Download ALV to PDF in SAP ABAP

The below lesson explains how to download ALV grid data into the local computer in PDF format.

Steps to be followed to convert ALV to PDF

1. Develop an ALV report.
2. Create custom GUI status.
3. Submit the ALV report in background, store output in spool and generate PDF.

Step1: Develop an ALV report.

REPORT ZSAPN_ALV2PDF_MARA.
TYPE-POOLS SLIS.
TYPES : BEGIN OF TY_MARA,  "User defined internal table type
        MATNR TYPE MARA-MATNR,
        MTART TYPE MARA-MTART,
        MBRSH TYPE MARA-MBRSH,
        MEINS TYPE MARA-MEINS,
      END OF TY_MARA.

DATA : IT_MARA TYPE TABLE OF TY_MARA ."Internal table
DATA : WA_MARA TYPE TY_MARA . "work area

DATA : IT_FCAT TYPE SLIS_T_FIELDCAT_ALV . "field catalog table
DATA : WA_FCAT LIKE LINE OF IT_FCAT . "field catalog work area
PARAMETERS : P_MTART TYPE MARA-MTART. "material type input

START-OF-SELECTION.
**get table data
  SELECT MATNR MTART MBRSH MEINS FROM MARA
      INTO TABLE IT_MARA UP TO 50 ROWS
      WHERE MTART = P_MTART.
*** generate field catalogue
  WA_FCAT-COL_POS = '1' . "column position
  WA_FCAT-FIELDNAME = 'MATNR' . "column name
  WA_FCAT-TABNAME = 'IT_MARA' . "table
  WA_FCAT-SELTEXT_M = 'Material' . "Column lable
  WA_FCAT-KEY = 'X' . "is a key field
  APPEND WA_FCAT TO IT_FCAT . "append to fcat
  CLEAR WA_FCAT .
  WA_FCAT-COL_POS = '2' .
  WA_FCAT-FIELDNAME = 'MBRSH' .
  WA_FCAT-TABNAME = 'IT_MARA' .
  WA_FCAT-SELTEXT_M = 'Industry Sec' .
  APPEND WA_FCAT TO IT_FCAT .
  CLEAR WA_FCAT .

  WA_FCAT-COL_POS = '3' .
  WA_FCAT-FIELDNAME = 'MTART' .
  WA_FCAT-TABNAME = 'IT_MARA' .
  WA_FCAT-SELTEXT_M = 'Material Type' .
  APPEND WA_FCAT TO IT_FCAT .
  CLEAR WA_FCAT .

  WA_FCAT-COL_POS = '4' .
  WA_FCAT-FIELDNAME = 'MEINS' .
  WA_FCAT-TABNAME = 'IT_MARA' .
  WA_FCAT-SELTEXT_M = 'Base.Unit' .
  WA_FCAT-REF_TABNAME = 'MARA' .
  APPEND WA_FCAT TO IT_FCAT .
  CLEAR WA_FCAT .
**display ALV
  CALL FUNCTION 'REUSE_ALV_GRID_DISPLAY'
    EXPORTING
      I_CALLBACK_PROGRAM       = SY-REPID
      I_CALLBACK_PF_STATUS_SET = 'FORM_MENU' "GU status form
      IT_FIELDCAT              = IT_FCAT "PASS FIELD CATALOG TO ALV
    TABLES
      T_OUTTAB                 = IT_MARA.

FORM FORM_MENU USING RT_EXTAB TYPE SLIS_T_EXTAB.
*SET PF STATUS to ALV 
  SET PF-STATUS 'MENU'. "GUI status...double click to create
ENDFORM.                               " SET_PF_STATUS

Step2: Create custom GUI status

You can create GUI status in two ways.

1. Double click on 'MENU' in from FORM_MENU
2. Go to SE41 and create

In our program, we will create using the first one. Double click on MENU and click on YES.

Provide short text and enter.

Expand application toolbar, provide name as EPDF, enter a popup will open just press enter.

Provide function text, icon, info text and enter.

Select a function key and enter.

Expand function keys and add standard toolbar buttons like below.

Save, activate and go back (F3) to program.

Execute the program, you will find the toolbar as below.

Step3: Submit the program, store output in spool and generate PDF.

Implement the logic to submit the program and download data into PDF. The below code has lots of steps, please try to understand based on comments provided.

