/display details that has to
be processed only at the end of the form processing.
The windows in a page are processed from top to bottom. So the execution first skips all the
Final windows and completes the processing of other windows. Once all the non-final windows
are processed, the Final windows are processed from top to bottom.
For example if there is a requirement to display the total value of all the items on the first
page but the total value is known only at the end of the form processing, we can use the
Final window for displaying the total value. The sum of line items is calculated in the MAIN
window.
10. What Is The Difference Between Tables & Template Node?
Template contains a fixed number of rows and columns, where the output is fixed where as
a table can have variable number of rows. Templates are also preferred where there is a
need of proper alignment. Templates are used to print tables whose layout and rows are fixed
and known before the application program runtime. Example: Tax Forms
Template is a static entity i.e. its dimensions cannot be changed at run time whereas Table
is a dynamic entity i.e. its dimensions can be changed at run time. Hence, based on the
data, it can last from one page to multiple pages. For line items display, normally table is used
because one does not have prior information about the number of line items and no of pages.
Table node has 3 components- HEADER, ITEM and FOOTER
• The Header component will be executed once.
• The Item component can be used to process/display table contents.
• At the end footer will be executed.
Templates can be used to define the following:
• No. of rows and cell
• Height of each row
• Width Of individual cells
• Separators or frames to be displayed or not
• Alignment of the table in the window
Tables are used to print dynamic data which is not known before the application program
runtime. Example: Material list Of Purchase orders.
Tables node to be used only in main window and no such fixed height can be set for table
rows.

11. How To Insert Or Upload Graphics In Smartforms?
Graphics node is used to insert company logos as well as other graphics in any part of the
smartform. Before including a logo in a smartform, one must first upload the graphic from
the local PC system to SAP system using SE78 transaction. The imported graphic/image must
be of *.BMP or *.TIF extension.
12. Can You Force A Page Break Within Table Loop In Smart Forms? If Yes, How?
Create a loop around the table. Put a Command node before the table in the loop that
forces a NEWPAGE on whatever condition you want. Then only loop through a subset of the
internal table (based on the conditions in the Command node) of the elements in the Table
node.
13. How Do You Create & Maintain Font Style & Font Size Used In Smartforms In SAP?
We can use Transaction SMARTSTYLES. Here we can create and maintain Paragraph formats
and character formats as per the requirement.
We can use our own custom SMARTSTYLES in our Smart Form. We can mention the Smart Style
under the following path.
Global Settings --> Form Attributes -->Output Options tab --> Style.
14. Why SAP Scripts Are Client Dependent & Smartforms Are Client Independent?
Smart Forms create its own function module so it doesn’t need to transport the request
through SCC1. As all the Development Object are stored in client independent
tables. Whereas SAP Script doesn’t generate any function module while executing so we need
to transport the request number through SCC1. Sap Script is stored inside the client
dependent table as a TEXT. So SAP Scripts are client dependent and Smart Forms are client
independent.

15. A SAP R/3 System Has 2 Clients 100 & 110. You Create An SAP Script Z_Script & A
Smartform Z_Smartform In Client 100. Will Both Z_Script & Z_Smartform Be Available In
Client 110 As Well?
Client 110 will have just the Smartform Z_Smartform and not the SAP Script Z_Script. SAP-
Script is client dependent whereas SMARTFORM is client independent. One will have to
manually import the SAP Script to 110 through SCC1 transaction in SAP.
16. How Do You Find The Name Of The Function Module For A Smartform? When Is This
Function Module Created?
The function module for Smartform is created when the Smartform is activated. You can
find the name of the Function Module for a Smartform by going to Environment --> Function
Module Name.
17. You Have Created A Smartform In Development Server. Then You Transported The
Smartform To Production Server. Will The Name Of The Function Module Be Same In Both
The Servers?
The Smart Form that is created in the Development may not have the same name in the
Production server. So it is always advised to use the Function
Module 'SSF_FUNCTION_MODULE_NAME' to get the Function Module name by passing the
Smartform name.
DATA: fm_name TYPE rs38l_fnam.
CALL FUNCTION 'SSF_FUNCTION_MODULE_NAME'
EXPORTING
formname = 'ZSMARTFORM'
IMPORTING
fm_name = fm_name
EXCEPTIONS
no_form = 1
no_function_module = 2
others = 3.
IF sy-subrc <> 0.
MESSAGE ID sy-msgid TYPE sy-msgty NUMBER sy-msgno
WITH sy-msgv1 sy-msgv2 sy-msgv3 sy-msgv4.
ENDIF.
CALL FUNCTION fm_name
EXCEPTIONS
formatting_error = 1
internal_error = 2
send_error = 3
user_canceled = 4
others = 5.
IF sy-subrc <> 0.
MESSAGE ID sy-msgid TYPE sy-msgty NUMBER sy-msgno

