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PRO AFP to PS |
PRO AFP to PS dynamically converts documents from Advanced Function Printing (AFPDS) into PostScript format (PS) files.
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AFP to PostScript conversion
PRO AFP to PS
Overview
Features & Benefits
Product Specifications
System Requirements
Overview
PRO AFP to PS provides a smooth migration path for AFP printer customers who want to move their applications to PostScript Page Description Language based applications without making costly application changes.
PRO AFP to PS dynamically converts documents from Advanced Function Printing AFPDS into standard PostScript files.
PRO AFP to PS runs on a multitude of platforms including MVS, Unix, Linux, AIX and Windows.
Multiple Uses
PRO AFP to PS can be used for the following
Printing on any PostScript printer
PostScript standardization
Workload balancing
Viewing
Disaster recovery
Selective Reprinting
Archival/Retrieval
The Best Approach
PRO AFP to PS is the best approach because it provides the following:
Outstanding performance combined with exceptional quality.
A feature-rich product with extensible capabilities.
Output is optimized for production speed and performance.
Allows a single printer to be used for printing both PostScript and AFP.
Compact PostScript files optimized for desktop and high-speed production printing.
A choice of platforms that includes Unix, AIX or Windows.
Eliminates the need for duplicate printing format infrastructure support.
An open product that can be utilized in any output management strategy.
With the PRO Splitter option a large AFP file can be split into many output file based on a variety of criteria, providing excellent performance, great flexibility and a lot of power for the user.
With the PRO Indexer index files or database commands can be created while the conversion is being done.
With the PRO Document Enhancer option, documents can be modified to meet changing needs while they are being converted to PostScript.
Pages, text fields, form fields, hyperlinks, bar codes and OMR marks, can be added, modified and suppressed, saving costly application program changes.
The PRO WorkFlow Connector is a high performance automated solution for distributed,
multi-step processing of print data streams and resources in heterogeneous environments where the software
tools do not all exist on the same, or even compatible, processing platforms.
Flexible Resource Management
The key to the power and flexibility of PRO AFP to PS is the way it manages print resources.
PRO AFP to PS automatically converts AFP resources into PostScript resources, thus optimizing and simplifying the implementation process.
All PostScript resources are compressed to keep file size small for quick downloads.
AFP bitmapped fonts can be converted to PostScript Type 3 fonts or mapped to PostScript Type 1 fonts.
PRO AFP provides a very efficient and simple method of managing forms.
AFP overlays are automatically converted to PostScript and IOCA and IM1 images are automatically converted to PostScript compressed images and embedded in the output PostScript file.
Multiple Platforms
PRO AFP to PS runs on the following platforms:
Windows XP, NT, ME, 2000, 2003, Vista
AIX
Solaris
Linux
HP-UX
MVS, OS/390, z/OS
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 provides 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 who need support around the clock, our Premium Support Plan provides full 24 X 7 support.
Options Provide Excellent Value
The following options can be plugged into PRO AFP to PS.
PRO Indexer
PRO Splitter
PRO Document Enhancer
WorkFLow JES Spool Extraction Facility
PRO WorkFlow Server
WorkFlow JES to FTP
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Superior Image Fidelity
PRO AFP to PS has the flexibility to map fonts to either standard PostScript fonts or embed Type 1 fonts for superior image fidelity.
No Need for Costly Application Changes
PRO AFP to PS provides a smooth migration path for AFPDS printer customers who want to move their applications to the standard PostScript format without making costly application changes.
This can save you significant time and resources.
Simplified Implementation Process
The key to the power and flexibility of PRO AFP to PS is the way it manages print resources.
PRO AFP to PS automatically converts AFP resources into PostScript resources. This simplifies the implementation process.
Flexible Resource Management
With PRO AFP to PS fonts can be easily mapped to standard PostScript fonts.
Each character is mapped to a selected font, providing the utmost flexibility and quality.
Index on Multiple Criteria
With PRO AFP to PS, multiple index rules can be set up, allowing indexing to be done on multiple criteria, such as Customer Name and Account Number.
Overlay Capability
With PRO AFP to PS, overlays can be used to emulate pre-printed form stock.
This can include boilerplate text and graphics as well as Watermarks.
Platform Independence
PRO AFP to PS runs on a multitude of platforms including OS/390, z/OS, Unix, AIX and Windows.
This ensures that you can convert AFP files on the most convenient and streamlined system.
This allows you to streamline the process and reduce the potential for errors.
Splitting
With the optional PRO Splitter plug-in, large AFP files can be split into multiple PostScript files during the conversion.
This allows individual customer, broker, branch or region reports to be created.
This eliminates the need to modify the application that creates the print file and simplifies file management.
Indexing
With the optional PRO Indexer plug-in, external index files can be created simultaneously with the PostScript creation.
These index files can be in any format, contain any information and can greatly simplify the process of managing the PostScript files.
Enhancement
With the optional PRO Document Enhancer plug-in, documents can be modified to meet changing needs while they are being converted to PostScript.
Pages, text fields, form fields, hyperlinks, bar codes and OMR marks, can be added, modified and suppressed, saving costly application program changes.
Automation
With PRO WorkFlow Server or PRO JES Transform Manager, the process of selecting files for conversion and the management of the process and handling of the output files can be fully automated.
This can speed the process of getting PostScript files to the users and reduce the potential for errors.
