Customizing SAP R/3

SAP R/3 users can use Print Interface to print on any printers that are defined in the Printer Inventory. If the printer is an AFP printer, Print Interface can automatically invoke a transform such as a PCL to AFP, PostScript to AFP, or SAP to AFP transform. The transform that you need depends on the type of output the SAP R/3 output device creates.

Depending on where your SAP R/3 application servers run, different Print Interface components handle the print requests and provide different functions:
  • An SAP R/3 application server runs on the same z/OS® system as Infoprint Server.

    When an SAP R/3 application server runs on the same z/OS system as Infoprint Server, the SAP Output Management System (OMS) provided with Print Interface handles print requests. Users can use the SAP OMS to cancel jobs and obtain accurate job status. The SAP Callback daemon provided with Print Interface provides immediate notification when documents complete successfully or unsuccessfully. The Callback daemon also can provide notification to SAP R/3 applications that are running on other systems if the SAP R/3 spool work process runs on the same z/OS system as Infoprint Server. Figure 1 shows this configuration.

  • An SAP R/3 application server does not run on the same z/OS system as Infoprint Server.

    When no SAP R/3 application server runs on the same z/OS system as Infoprint Server, the Print Interface LPD handles print requests. Users cannot receive notification about their print requests or cancel jobs. Users can receive job status. However, the job status is not as accurate as when the SAP R/3 application server runs on the same z/OS system as Infoprint Server and the Infoprint Server OMS is used. Figure 1 shows this configuration.

Table 1 summarizes the customization tasks when an SAP R/3 application server runs on the same z/OS system as Infoprint Server. Required tasks are necessary for all installations. Optional tasks are required only if the listed condition applies to your installation.
Table 1. Customization tasks for Print Interface when SAP R/3 application server runs on same z/OS system
Task Condition
Defining an SAP user for the callback daemon Required
Creating the SAP callback daemon configuration file (aopsapd.conf) Required
Setting environment variables for the SAP OMS Required
Defining a ROMS and LOMS to the SAP R/3 application server Required
Modifying the LOMS to specify job attributes Optional: To specify Infoprint Server job attributes.
Creating an SAP R/3 output device Required
Table 2 summarizes the customization tasks when an SAP R/3 application server does not run on the same system as Infoprint Server. For example, the application server might run on an AIX® or Windows system.
Table 2. Customization tasks for Print Interface when SAP R/3 application server does not run on same z/OS system
Task Condition
Creating an SAP R/3 output device Required
Customizing the Print Interface LPD Required
Related tasks: After you customize Print Interface for printing from SAP R/3, do these tasks:
  • If you use the SAP Callback daemon, stop and restart all Infoprint Server daemons. The SAP Callback daemon, aopsapd, starts automatically when the first print request is received from the SAP R/3 Application Server for z/OS. For information, see z/OS Infoprint Server Operation and Administration.
  • Create a printer definition in the Printer Inventory for each printer. In the printer definition, specify fields that Print Interface requires. For information, see z/OS Infoprint Server Operation and Administration.
  • If the printer is an AFP printer, customize the SAP to AFP, PCL to AFP, or PostScript to AFP transform. The transform that you need depends on the type of output the SAP R/3 output device creates. For information about these transforms, see IBM Infoprint Transforms to AFP for z/OS.