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Archiving and Document Access For SAP PDF
Archiving and Document Access For SAP PDF
Archiving and Document Access For SAP PDF
Abstract
This white paper provides a comprehensive overview of the Open Text solutions for data and
document archiving in the SAP space, covering the three solutions:
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We explain in detail the value of these solutions for business and IT, such as how they help
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Reduce the total cost of ownership for the IT landscape by supporting data archiving
and legacy decommissioning
Ensure compliance and reduce risk by securely long-term archiving data and
documents in a compliant store
The final part covers the key capabilities of the three solutions and provides a deep-dive into the
functionality of components like the scanning application, imaging viewers, desktop and email
integration components, virtual folder views integrated in SAP, and the archive server as the
compliant store beneath.
.
Contents
Open Text Archiving and Document Access for SAP Solutions .......................... i
Contents ....................................................................................................................... 2
Introduction ................................................................................................................. 3
Enterprise-wide ECM solution for SAP applications .............................................. 4
Certified Integration with SAP NetWeaver ........................................................... 4
Business Value of Archiving and Document Integration into SAP ........................ 8
Connect: Improving operational efficiency and productivity ................................... 9
Cut Costs: Reduce Total Cost of Ownership for the IT landscape ....................... 14
Comply: Ensuring compliance and reducing risk ................................................. 16
Overview: Archiving and Document Access for SAP Solutions .......................... 18
Open Text Data Archiving for SAP Solutions ........................................................ 18
Open Text Archiving for SAP Solutions ................................................................ 20
Open Text Document Access for SAP Solutions .................................................. 22
Technological Deep Dive: The Product Components ........................................... 26
Architecture overview ........................................................................................... 26
Secure long-term archiving with the Archive Server ............................................ 27
Document display with Imaging Viewer ................................................................ 28
Form overlay for SAP documents......................................................................... 32
Scanning of documents with Desktop Scan and Enterprise Scan ....................... 33
Batch-Import with the Document Pipeline ............................................................ 35
Integration of office documents with DesktopLink ................................................ 35
Integration of emails with ExchangeLink and NotesLink ...................................... 36
Virtual folder views in SAP with DocuLink for SAP Solutions ............................... 37
Offline documents, mass printing, and mailing with Rendition
Services ......................................................................................................... 42
Introduction
Open Text Corporation has worked closely with SAP since 1992 in the document
imaging and document archiving areas. As an innovator in SAP archiving, Open
Text partnered with SAP to develop the SAP archiving strategy. As a result, SAP
released the ArchiveLink interface, which is now the base technology for
integrating external content repositories with SAP. Since the early days of
archiving, our document management and document archiving solutions have
evolved from an ordinary document repository for SAP to a powerful, enterprisewide ECM framework with the ability to manage up to several terabytes of SAP
documents and to integrate these documents in SAP and non-SAP business
processes.
Some analysts say the amount of data created in companies is growing by 80%
each year. This data overload includes both structured data (stored in databases
and generated by transactional IT systems such as SAP) and unstructured data
(emails, office documents, incoming paper documents, images, and so on). This
rapid data growth means that IT budgets are spent ensuring data security and
integrity, system performance, and availability, which leaves little money to invest
in business innovation to gain a competitive edge. Rapid data growth also
complicates a comprehensive strategy for corporate and regulatory compliance.
Figure 1
Estimate of future growth in
structured and unstructured
business content
In response to this data surplus, companies are looking for solutions that enable
them to manage the increasing amount of electronic data with a minimum of
effort and resources. Companies are striving to bridge the gap between
structured content (such as SAP order data) and unstructured content (such as
email or office documents that are associated with the customer order).
For a list of all certified products, visit the SAP partner directory and search for
Open Text:
http://www.sap.com/ecosystem/customers/directories/searchpartner.epx
Figure 2
ArchiveLink certificate for
Open Text Enterprise
Library
seamlessly integrates with SAP NetWeaver ILM via Enterprise Library as an ILMenabled content store. Enterprise Library enforces retentions and holds on
archived SAP data and attached documents, and it executes the deletion
command by SAP NetWeaver ILM at the end of the life cycle.