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Print Stream Support
PRO AFP to PS is based on the PRO AFP interpreter that supports the following printer capabilities:
MO:DCA-P
AFPDS
AFP Category 5
Mixed mode AFP (Category 4)
Resource Support
PRO AFP to PS contains support for an extensive array of print resources including:
AFP fonts
IM1 images
IOCA images
Overlays
Page Segments
Form definitions
GOCA objects
BCOCA Bar Codes
Font Handling
Superior font management is the key to providing a successful print transform program and PRO AFP to PS provides the utmost flexibility for font utilization.
PRO AFP to PS provides several methods for handling fonts, which can be mixed and matched as appropriate. The user can:
Automatically converts AFP bitmapped fonts into PostScript Type 3 fonts and downloads them to the printer with each job.
The PRO AFP to PS font conversion utility supports the conversion of fonts from AFP bitmapped fonts into standard PostScript Type 3 bitmap fonts.
When they are needed, the fonts are converted and, depending on optimization options set by the user, PRO AFP to PS will either download the font, or select only the characters from the font that are actually used.
Thus allowing the user to minimize the size of the PDF files created.
Provides a table to map between AFP bitmapped fonts and PostScript Type 1 fonts.
PRO AFP to PS offers an option of mapping AFP bitmapped fonts to PDF Type 1 fonts.
This eliminates the need for downloading the soft fonts in the document when they are needed.
This option can be used for AFP fonts which have equivalents in PostScript fonts.
Image Handling
PRO AFP to PS automatically converts AFP Page Segments, IM1 images and GOCA images and IOCA images into PostScript compressed images and embeds the images in the output PostScript file.
GOCA
PRO AFP automatically converts GOCA objects to equivalent objects in PostScript. This includes color objects.
Forms Management
PRO AFP to PS provides a very efficient and simple method of managing forms.
AFP overlays are stored in a library on the host.
During the transform process, overlays are loaded, as they are needed.
PRO AFP to PS then accesses any resources that are needed for the overlays and processes them automatically.
Finally, the text on each overlay is put into a PostScript resource object, which is stored in the PostScript file and accessed when it is needed in the document.
Output Format
PRO AFP to PS contains a device driver which creates standard PostScript files for printing on any PostScript printer.
A large AFP print file can be split into into multiple PostScript files based on variable data content during the conversion when the PRO Splitter option is active.
The output PostScript can be optimized through a number of run-time options which control the way that fonts are managed and the way that the PostScript is constructed. For example, shading patterns can be made darker or lighter for specific applications to meet special application needs.
Finishing options on many large cut-sheet PostScript printers are supported, for handling duplex printing, paper tray selection and stapling needs.
Transform Control Options
PRO AFP to PS has been designed to be a powerful tool. It has an extensive set of control options, which can be used to adapt PRO AFP to PS to many different environments and uses.
Many options allow control over every facet of the transform process, making PRO AFP to PS a fit for many different environments and needs.
Page Selection
The conversion process can select any range of pages from the AFP file to convert.
This can be used to split a large file into smaller segments. It can also be used for reprint purposes.
PRO Indexer option
The PRO Indexer option allows users to select and extract pertinent data from within the print-stream while a document is being processed.
The generated Index files can be in a variety of formats including Comma Separated Variables (CSV), Fixed Length Records and a User Defined File Format.
Any number of index keys can be extracted. After selection, fields can be manipulated as required before being written to the index file.
The PRO Indexer can also be used to "scrape" all or selected fields of text and place it an index file or text file.
PRO Document Enhancer option
The PRO Document Enhancer option allows the manipulation of 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 fields to pages including OMR marks with integrity counts, barcodes, and control numbers.
Adding slip-sheets between documents for easy statement separation.
Suppressing OMR marks, barcodes and text fields.
Suppressing images.
PRO Text option
The PRO Text option allows users to create text files from AFP files, which contain all of the text from the original input file.
In addition, this output file can identify the actual fonts used for each field.
This text file can be used for display on 3270 screens without graphics capability.
These files can also be used with software that cannot handle AFP formatted data.
Audit Log
The Audit Log option allows users to log the details of the file conversion process.
This can be used as a record of the contents of the AFP file.
The use controls the contents of this log, which can contain fields from the print data, such as account numbers, policy numbers, invoice numbers, customer names and other usefull tracking information.
Statistics Log
The Statistic Log option allows users to log statistical information on the file conversion process.
This includes a log of the parameters used, resources used, number of records processed, conversion time and a wealth of other information.
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Software Prerequisites
PRO AFP to PS runs on the following operating systems:
Windows
Windows XP, NT, ME, 2000, 2003, Vista
AIX
AIX, version 4.2, 4.3 and 5.X
Unix
Solaris, version 2.6 and up
HP-UX, version 10i and 11i
Red Hat Linux
SUSE Linux
MVS
OS/390, z/OS
MVS Run Time
PRO AFP to PS for
MVS has been developed using the IBM C/C++ compiler. For C
run-time library support, one of the following is required on OS
390 and MVS.
Language Environment for MVS & VM Version 1.4 or higher
MVS C/C++ Language Support Feature of MVS/ESA Version 5.2
Language Environment element of OS/390
Hardware Prerequisites
Computer
PRO AFP to PS requires a computer capable of running the software described above.
Copyright © 1999-2008 Crawford Technologies Inc. All rights reserved.
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