WITH sy-msgv1 sy-msgv2 sy-msgv3 sy-msgv4.
ENDIF.
Once you transport the Smartform from Development to Production server, a new function
module name for the Smartform in generated in the Production server. For a particular
Smartform , generated function module names are different in different systems.
18. State The Difference Between Form Interface & Global Definitions In Global Settings Of
Smartforms?
Form Interface is where we can declare what must be passed in and out of the
smartform (in from the print program to the smartform and out from the smartform to the
print program).
Global Definition is where we declare data to be used within the smartform on a global
scope i.e. anything we declare here can be used in any other node in the form.
19. In A Certain Smartform, For Two Differently Configured Printers, There Seem To Be A
Difference In The Output Of Characters Per Inch (The Distance Between Characters Which
Gives A Layout Problem - Text In Two Lines Instead Of One.
It happens when the two printers having different Printer Controls. We can go to SPAD
Transaction Menu (Spool Administrator Menu) where we can see the difference in the Printer
Control and if we make the Printer control setting for both the printers as same then there
would be no difference in the output of characters per inch. Also we will have to check what
is the device type used for both the output devices if the issue persist.
20. How Can You Convert Smartforms Output To PDF?
Following steps needs to be carried out to convert Smart Forms output to PDF:
• Print the Smart Form to the spool.
• Note the spool number.
• Download the PDF file version of the spool by running Program RSTXPDFT4 and
entering the noted spool number.
Here is one more and probably the easiest way to see PDF output for a Smartform.
Type PDF! In the command prompt and hit enter button.

To see the Smartform Print Preview output as list output,
Type SLIS in the command prompt and hit enter.
21. How Will You Print On Both Sided Of A Smartform?
At the Page level in Smartforms, you can find something called as Print Mode. Set the Print
mode to duplex to print on both sides of the Smartform.
22. How Can One Insert Symbols In Smartforms?
Select the Text Node --> Change Editor --> Go to Menu Option 'Insert' --> Characters --> SAP
Symbols.
Choose the SAP symbol that you want to insert.
23. How Can I Make The Smartforms To Choose A Printer Name By Default?
In the CALL FUNCTION of the Smartform Function Module (CALL FUNCTION fm_name ), set
the output options parameter to set the printer name. The output option is of the type
SSFCOMPOP which contains the field TDDEST. Set the TDDEST field to your default printer
name.
For Example:
OUTPUT_OPTIONS-TDDEST = 'Printer Name'.

24. How Can I Make The Smartforms To Display A Print Preview By Default Without
Displaying The Popup For Print Parameters?
In the CALL FUNCTION of the Smartform Function Module (CALL FUNCTION fm_name ), set
the Output Options and Control Parameters as mentioned below:
control_options-preview = 'X'. " Print Preview
control_options -no_open = 'X'.
control_options -no_close = 'X'.
control_options -no_dialog = 'X'.
control_options -device = 'PRINTER'.
output_options-TDDEST = 'PRINTER NAME'. "Spool: Output Device
output_options-TDNOPRINT = 'X'. "No printing from print preview
CALL FUNCTION 'SSF_FUNCTION_MODULE_NAME'
EXPORTING
formname = c_formname
IMPORTING
fm_name = lf_fm_name
EXCEPTIONS
no_form = 1
no_function_module = 2
OTHERS = 3.
IF sy-subrc <> 0.
CALL FUNCTION LF_FM_NAME
EXPORTING
CONTROL_PARAMETERS = control_options
OUTPUT_OPTIONS = output_options
EXCEPTIONS
FORMATTING_ERROR = 1
INTERNAL_ERROR = 2
SEND_ERROR = 3
USER_CANCELED = 4
OTHERS = 5.
25. How Can I Display The Total Number Of Pages In Smartforms?
Use SFSY-FORMPAGES to display the total number of pages in the Smartforms
• &SFSY-PAGE& : Current page number
• &SFSY-FORMPAGE& : Total number of pages in the currently formatted layout set
• &SFSY-JOBPAGE& : Total number of pages in the currently formatted print request
• &SFSY-COPYCOUNT& : Original-1,1st copy-2
• &SFSY-DATE& : Date
• &SFSY-TIME& : Time