Figure 3
ECM Solutions unify
numbers and words
place internationally and 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across multiple
time zones. Historical data and documents need to be retained too since
regulations require compliant storage of data and documents beyond operational
use.
Figure 4
Archiving and Document
Access links to structured
and unstructured information
flows
to paper handling, such as maintaining a paper archive and creating local copies,
add to the problem and increase costs.
However, the challenge of handling unstructured information is not confined to
paper alone. Unstructured business content can also be in electronic formats,
such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, and email. Without a
comprehensive view of unstructured electronic information and direct access to it,
employees suffer from low productivity and poor decision making.
Archiving and Document Access captures paper documents, electronic
documents, and email, securely archives them, and integrates them with SAP
transactions and workflows. This provides users with fast and easy access to
content, anywhere and anytime. In addition, Archiving and Document Access
provides the ability to generate complete, transparent views (virtual folders) of all
data and documents related to the entire context of a business transaction.
Figure 5
Example of a typical
Accounts Payable process
Archiving and Document Access addresses the issues that drive up AP cost per
transaction by converting the invoice document from paper to electronic format
and integrating it with the SAP workflow. This workflow delivers the right
information to the right person at the right time, greatly reducing the paper
transport times and making the AP process more efficient by providing instant
access to the invoice document.
Figure 6
Typical savings in process
cycle time with an
automated Accounts
Payable solution
Open Text delivers a complete invoice processing application with integrated OCR with
the product Open Text Vendor Invoice Management for SAP Solutions, which is based on
Archiving and Document Access as archiving and imaging infrastructure.
Figure 7
Example of introduction of a
Shared Services Center
Figure 8
ECM Solution in Accounts
Receivable department
Figure 9
ECM effect on IT innovation
and operation
Open Text delivers a complete solution to manage all employee-related documents and
enable ESS based on Archiving and Document Access with Open Text Employee File
Management for SAP Solutions.
When several distributed SAP systems are being consolidated into one or a few
central SAP systems, print lists (reports) can be generated from the SAP systems
being retired and stored in the Archive Server. Users of the target SAP business
application can then access these print lists easily within their SAP environment.
The new SAP NetWeaver Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) enables the
decommissioning of legacy SAP ERP systems with the scenario Retention
Warehouse. Archiving and Document Access provides the ILM-certified store for
the legacy data in this scenario and complements access to the legacy data with
access to the archived print lists.
SAP recommends data archiving to speed up the process of upgrading from SAP
R/3 to SAP ERP and to minimize system downtime. The data archiving files can
be securely stored on the Archive Server and made available via SAPs standard
access to archived data. In addition, Archiving and Document Access can provide
views that include archived as well as non-archived data, thus enabling seamless
and transparent access to all data for the business user.
Archiving and Document Access relies on Open Text Archive Server , which is
perfectly suited to store all types of documents from SAP, Microsoft Exchange,
Lotus Notes, applications of the Open Text ECM Suite, and other custom
applications. Archive Server provides a large set of enhanced security features,
For more detailed information about Open Text Archive Server, please read the Open
Text Archive Server white paper or the product documentation.
such as content replication and distribution with remote standby (data security in
case disasters like fire or flooding), encryption and digital signatures
(unauthorized access prevention), and hot standby (system availability in case of
server failure) for secure and unalterable document storage. In the SAP
environment, Archiving and Document Access uses proven SAP authorization.
Archive Server supports optical media such as WORM (Write Once, Read Many),
DVD, or UDO (Ultra Density Optical). These can only be written once and thus
provide an excellent safeguard against accidental and intentional deletion or
alteration. In addition, Archive Server supports hard disk-based storage systems
(SAN, NAS, CAS) with WORM-feature and Hierarchical Storage Management
(HSM) systems from leading storage platform vendors. The combination of
secure, write-only media with the management and security capabilities delivered
by Archive Server provides the highest possible level of security for important
business documents.
Figure 10
Example of data
archiving in SAP
Reduced risk: Reduce operational risks by storing data archiving files and
print lists securely in a tamper-proof form. Comply with data retention and
disposition requirements.
