Automate SAP Report Extraction with PyAutoGUI

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Introduction

Automating SAP GUI with PyAutoGUI involves using the Python package to simulate mouse clicks and keyboard inputs, allowing for navigation of the SAP system and extraction of data. It offers the advantage of not requiring extra rights and permissions, but may be less efficient and require more maintenance. This method is best for situations where access to APIs or databases is restricted and there is a need to automate tasks within the SAP GUI environment.

Solution

The solution involves two main parts. The first part focuses on automating SAP Logon, while the second part involves simulating clicks and typing using PyAutoGUI. To achieve this, the process of manually downloading data from SAP GUI is replicated by utilizing PyAutoGUI to simulate all necessary clicking and typing actions.

Step 1: Automating SAP Logon

open `saplogon.exe`

this code uses subprocess package to open the saplogon.exe that has been installed on your Windows computer. If the saplogon.exe installed in another path, feel free to replace it.

maximize the window

Maximizing the window will be beneficial for the next step, as we need to specify precise coordinates for each click and typing area. This will ensure greater accuracy and efficiency in our task.

After opening the saplogon.exe, we can use the shortcut Win + Up to maximize the SAP GUI. In Python, the code to achieve this using the pyautogui library is pyautogui.hotkey('win', 'up').

Log On

after opening the saplogon.exe and maximizing the window, we need to click the Log On button and then type in your User and Password to login in.

Auto Clicking Lon On Button

Hover over the Log on button and run the following code to print the coordinates. Then use the printed values to define the variables log_on_button_x and log_on_button_y.

Typing User and Password

Hover over the Client(optional), User and Password and use the same method x, y = pyautogui.position() to get the coordinates of the typing area.

pyautogui.click is used to simulate clicking on specific coordinates on the screen, and pyautogui.typewrite is used to type the username and password.

Remember to adjust the coordinates (x, y) according to your specific scree size. Additionally, you may need to add small delays using time.sleep to ensure that each action is executed properly.

When the default language on your computer is not English, it may cause an error in the login process. You can use the following code to set your language to English.

Step 2: Simulating Clicks and Typing with PyAutoGUI

Typing TCODE

After logging in successfully, the next step is to enter the transaction code (tcode).

individual filters and export the data

You can use pyautogui to simulate individual filters by following the same logic as the first step. First, obtain the coordinates of the filters and then use pyautogui to simulate the necessary operations. If you need to press enter, delete, or right, you can use pyautogui.press('enter'). If the report in SAP requires a significant amount of time to run, be sure to use time.sleep() to allow for ample time.

Additionally, if you want to extract data from the report, you can use pyautogui to locate and click on the necessary fields or buttons to export the data. After exporting the data, you can use Python libraries such as pandas to manipulate the data as needed. Using pyautogui, you can automate the process of generating reports in SAP by simulating mouse and keyboard inputs to navigate the SAP interface and extract the required information. This can save significant time and effort by streamlining the reporting process and reducing the need for manual input.

Conclusion

Automating SAP report extraction with PyAutoGUI provides a practical workaround when API access is restricted. This approach saves time, reduces errors, and requires no special permissions. While it may need more maintenance than direct database connections, the benefits of automation far outweigh the initial setup effort. With proper implementation of the steps outlined above, you can transform manual SAP reporting into an efficient, automated process.