**for to handle user command
FORM USER_COMMAND USING R_UCOMM LIKE SY-UCOMM
                        RS_SELFIELD TYPE SLIS_SELFIELD.
  CASE R_UCOMM.
    WHEN 'EPDF'. "Function code for export which we created in MENU
**submit the same program in background and store
      TYPES: BEGIN OF TY_TSP01,
            RQIDENT   TYPE TSP01-RQIDENT,           " spool number
            RQ2NAME TYPE TSP01-RQ2NAME,           " Spool request: Suffix 2
            RQCRETIME TYPE TSP01-RQCRETIME,         " User name
            END OF TY_TSP01.
      DATA: LV_JOBCNT TYPE TBTCJOB-JOBCOUNT,         " job number
            LV_JOBNAME TYPE TBTCJOB-JOBNAME.         " job name
      DATA: LV_LEN TYPE I,
          LS_PARAM TYPE RSPARAMS,                  " selection work area
          LS_TSP01 TYPE TY_TSP01,                  " Spool Requests work area
          LT_TSP01 TYPE STANDARD TABLE OF TY_TSP01, " Spool Requests internal table
          LT_PARAM TYPE RSPARAMS_TT.                " Selection table
* ********* Derive job counter
      LV_JOBNAME = 'ZALV2PDF'. "Background job name
      CALL FUNCTION 'JOB_OPEN' "open a job
        EXPORTING
          JOBNAME          = LV_JOBNAME
        IMPORTING
          JOBCOUNT         = LV_JOBCNT
        EXCEPTIONS
          CANT_CREATE_JOB  = 1
          INVALID_JOB_DATA = 2
          JOBNAME_MISSING  = 3
          OTHERS           = 4.
      IF SY-SUBRC EQ 0.
        DATA : LV_RQDEST TYPE TSP01-RQDEST VALUE 'LP01',
              LV_LINSZ TYPE SYLINSZ VALUE '9999999'.

        SUBMIT (SY-REPID) "submit the same program
        WITH P_MTART = P_MTART
          TO SAP-SPOOL  DESTINATION LV_RQDEST
          LINE-SIZE LV_LINSZ
          IMMEDIATELY 'X'
          KEEP IN SPOOL 'X'
          USER SY-UNAME VIA JOB LV_JOBNAME NUMBER LV_JOBCNT
          WITHOUT SPOOL DYNPRO
          WITH SELECTION-TABLE LT_PARAM
          AND RETURN.

        CALL FUNCTION 'JOB_CLOSE' "job close
          EXPORTING
            JOBCOUNT             = LV_JOBCNT
            JOBNAME              = LV_JOBNAME
            STRTIMMED            = 'X'
          EXCEPTIONS
            CANT_START_IMMEDIATE = 1
            INVALID_STARTDATE    = 2
            JOBNAME_MISSING      = 3
            JOB_CLOSE_FAILED     = 4
            JOB_NOSTEPS          = 5
            JOB_NOTEX            = 6
            LOCK_FAILED          = 7
            INVALID_TARGET       = 8
            OTHERS               = 9.
        IF SY-SUBRC <> 0.
          RAISE JOB_CANNOT_BE_CLOSED.                    " Raise exception
        ENDIF.
      ELSE.
        RAISE JOB_CANNOT_BE_SUBMITTED.
      ENDIF.
*********** confirm job status if finished
      DATA: LV_JOB    TYPE TBTCV-FIN.                " Job status
      DO 120 TIMES.
        CALL FUNCTION 'BDL_READ_JOB_STATUS' "get job status
          EXPORTING
            JOBNAME       = LV_JOBNAME
            JOBNUMBER     = LV_JOBCNT
          IMPORTING
            JOBSTATUS     = LV_JOB
          EXCEPTIONS
            JOB_NOT_FOUND = 1
            OTHERS        = 2.
        IF LV_JOB NE 'F'. "job finished
          WAIT UP TO 1 SECONDS.
          CONTINUE.
        ELSE.
          EXIT.
        ENDIF.
      ENDDO.
**calculate report name in Spool table
      DATA:  LV_RQ2NAME TYPE TSP01-RQ2NAME.           " Spool request
      DATA: LV_TMP(14) TYPE C,                       " temp
          LV_STRING TYPE STRING,                   " store program name
          LV_TEMP TYPE TSP01-RQ2NAME,              " Spool request
          LV_SPOOL TYPE TSP01-RQIDENT.             " spool number
      IF LV_JOB EQ 'F'. "job finished
        LV_LEN = STRLEN( SY-REPID ) .
        IF LV_LEN >= 9 .
          CONCATENATE SY-REPID+0(9)
                      SY-UNAME+0(3) INTO LV_RQ2NAME .
        ELSE.
          LV_LEN = 9 - LV_LEN.
          DO LV_LEN TIMES .
            CONCATENATE LV_TEMP '_' INTO LV_TEMP .
          ENDDO.
          CONCATENATE SY-REPID LV_TEMP
                      SY-UNAME INTO LV_RQ2NAME .
        ENDIF.

