SAP Printing
What is SAP Printing
Years ago, the corporate computing environment consisted of a mainframe
computer (host), dumb terminals (workstations), and line printers. Then, in the
late 70s and early 80s, the use of computers started to migrate away from the
centralized, mainframe environment, where most applications were batchbased,
to a more distributed configuration where personal desktop computers
were used to empower individuals, and release them from the
“standardization” of applications and printed output that formed the core of
host computing.
However, with the implementation of personal computers within the corporate
environment and the resulting de-centralization of data, came a new set of
issues. For example, it was not uncommon to find that data, distributed among
multiple groups, modified and tailored to meet an individual group’s needs,
would have very little resemblance to the original data. The result was that
various databases were not consistent between themselves, and of more
concern, each database would contain its “own” set of errors.
The solution to this “over-de-centralization” was to connect the individual PCs
together through the use of a local area network, and create a shared data pool
that could be used as “single-source location” for the individual reports and
applications required by the many organizations and groups within a company.
Other advantages afforded by a networked computing environment included
the sharing of resources such as printers and scanners, and the use of the
network as a communication medium through the use of e-mail and “Instant
Messaging.”
However, while a PC/networked computing environment is beneficial in many
instances it does not provide the necessary support for all business
environments. PCs are designed primarily for interactive, real-time
applications. Networked PCs, while still an important business resource,
generally do not have the capability or power to provide an organization with a
single large-scale environment that provides a consistent set of closely related
applications designed to manage all of the functions of the organization - PCs
can not provide ERP (Enterprise Resources Planning) capabilities.
Printing Solutions for SAP & AS/400 Environments Overview of SAP and AS/400 Printing
So, while PCs presently provide the most visible form of computing within
most companies, the use of high-volume mainframe equipment, and the
implementation of ERP systems is growing rapidly. It is interesting to note,
that while ERP systems are relatively new; high-volume, business-application
mainframe computers have been in corporate computing environments even
before the advent of the PC. Two important reasons behind the increasing use
of mainframe computers within the networked PC environment is their ability
to provide a common repository for a company's data (data that can be used by
connected PCs), and the fact that they are designed to function extremely well
in the business-oriented applications such as payroll processing, billing, and
order-processing.
IBM has long played a major role in the host-computing world, and they
continue to grow as a provider of host-based computing equipment. A few of
the better known IBM host-based models include the: IBM S/390, zSeries
servers, and the AS/400 servers (now known as iSeries servers). In the world
of ERP packages, leading providers include SAP, Oracle, and J.D. Edwards.
And, since printing all types of output is one of the major tasks of both
mainframe- and ERP-based systems, it is only to Ricoh's benefit to develop
products compatible with each of these environments.
SAP
SAP, pronounced S.A.P. is an initialism for “Systemanalyse und
Programmentwicklung” (System Analysis and Program Development) and was
founded in 1972. SAP is currently headquartered in Walldorf, Germany and is
one of the world leaders in the development of collaborative business software
applications.
For large corporations, SAP's Enterprise Resource Planning package, SAP R/3,
provides the software necessary to operate, manage, track, and maintain all
aspects of a modern business. In addition, the SAP R/3 suite also includes a
complete application development environment, ABAP (Advanced Business
Application Programming), in which all R/3 applications are written, and
which can be used to develop additional, company-specific applications. The
standard SAP R/3 package can be used to support business functions such as
human resources, inventory control, accounting, materials management,
payroll, production planning, investment management, and sales/distribution.
And, since most, if not all of these functions require printed output, Ricoh's
printing and multifunction devices can play a very important role in a SAP
R/3-equipped enterprise environment.
Printing Solutions for SAP & AS/400 Environments Overview of SAP and AS/400 Printing
Accordingly, Ricoh currently provides two software components that allow the
integration of Ricoh printers and MFPs in a SAP R/3 environment. The first
component, the SAP device type, is a software module that is loaded on the
SAP server system. This module allows SAP applications to print to certain
Ricoh printers and multifunction devices, and provides the user access to the
various printing and finishing features of the printer or MFP. The second
component is the SAP BOP (Bar Code And OCR Package) product. The BOP
product allows the printing of wide a variety of bar codes, and several OCR
fonts, to Ricoh printers/MFPs. The BOP product includes software that is
loaded on the SAP system and a set of bar code and OCR fonts (depending on
the printer or MFP, fonts are available either as software fonts that can be
downloaded to the device's HDD, or on a DIMM).
[This message was edited by Docusultant on Tue November 25 2003 at 05:41 AM.]
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