Auto convert SAP spool output to PDF file

As of Release 4.6D, PDF format (Adobe Acrobat data format) can be created via the SAP spooler by using the device type "PDF1".

As a workaround, a report (RSTXPDFT4) is made available for the missing "direct PDF printing", which can read spool requests, convert to PDF and perform a frontend download.

Read OSS Note 317851 - Printing PDF files in 4.6C/4.6B/4.5B

Note the restrictions specified in Note 323736 with the print output with PDF.

Caution when modifying device type ZPDF1, see Note 437696.

Version - 4.6D

If you are in version less than 4.6D, you can configure an output type to convert the spool automatically into a PDF format into your local harddisk but not do a "direct PDF printing".

When you print to this PDF output type, it will prompt you to enter the file name of your PDF file to be stored into your local harddisk.

First you have to add a printer using

Windows -> Start -> Settings -> Printers -> Generic / Text Only -> Port : Print to File

Next create a new device type e.g. ZPDF -> Select device type ZPDF1

Options for HostSpoolAccMethod

-> Host spool access method : F : Printing on Frontend Computer
Host Printer : __DEFAULT or Generic / Text Only
Save your entries.

When you print to the device type ZPDF, choose Generic / Text Only for the Frontend Computer if it is not the default type.


A user prompt Print to File will appear to let you specify the Output File Name.