*Get spool request from SPOOL table TSP01
        SELECT RQIDENT RQ2NAME RQCRETIME FROM TSP01 INTO TABLE LT_TSP01
                WHERE RQ2NAME = LV_RQ2NAME AND RQOWNER = SY-UNAME .
*sort table to find latest spool no
        SORT  LT_TSP01 BY RQCRETIME DESCENDING .
*read table to find latest spool no
        READ TABLE LT_TSP01 INTO LS_TSP01 INDEX 1.
*get user desktop
        CALL METHOD CL_GUI_FRONTEND_SERVICES=>GET_DESKTOP_DIRECTORY
          CHANGING
            DESKTOP_DIRECTORY    = LV_STRING
          EXCEPTIONS
            CNTL_ERROR           = 1
            ERROR_NO_GUI         = 2
            NOT_SUPPORTED_BY_GUI = 3
            OTHERS               = 4.
        IF SY-SUBRC <> 0.
* Implement suitable error handling here
        ENDIF.
        CALL METHOD CL_GUI_CFW=>UPDATE_VIEW.
        CONCATENATE LV_STRING TEXT-001 INTO LV_STRING.

*Prepare selection table for PDF download
        LS_PARAM-SELNAME = 'SPOOLNO'.
        LS_PARAM-SIGN    = 'I'.
        LS_PARAM-OPTION  = 'EQ'.
        LS_PARAM-LOW     = LS_TSP01-RQIDENT.
        LS_PARAM-HIGH    = ''.
        APPEND LS_PARAM TO LT_PARAM.

        LS_PARAM-SELNAME = 'P_FILE'.
        LS_PARAM-SIGN    = 'I'.
        LS_PARAM-OPTION  = 'EQ'.
        LS_PARAM-LOW     = LV_STRING.
        LS_PARAM-HIGH    = ''.
        APPEND LS_PARAM TO LT_PARAM.

* Submit to PDF converted and download
        SUBMIT RSTXPDFT4 WITH SELECTION-TABLE LT_PARAM
        AND RETURN.
        IF SY-SUBRC <> 0.

        MESSAGE  'PDF convert not possible' TYPE 'I'.
        ENDIF.
      ELSE.
        MESSAGE  'PDF Can not be downloaded, you have selected huge data. Reduce data and try again' TYPE 'I'.
      ENDIF.
  ENDCASE.
ENDFORM.                    "user command

Full and Final code will be

REPORT ZSAPN_ALV2PDF_MARA.
TYPE-POOLS SLIS .
TYPES : BEGIN OF TY_MARA,  "User defined internal table type
        MATNR TYPE MARA-MATNR,
        MTART TYPE MARA-MTART,
        MBRSH TYPE MARA-MBRSH,
        MEINS TYPE MARA-MEINS,
      END OF TY_MARA.

DATA : IT_MARA TYPE TABLE OF TY_MARA ."internal table
DATA : WA_MARA TYPE TY_MARA . "work area

DATA : IT_FCAT TYPE SLIS_T_FIELDCAT_ALV . "field catalog table
DATA : WA_FCAT LIKE LINE OF IT_FCAT . "field catalog work area
TYPES: BEGIN OF TY_TSP01,
      RQIDENT   TYPE TSP01-RQIDENT,           " spool number
      RQ2NAME TYPE TSP01-RQ2NAME,           " Spool request: Suffix 2
      RQCRETIME TYPE TSP01-RQCRETIME,         " User name
      END OF TY_TSP01.
DATA: LV_JOBCNT TYPE TBTCJOB-JOBCOUNT,         " job number
      LV_JOBNAME TYPE TBTCJOB-JOBNAME.         " job name
DATA: LV_LEN TYPE I,
    LS_PARAM TYPE RSPARAMS,                  " selection work area
    LS_TSP01 TYPE TY_TSP01,                  " Spool Requests work area
    LT_TSP01 TYPE STANDARD TABLE OF TY_TSP01, " Spool Requests internal table
    LT_PARAM TYPE RSPARAMS_TT.                " Selection table
DATA:  LV_RQ2NAME TYPE TSP01-RQ2NAME.           " Spool request
DATA: LV_TMP(14) TYPE C,                       " temp
    LV_STRING TYPE STRING,                   " store program name
    LV_TEMP TYPE TSP01-RQ2NAME,              " Spool request
    LV_SPOOL TYPE TSP01-RQIDENT.             " spool number
DATA: LV_JOB    TYPE TBTCV-FIN.                " Job status
DATA : LV_RQDEST TYPE TSP01-RQDEST VALUE 'LP01',
      LV_LINSZ TYPE SYLINSZ VALUE '9999999'.
*selection Screen
PARAMETERS : P_MTART TYPE MARA-MTART. "material type input