• &SFSY-USERNAME& : Username
26. Sometimes While Using The Variable SFSY-FORMPAGES Or SFSY-PAGE, You Get A Star '*'
Instead Of The Total Number Of Pages Or Current Page Number. How To Resolve Such
Issues?
There may not be enough space in the window to display the variable, either increase the
window dimensions or condense the spaces using &SFSY-FORMPAGES(C)& or using &SFSY-
FORMPAGES(ZC)& or using &SFSY-FORMPAGES(4ZC)&.
Here
• '4' reserves a four character wide output. (It can be set to any value.)
• 'Z' eliminates the leading zeroes.
• 'C' Compress Spaces.
27. What Are The Various Text Formatting Options In Smartforms?
Various text formatting options available in Smart Forms are:
• &symbol(Z)& : Omit Leading Zeroes
• &symbol(S)& : Omit Leading Sign
• &symbol(<)& : Display Leading Sign to the Left
• &symbol(>)& : Display Leading Sign to the Right
• &symbol(C)& : Compress Spaces
• &symbol(.N)& : Display up to N decimal places
• &symbol(T)& : Omit thousands separator
• &symbol(R)& : Right justified
• &symbol(I)& : Suppress output of the initial value
28. How To Add A Standard Address In A Smart Form?
Address can be printed quickly and smoothly using the address node available in smartforms.
This node is based on Central Address Management (CAM). Addresses can be of 3 types:
• Company /Organization address type.
• Workplace address type.
• Personal address type.
In case if you the address number or the person number is already known, then we just we
need to maintain the values in the options given in the address node.

In case if you are fetching the address number or the person number dynamically or during
run time, you can achieve it by passing the variable as shown below:
29. What Is The Concept Of Page Protection In Smart Forms? How Do You Achieve Page
Protection In Smart Forms?
Page Protection is used to avoid displaying the broken contents of the page and allow it to
display in the new page from the beginning after the previous page.
Page Protection attribute is to be used to determine whether or not to display a paragraph
completely on one page. Mark it if you want to avoid that a paragraph is split up by a page
break. If on the current page (only in the main window) there is not enough space left for the

paragraph, the entire paragraph appears on the next page.
While one can use the PROTECT ..... ENDPROTECT command for SAP-Scripts, for Smart Forms
the Page-Protection checkbox can be used to ensure page protection.
Note: You have Page-protection property only for Text Elements in the Main Window.
30. Can You Move A Smartform From One SAP System To Another Without Using
Transports?
Yes, this can be achieved using the Upload/Download feature for Smartforms. One can
download the Smartform from one system and save it as an XML file. Once that is done, the
XML file can be used to upload the Smartform in another system.
31. Why Pages & Windows Node Are Required Or Mandatory While Creating A Smart Form?
The Page represents the layout of the Page that is printed on and the items to be printed on
the Page are contained in Windows. The page together with the windows defined on the page
determines how the print will appear and the contents of the print.
32. How Can You Find The Generated Function Module Name For A Smart Form?
First activate the Smart Form. Go to Environment -> Function Module Name and get the
automatically generated function module for the Smart Form.
33. How Do You Debug A Smart Form?
By Putting a break point on the generated function module of the Smartform, one can debug it.
For more information, Refer the link mentioned below.
http://wiki.scn.sap.com/wiki/display/ABAP/Easy+Step+To+Debug+a+Smartform

34. What Are The Different Auxiliary Nodes Available In Smart Form?
Auxiliary nodes help to control and format the print but do not print any contents by
themselves. Following are the different auxiliary nodes available in Smart Form:
• Table: Output of a table containing application/dynamic data.
• Template: output of a table containing static data.
• Program Lines: Executes ABAP Code.
• Folder: Combines successor nodes to logical groups.
• Loop: Processes successor nodes repeatedly.
• Alternative: Branches depending on conditions.
• Command: Executes Special Commands.
35. What are the Text Types available in Smart Form?
There are 4 different types of Text available in Smart Forms. They are:
• Text Element
• Text Module
• Include Text
• Dynamic Text
36. What Are Text Modules In Smart Forms? What Are The Advantages Of Using Text
Module?
A Text Module acts as some sort of container of text, which makes reuse of text easier.
There are texts that frequently appear in different forms. Text Modules can be used to store
these texts centrally in the system. This detaches text maintenance from form maintenance,
with the result that there will be no need to call the Form Builder to edit individual texts.
Text modules can be maintained using smartforms transaction. The text module is
maintained exactly like the Text element. Text literals as well as fields can be written in the
text module. Fields of the Text module take values from the Smart Form from which it is
called. Since a Text Module is a separate entity, it has its own Management (Attributes) screen.
The main advantages of using a Text module are:
• Central storage and maintenance of texts: Commonly used texts like Terms and
Conditions, Address line on footer, etc. do not have to be typed and maintained on every Smart
Form being made. Also, changes made to the text at one place can be cascaded to all Forms
where it is used if the Copy option is not used.
• Language specific maintenance: Text modules can be maintained in different
languages. Thus, by referring to the same Text module name, Smart Forms in different
languages pick up the text of the corresponding language.