Data Archiving for SAP Solutions includes the following product components:
Enterprise Library
Imaging Viewers (Windows, Java, Web)
Data Archiving for SAP Solutions includes the following licensed functionality:
Secure storage for SAP data archiving files and print lists
Retention for data archiving files via SAP NetWeaver ILM
Display of SAP print lists in Imaging Viewers
Figure 11
Access to archived
documents in SAP GUI
via Attachment List
Figure 12
SAP Attachment List
Archiving for SAP Solutions enables you to create, access, manage, and securely
archive all SAP documents, thereby addressing stringent requirements for risk
reduction and operational efficiency. It includes all of the capabilities of Data
Archiving for SAP Solutions and provides highly scalable and secure document
imaging and archiving services for the complete range of SAP business
documents, such as incoming and outgoing invoices, orders, delivery notes,
contracts, HR employee documents, and more. Archiving for SAP Solutions
represents a complete out-of-the-box solution. It supports all standard SAP
business applications, including, but not limited to, Finance and Accounting,
Operations, Manufacturing, Logistics, and HR, providing seamless integration
with SAP Workflow.
Once a document has been saved in the archive, it is immediately available to
users at every workstation. Finding documents involves using standard SAP
transactions and the SAP object. Retrieval is through a special SAP menu item:
the attachment list of the object services.
In addition, Open Text offers solutions for viewing documents; adding notes and
annotations to documents; scanning high, mid, and low document volumes; form
overlay of outgoing documents printed on paper forms; and integrating with
Microsoft Office and groupware (Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes)
applications.
The benefits of business document integration with SAP based on Archiving for
SAP Solutions include
processing, full access to customer data that ensures a high service level,
and so on.
Reduced risk: Content must be protected from loss in natural disasters such
as fire, flooding, storms, and so on. With this solution, documents can be
replicated to additional, geographically dispersed storage locations. If one of
these locations is destroyed, vital documents remain available.
Archiving for SAP Solutions includes Data Archiving for SAP Solutions and adds
the following components:
Open Text Archiving and Document Access for SAP Solutions (ABAP Add-on)
Imaging Enterprise Scan
Imaging DesktopLink
Archiving for SAP Solutions includes the following licensed functionality
Secure storage for SAP data archiving files and print lists
Retain data and attached documents via SAP NetWeaver ILM
Archive documents and attach them to SAP objects
o Outgoing Documents (including Forms Management)
o Incoming Documents (with Early & Late Archiving)
Scanning with and without barcode
Electronic documents in workflows
o Desktop Documents
o Mass document input
View documents in the Imaging Viewers for core formats with notes and
annotation capability
In addition, Archiving for SAP Solutions can be extended with the following
optional components:
Imaging ExchangeLink (provides integration with Microsoft Outlook)
Imaging NotesLink (provides integration with Lotus Notes mail client)
Figure 13
Document Access in SAP
applications
contracts, billing documents, acceptance test reports, delivery notes, and much
more.
Figure 14
Document Access for SAP
Solutions view for Accounts
Receivable
In addition to the features provided by Data Archiving for SAP Solutions and
Archiving for SAP Solutions, Document Access for SAP Solutions also provides
the following:
Module and system-spanning access (for example, SAP CRM and SAP ERP
systems)
Low training costs: Document Access for SAP Solutions instantly generates
value through the seamless integration of the system with SAP applications.
Existing SAP processes are enriched by process-oriented document access.
Occasional users gain access to the enterprises information resources.
Document Access for SAP Solutions includes Data Archiving for SAP Solutions
and Archiving for SAP Solutions and adds the following components:
Open Text DocuLink for SAP Solutions
With the licensed scenarios
Virtual folder views (360 degree views)
In addition, Document Access for SAP Solutions can be extended with the
following optional components:
Outgoing SAP documents (documents that were created by the SAP system,
such as purchase orders, invoices, reminder letters, and delivery notes)
SAP data archiving files, including SAP NetWeaver ILM data files
Other SAP ArchiveLink and SAP KPro documents created by the SAP
system or users in different SAP modules and applications
Enterprise Library with the Archive Server: The backbone of the solution,
it provides secure long-term storage of data and documents.
The ABAP add-ons run in the SAP application on top of the SAP
NetWeaver ABAP stack: The most important part of the add-ons, DocuLink
for SAP Solutions, enables the virtual folder views. Other ABAP function
modules provide the interface to the client components and Document
Pipeline for the document ingestion.
