PRO AFP to HTML
Overview
Features & Benefits
Product Specifications
System Requirements
Overview
PRO AFP TO HTML provides a smooth migration path for AFP print organizations that want to display their mission-critical
documents on the Web for customers and staff, without making costly architecture changes.
PRO AFP TO HTML dynamically converts Advanced Function Presentation (MODCA-P, AFPDS and AFP Category 5) documents
into HTML, delivering high-speed performance and stability indispensable in high volume, mission-critical printing
environments. This in turn allows for dynamic conversion and display of the output HTML in interactive Web applications.
PRO AFP TO HTML allows organizations to display in standard web browsers important AFP documents, such as customer
statements, bills, invoices, policies and confirmations, for both internal users, like customer service departments, and for external
authorized users, like customers, affiliates, partners or stockholders. The displayed documents can also be printed, faxed or emailed to any of those users.
Making documents available quickly and in the same format to customer service staff and to the customers improves productivity
and customer satisfaction and allows organizations to achieve excellence in Customer Service. Crawford Technologies has been
providing components for Electronic Bill Presentation & Payment (EBPP) solutions since 1996. Major vendors and service providers in
this market use our technology.
Multiple Uses
PRO AFP to HTML can be used for the following:
- Presenting and viewing documents for E-statement applications in electronic bill presentment (EBP) and bill presentment and payment (EBPP) systems
- Internet banking
- Web demos of the above
- Distributing documents electronically
The Best Approach
PRO AFP to HTML is the best approach, because it provides the following:
- Conversion into HTML of mission-critical documents in AFP formats, which allows organizations to leverage
their investment in those technologies on the Web
- Ability to display the same customer oriented documents in standard web browsers to both internal and
external users
- A choice of platforms that includes Linux, AIX, Solaris, HP-UX, z/OS and Windows
- Outstanding performance combined with exceptional quality
- An open product that can be utilized in any Web strategy
- The most value combined with the best architecture
Multiple Platforms
PRO AFP to HTML runs on the following platforms:
- Windows XP, NT, ME, 2000, 2003, Vista
- AIX
- Solaris
- Linux
- HP-UX
- z/OS (all versions)
Superlative Support
Crawford Technologies believes in providing superlative support for all our products. We offer telephone hotline support for
problem reporting and product inquiries, as well as FAX and e-mail support. Our online Knowledgebase gives you access to our incident reports and change logs 24 by 7.
Our extensive front line experience and in-depth product knowledge allow us to respond quickly with solutions.
For organizations that need support around the clock, our Premium Support Plan provides full 24 X 7 coverage.
PRO Options Provide Excellent Value
The following powerful options can be used with PRO AFP to HTML in the same production pass:
PRO Indexer
PRO Splitter
PRO Document Enhancer
PRO Concatenator
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Leverage your Data on the Web
With PRO AFP to HTML you can make your critical data available both to your customer service and other staff members and
to your customers, partners or affiliates. This improves productivity and customer satisfaction.
Take Advantage of Whole File or Single Page Architecture to Improve Web Display
For every input document, PRO AFP to HTML can create either a single HTML file or a series of hyperlinked pages, with
names associated to the contents of the input document name. This allows the customer to improve display time, irrespective of the
actual web deployment system.
Fit AFP to HTML into Your System Architecture Easily and Reliably
PRO AFP to HTML runs on many platforms, including Linux, Solaris, HP-UX, AIX, z/OS and Windows. The ability to create new versions of your documents on your choice of platforms, without expensive and time consuming file transfers and process changes, saves you money and allows you to reap the benefits of PRO AFP to HTML easily and reliably.
Split Large Transaction Files to Serve Your Individual Customers Better
With the optional PRO Splitter plug-in, large input files can be split during conversion into smaller multi page files, e.g.
containing complete individual customer statements. This opens the door to EBP and EBPP. It also eliminates the need to modify the
application that creates the print file.
Optimize the Conversion and Management of HTML Files and Get Savings
Simultaneously with HTML creation, the optional PRO Indexer plug-in can extract text for separate archival, create
index files, XML files, or database commands, mark document breakpoints and generate image names using the contents of the
original documents, such as account number, customer name or statement date. This can greatly simplify the process of managing
the converted files and bring financial savings.
Enhance Your Documents Without Paying for New/Changed Print Applications
With the optional PRO Document Enhancer plug-in, you can
reengineer your documents while they are being converted to HTML, to meet changing needs. Pages, text fields, form fields,
hyperlinks, bar codes and OMR marks can be added, modified or suppressed, eliminating the need for costly changes to the native application program.
Automate for Efficient Processing
With PRO APIs, the process of selecting files for conversion, the management of the process and the handling of the
output files can be integrated into web applications. This simplifies the implementation and provides users with a consistent interface.