• Client independence: This is an advantage over Include texts that are client
dependent.
• Can be assigned to CTS: An advantage over Standard Texts that are not assigned to a
Transport System by default.
• Can be translated to other languages through the transaction SE63.
For more information, refer the link mentioned below:
http://www.saptechnical.com/Tutorials/Smartforms/TextModules/Demo.htm
37. What Is The Use Of Command Node In Smart Form?
Command Nodes can be used to achieve page break. By using Command Node, one can
manually control the numbers of records to be displayed per page based on some condition.
For More information, Refer the link mentioned below:
http://www.saptechnical.com/Tutorials/Smartforms/Command/Page3.htm
38. Can One Restrict The Translations Of Smart form To Specific Languages?
Yes, one can restrict the translations of Smart forms to specific languages by creating a super
set of languages for which you want to allow the translations. Go to form Attributes -->
General Attributes --> Language Attributes --> Into Selected Language.
Select all the languages for which you want the translation to happen.
39. How Can You Translate A Smart Form From One Language To Another?
In smart forms, if you want a user to see the text in other languages (other than language in
which smart form is created) , in Global settings ,we need to select radio button Into Selected
languages and maintain the Translations in that particular language using SE63.
There is no other way to automate this process but to maintain translations with human
intervention for selected languages.
In SE63 transaction, Use path Translations -> ABAP objects -> Other Long Text. Click on Forms
and Styles & Select Forms.
Please give object name in CAPITALS. Also select Source and target language from F4 help.
http://www.se63.info/translating-sap-smart-forms/
40. How Do You Assign Transport Request To Translations For Smart Forms?

Once you are done with your translation and you want to push the translation to your target
system, you need a transport request. Run the transaction code SLXT or program
RS_LXE_RECORD_TORDERfor creation of transport request.
http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/go/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/0010d07e-ec5d-2e10-
72ad-f233bd6a2c4d?quicklink=index&overridelayout=true
41. What Is The Use Of Folder Node In Smart Form?
Folder option is useful for placing all the contents into a single place which we call as
logical grouping.If we want to put a condition on a group of text elements or templates we can
place them in a folder and apply the condition once to the folder.
Folder option allows you to place all the contents into a single place. This is basically useful
when you have number of windows and with each window you have different graphics, texts,
tables, templates used. So to differentiate between 2 windows we generally go for folders and
place all contents of one window in a folder and wise versa.
Page Protection property of Folder control will be used in order to display text in the same
page without separating it into two different pages. If there is not enough space for a text
node, or a group of text nodes, a group of table rows, etc. the items will be displayed as a
group on the next page with maintaining the integrity of these items.
In SAP Smartforms documents frequently it is a requirement to print data in same page. For
example in a Smart Form table, some of the table rows are required to print in same page
together. If the empty space is not enough it is preferred to print those table rows in following
page together. In such cases Smartforms Folder control helps ABAP developers creating SAP
Smartforms documents. Folder control is the key for page protection in Smartforms.
SAP Smartform Folder control has the Page Protection attribute which can be used by SAP
Smart Form developers as a switch for keeping items in the same page.
42. How Do You Use Barcode in Smart Form?
First go to SE73 SAP Script Font Maintenance to create or display the system bar codes.
Then go to SMARTSTYLES transaction, create a new character format and assign the barcode
name that you have created in it. Then you can use the character format in your Smartform
wherever you want the barcode to be displayed.
For more details, refer the link mentioned below:
http://wiki.scn.sap.com/wiki/display/Snippets/Step-by-
step+New+Barcode+Technology+for+Smart+Forms

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