START-OF-SELECTION.
**get table data
  SELECT MATNR MTART MBRSH MEINS FROM MARA
      INTO TABLE IT_MARA UP TO 50 ROWS
      WHERE MTART = P_MTART.
*** generate field catalogue
  WA_FCAT-COL_POS = '1' . "column position
  WA_FCAT-FIELDNAME = 'MATNR' . "column name
  WA_FCAT-TABNAME = 'IT_MARA' . "table
  WA_FCAT-SELTEXT_M = 'Material' . "Column lable
  WA_FCAT-KEY = 'X' . "is a key field
  APPEND WA_FCAT TO IT_FCAT . "append to fcat
  CLEAR WA_FCAT .
  WA_FCAT-COL_POS = '2' .
  WA_FCAT-FIELDNAME = 'MBRSH' .
  WA_FCAT-TABNAME = 'IT_MARA' .
  WA_FCAT-SELTEXT_M = 'Industry Sec' .
  APPEND WA_FCAT TO IT_FCAT .
  CLEAR WA_FCAT .

  WA_FCAT-COL_POS = '3' .
  WA_FCAT-FIELDNAME = 'MTART' .
  WA_FCAT-TABNAME = 'IT_MARA' .
  WA_FCAT-SELTEXT_M = 'Material Type' .
  APPEND WA_FCAT TO IT_FCAT .
  CLEAR WA_FCAT .

  WA_FCAT-COL_POS = '4' .
  WA_FCAT-FIELDNAME = 'MEINS' .
  WA_FCAT-TABNAME = 'IT_MARA' .
  WA_FCAT-SELTEXT_M = 'Base.Unit' .
  WA_FCAT-REF_TABNAME = 'MARA' .
  APPEND WA_FCAT TO IT_FCAT .
  CLEAR WA_FCAT .
**display ALV
  DATA: ALV_PRINT TYPE SLIS_PRINT_ALV.
  ALV_PRINT-NO_PRINT_LISTINFOS = 'X'. "avoid process list on SPOOL
  CALL FUNCTION 'REUSE_ALV_GRID_DISPLAY'
    EXPORTING
      I_CALLBACK_PROGRAM       = SY-REPID
      I_CALLBACK_PF_STATUS_SET = 'FORM_MENU' "GU status form
      I_CALLBACK_USER_COMMAND  = 'USER_COMMAND'
      IT_FIELDCAT              = IT_FCAT "PASS FIELD CATALOG TO ALV
      IS_PRINT                 = ALV_PRINT "to set spool options
    TABLES
      T_OUTTAB                 = IT_MARA.

FORM FORM_MENU USING RT_EXTAB TYPE SLIS_T_EXTAB.
*SET PF STATUS to ALV
  SET PF-STATUS 'MENU'. "GUI status...double click to create
ENDFORM.                               " SET_PF_STATUS

**for to handle user command
FORM USER_COMMAND USING R_UCOMM LIKE SY-UCOMM
                        RS_SELFIELD TYPE SLIS_SELFIELD.
  CASE R_UCOMM.
    WHEN 'EPDF'. "Function code for export which we created in MENU
**submit the same program in background and store

* ********* Derive job counter
      LV_JOBNAME = 'ZALV2PDF'. "Background job name
      CALL FUNCTION 'JOB_OPEN' "open a job
        EXPORTING
          JOBNAME          = LV_JOBNAME
        IMPORTING
          JOBCOUNT         = LV_JOBCNT
        EXCEPTIONS
          CANT_CREATE_JOB  = 1
          INVALID_JOB_DATA = 2
          JOBNAME_MISSING  = 3
          OTHERS           = 4.
      IF SY-SUBRC EQ 0.
        SUBMIT (SY-REPID) "submit the same program
        WITH P_MTART = P_MTART
          TO SAP-SPOOL  DESTINATION LV_RQDEST
          LINE-SIZE LV_LINSZ
          IMMEDIATELY 'X'
          KEEP IN SPOOL 'X'
          USER SY-UNAME VIA JOB LV_JOBNAME NUMBER LV_JOBCNT
          WITHOUT SPOOL DYNPRO
          WITH SELECTION-TABLE LT_PARAM
          AND RETURN.

