Ever Wonder what is the difference between Output Immediately and Print Immediately?

Why do we need both the parameters, when both have the same functionality?

I was facing an unique situation where printing the spool behaved differently for different output types.

• For certain output types – The spool is printed on printer automatically based on the setting ‘Output Immediately’ in User profile. If it is checked, it prints else it does not.

• Where as for other output types– The spool is printed on printer automatically based on the setting in the condition record ‘Print Immediately’ irrespective of setting in User profile (checked or not). If it is checked, it prints else it does not.

The reason is here.

SAP generally prints the spool based on the OUTPUT IMMEDIATELY condition as a default. For the Users, who want to print all the forms by default, they can select Output immediately in User Settings.

And if they want to print using PRINT IMMEDIATELY, the following change has to be done in the driver program for the smartform.

While using CALL FUNCTION <SF name>,

There is a parameter we should consider “User_Parameter”

• If “User_Parameters” is left blank. If it is not set, SAP Smart Forms evaluates the following parameters of the structure for the output options (SSFCOMOP):

Printer settings ( TDDEST , TDPRINTER , RQPOSNAME )

TDIMMED (Print immediately)

TDDELETE (Delete after output).

• And If  “User_Parameters” is Set(X). If the parameter is set (‘X’), SAP Smart Forms copies the user defaults for the Spool Control, which you set under System→User Profile →Own Data(Output Device, Print Immediately, Delete after Output).