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Print Stream Support
PRO AFP to HTML is based on PRO AFP interpreter that supports all of the Advanced Function Presentation centralized printer capabilities including:
- MODCA-P
- AFPDS
- AFP Category 5
Resource Support
PRO AFP to HTML contains support for an extensive array of AFP print resources including:
- AFP bitmap fonts
- AFP outline fonts
- IM1 images
- IOCA images including FS45
- Overlays
- Page Segments
- Form definitions
- GOCA objects
- BCOCA standard and 2D barcodes
PRO AFP to HTML dynamically converts AFP documents into HTML files. You can convert and display those files on the fly
thanks to the high-speed performance of PRO AFP to HTML.
Conversion Mechanics
The PRO AFP interpreter analyzes the input pages and then converts page objects like:
- Text
- Images
- Rules
- Forms
- Barcodes (converted to text)
Standard Text Handling
PRO AFP to HTML renders standard (horizontally positioned) text in the appropriate locations on the output HTML
page using absolute positioning. PRO AFP to HTML converts input fonts based on the host font table. If the browser doesn't
have the required fonts, it will apply suitable defaults. The resulting text is searchable. PRO AFP to HTML supports color
in text.
Non-standard Text Handling
Often document pages carry vertical or oblique lines of text. As browsers are normally unable to reproduce such objects as text,
PRO AFP to HTML creates corresponding bitmap images and rotates them to the correct position.
Image Handling
PRO AFP to HTML converts the input images into PNG (Portable Network Graphics) monochrome images. PRO AFP to
HTML converts rules and shading patterns into images, too.
Form Handling
Forms are pages used to overlay repeated images and text on document pages. They are read and converted the same way as pages.
Transform Control Options
The output HTML file can be optimized through two configuration file settings and a number of run-time options.
Output File Configuration Settings
For every input document, you can set PRO AFP to HTML to create either a single HTML file or a series of hyperlinked pages.
In conjunction with PRO Indexer and Pro Splitter plug-ins, you can give HTML files names based on the contents of the input document
and, in the case of serially linked pages, also associated with each other. This allows the customer to improve display time, irrespective of the actual web deployment system.
Indexing
PRO Indexer option allows you to select and extract pertinent data from within the print stream, while a document is
being processed. The Index files can be generated in a variety of formats. You can:
- Define any number of index keys to be extracted
- Select fields and define how they will be manipulated before being written to the index file
- Mark breakpoints for individual subdocuments
- After selection, use the PRO Indexer to "scrape" all or selected fields of text and place it in an index file or text file
- Set up names for files split by PRO Splitter, using the contents of the documents, such as account number, customer name and statement date. This would allow you to store the output files in a database and later call them up for
display or printing
Splitting Documents
PRO Splitter option allows you to split a large input file in any of the major print formats into smaller files. This can
be used to generate separate individual customer statements or branch reports for electronic distribution.
Enhancing Documents
The optional PRO Document Enhancer, a powerful reengineering tool,allows you to manipulate fields to
easily create modified, customized and enhanced documents without having to consume IT resources to make complex programming changes
to business applications. Modifications that can be made to print applications include:
- Adding text fields, OMR marks, barcodes or images to pages
- Suppressing OMR marks, barcodes and text fields
- Moving information around on the page
- Changing fonts for text fields
- Repaginating multiple-up print files to 1-UP
- Inserting new pages
- Adding marketing messages
Audit Log
The Audit Log option allows you to log the details of the file
conversion process, including the contents of the input file. You
can define what to log, for instance fields from the print data,
such as account numbers, policy numbers, invoice numbers, customer
names and other useful tracking information.
Statistics Log
The Statistics Log feature allows you to log statistical information on the file conversion process. This includes a log of
the parameters used, number of pages processed, conversion time, conversion speed, resources used and other information about the
transform.
Handling the Converted HTML Files
Files are converted on the fly and can be sent for direct display in your web viewer. Alternately, they can be stored in a
database, with names based on the contents of the original document, for instance customer name, account number or the
statement's date.
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PRO AFP to HTML can be installed and configured by the customer or Crawford Technologies professional services
consultants. For more information, contact us. System
requirements are as follows:
Software Prerequisites
PRO AFP to HTML runs on the following operating systems:
- Windows XP, NT, ME, 2000, 2003, Vista
- AIX, versions 4.2, 4.3 and 5.x
- Solaris, version 2.6 and up
- Linux Red Hat
- Linux SUSE
- HP-UX, versions 10i and 11i
- z/OS, all versions
Hardware Prerequisites
Computer
PRO AFP to HTML requires a computer capable of running the software described above.