        CALL FUNCTION 'JOB_CLOSE' "job close
          EXPORTING
            JOBCOUNT             = LV_JOBCNT
            JOBNAME              = LV_JOBNAME
            STRTIMMED            = 'X'
          EXCEPTIONS
            CANT_START_IMMEDIATE = 1
            INVALID_STARTDATE    = 2
            JOBNAME_MISSING      = 3
            JOB_CLOSE_FAILED     = 4
            JOB_NOSTEPS          = 5
            JOB_NOTEX            = 6
            LOCK_FAILED          = 7
            INVALID_TARGET       = 8
            OTHERS               = 9.
        IF SY-SUBRC <> 0.
          RAISE JOB_CANNOT_BE_CLOSED.                    " Raise exception
        ENDIF.
      ELSE.
        RAISE JOB_CANNOT_BE_SUBMITTED.
      ENDIF.
*********** confirm job status if finished

      DO 120 TIMES.
        CALL FUNCTION 'BDL_READ_JOB_STATUS' "get job status
          EXPORTING
            JOBNAME       = LV_JOBNAME
            JOBNUMBER     = LV_JOBCNT
          IMPORTING
            JOBSTATUS     = LV_JOB
          EXCEPTIONS
            JOB_NOT_FOUND = 1
            OTHERS        = 2.
        IF LV_JOB NE 'F'. "job finished
          WAIT UP TO 1 SECONDS.
          CONTINUE.
        ELSE.
          EXIT.
        ENDIF.
      ENDDO.
**calculate report name in Spool table
      IF LV_JOB EQ 'F'. "job finished
        LV_LEN = STRLEN( SY-REPID ) .
        IF LV_LEN >= 9 .
          CONCATENATE SY-REPID+0(9)
                      SY-UNAME+0(3) INTO LV_RQ2NAME .
        ELSE.
          LV_LEN = 9 - LV_LEN.
          DO LV_LEN TIMES .
            CONCATENATE LV_TEMP '_' INTO LV_TEMP .
          ENDDO.
          CONCATENATE SY-REPID LV_TEMP
                      SY-UNAME INTO LV_RQ2NAME .
        ENDIF.

*Get spool request from SPOOL table TSP01
        REFRESH LT_TSP01.
        SELECT RQIDENT RQ2NAME RQCRETIME FROM TSP01 INTO TABLE LT_TSP01
                WHERE RQ2NAME = LV_RQ2NAME AND RQOWNER = SY-UNAME .
*sort table to find latest spool no
        SORT  LT_TSP01 BY RQCRETIME DESCENDING .
*read table to find latest spool no
        CLEAR LS_TSP01.
        READ TABLE LT_TSP01 INTO LS_TSP01 INDEX 1.
*get user desktop
        CALL METHOD CL_GUI_FRONTEND_SERVICES=>GET_DESKTOP_DIRECTORY
          CHANGING
            DESKTOP_DIRECTORY    = LV_STRING
          EXCEPTIONS
            CNTL_ERROR           = 1
            ERROR_NO_GUI         = 2
            NOT_SUPPORTED_BY_GUI = 3
            OTHERS               = 4.
        IF SY-SUBRC <> 0.
* Implement suitable error handling here
        ENDIF.
        CALL METHOD CL_GUI_CFW=>UPDATE_VIEW.
        CONCATENATE LV_STRING SY-UZEIT INTO LV_STRING.
        REFRESH LT_PARAM.
*Prepare selection table for PDF download
        LS_PARAM-SELNAME = 'SPOOLNO'.
        LS_PARAM-SIGN    = 'I'.
        LS_PARAM-OPTION  = 'EQ'.
        LS_PARAM-LOW     = LS_TSP01-RQIDENT.
        LS_PARAM-HIGH    = ''.
        APPEND LS_PARAM TO LT_PARAM.

        LS_PARAM-SELNAME = 'P_FILE'.
        LS_PARAM-SIGN    = 'I'.
        LS_PARAM-OPTION  = 'EQ'.
        LS_PARAM-LOW     = LV_STRING.
        LS_PARAM-HIGH    = ''.
        APPEND LS_PARAM TO LT_PARAM.
* Submit to PDF converted and download
        SUBMIT RSTXPDFT4 WITH SELECTION-TABLE LT_PARAM
        AND RETURN.
        IF SY-SUBRC <> 0.

        MESSAGE  'PDF convert not possible' TYPE 'I'.
        ENDIF.
      ELSE.
        MESSAGE  'PDF Can not be downloaded, you have selected huge data. Reduce data and try again' TYPE 'I'.
      ENDIF.
  ENDCASE.
ENDFORM.                    "user command

A PDF will be downloaded in the below format.