The Document Pipeline for COLD and other formats: Offer a batch import
interface into the solution.
Figure 15
Overview of Open Text
Archiving and Document
Access
For more detailed information about Open Text Archive Server, please read the Open
Text Archive Server white paper.
Built-in backup for the archived content, replication and distribution of content
with Remote Standby Servers, built-in disaster recovery protects content from
loss in disasters like fire, explosions, and floods. High availibility scenarios
based on cluster technology assure access to the content for world-wide
installation, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Figure 15
Open Text Imaging Viewers
Figure 16
Open Text Imaging
Web Viewer
Figure 17
Open Text Imaging
Windows Viewer
To provide a complete solution for capturing and displaying the complete range of
business documents, all three Imaging Viewers support full imaging functionality:
Add and view notes on documents. Note entries are automatically and
unalterably tagged with the current date, time, and user name.
Add, edit, and view annotations, including drawing elements such as arrows,
lines, checkmarks, and text.
Search free text in Coded Information (CI) documents like ASCII, ALF (SAP
print list), and OTF documents. For efficiency, the search is executed on the
Archive Server. For print lists with generated indices, search can be restricted
to specific fields
All three viewers support a set of standard document formats, including ASCII,
PDF, ALF, OTF, TIFF/FAX, and JPEG. Other document formats are displayed in
their originating or associated application.
Figure 18
Open Text Imaging
Windows Viewer
with Annotation
Figure 19
Scanning with Open Text
Imaging Enterprise Scan
Filling pick lists and dependent pick lists with values originating in SAP
solutions or other systems.
Viewing via a rectangular zoom tool in addition to the full page view.
(ODMA) interface. Files can be archived in their original format from any ODMAcompatible application, such as Microsoft Office applications. The Save with
Imaging DesktopLink menu item lets users save documents directly to the
archive without requiring special macros. Before archiving Office documents,
users can choose whether they want to render the document to a long-term
document format like PDF or TIFF.
Figure 20
Open Text Imaging
DesktopLink Save as
applications. Users are able to select an email in Microsoft Outlook and link that
email or an attachment to standard SAP business objects such as invoices,
customers, or orders. Imaging ExchangeLink then creates a copy of the email or
attachment and archives it in the Archive Server. The archived email or selected
attachments are then linked to the selected object in the SAP system. This allows
SAP users to access the email directly within SAP GUI.
Figure 21
Open Text Imaging
ExchangeLink
Figure 22
Open Text DocuLink for
SAP Solutions
Virtual Folder View
DocuLink for SAP Solutions supports the document creation process and also
supports standard templates for documents such as contracts, presentations, and
customer correspondence. It provides document management functions like
check-in/check-out and versioning. Using the Status Management function, users
can assign a status to documents, define the status flow, and customize
predefined actions that are triggered by a status change. Predefined steps
include rendering office documents to PDF or TIFF and moving documents
between content repositories (for example, from a hard disk to long-term media
such as DVD).
DocuLink for SAP Solutions includes the following components:
Customizing: This tool lets you adapt DocuLink for SAP Solutions to meet
the needs of individual users. To create DocuLink for SAP Solutions views,
the tool makes two customizing modes available to the administrator:
Administration: This administration tool lets you adapt DocuLink for SAP
Solutions to meet the individual users needs. DocuLink for SAP Solutions
administration includes log tables, COLD statistics, and generated programs.
User Interface: The user interface provides a process-oriented, crossmodule display of SAP and non-SAP data and documents, and it ensures
that DocuLink for SAP Solutions is easy to use. There are three types of user
interfaces available:
Web-based GUI for use in Internet or intranet scenarios. The Web user
interface is restricted to read-only access to documents and data. It
might be used in a standalone application or as part of a custom Web
portal.
Figure 23
DocuLink for SAP Solutions
integrated as GOS in a
standard SAP transaction
www.opentext.com
Sales:
sales@opentext.com
1-800-499-6544
Support:
support@opentext.com
1-800-540-7292
w w w. o p e n t e x t . c o m
For more information about Open Text products and services, visit www.opentext.com. Open Text is a publicly traded company on both NASDAQ (OTEX) and the TSX (OTC).
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