Frequently asked
questions about AFP
Q:
What is AFP ?
A: AFP is
the IBM Printing Architecture and provides final-format
document datastreams, line-print compatibility
and printer management functions using IPDS.
Q: What
is MO:DCA ?
A: MO:DCA
stands for MixedObject:DocumentContentsArchitecture
and is the basis for AFP. All resources such
as fonts, logos, forms and graphics are clearly
defined
and fully published in this architecture, which
is used by a number of IBM products. MO:DCA
is
fully documented and therefore a truly open architecture.
Q: What
is the ISIS relationship to IBM ?
A: ISIS Holding
AG is a completely privately owned group of companies.
There are Business Partner relationships to IBM
in many countries where ISIS products are sold
through IBM channels. ISIS does not sell any IBM
products, but provides skill and manpower to many
IBM projects as a Project Associate.
Q: Can
ISIS AFP products only be used with IBM printers
?
A: No. Even
though the strategic ISIS architecture is AFP,
which is IBM defined, it supports printers from
all major manufacturers. As the advantage of AFP
is the standard interface between applications
and the printer HW, there needs to be a 'Print
Management Software' used at the time of print.
On the IBM platforms, this is IBM PSF for IPDS
printers. Other manufacturers like ISIS, I-data,
Levi, Ray and Shoup, Xerox and Siemens have AFP
compatible print drivers and more are to be expected
in time.
Q: What
is an 'OVERLAY' in AFP?
A: An overlay
is the AFP technical term for an electronic form.
This is used by the printer at the time of print
to overlay the document or data being printed.
It can replace the paper-form used before. Multiple
overlays can be used on a single page. Overlays
can be different for additional copies of the
page printed.
Q: What
is a 'FORMDEF' in AFP ?
A: A FORMDEF
is the AFP 'forms definition', which defines the
parameters of the physical page environment, like
the overlays and the paper bins used, as well
as simplex and duplex options. FORMDEF is used
on all document types.
Q: What
is 'PAGEDEF' in AFP ?
A: A 'PAGEDEF'
is the data formatting information for a line-print
dataset or a net-data file. It is executed at
the time of print, so that the net-data are sent
to the spool. Therefore multiple 'PAGEDEFs' can
be used with the same print file.
Q: What
is a PSEG in AFP ?
A: A PSEG
is short for Page Segment and is usually an image
element such as a signature or a logo, but may
also contain text elements.
Q: Which
host components do I need to work with the ISIS
Papyrus Designer?
A: Only the
PSF, or alternatively Papyrus Host (and Server).
Q: Why
can I not just code AFPDS myself and do not use
any ISIS products?
A: You can
do that, but it will be very time-consuming and
also the maintenance will require program changes
for any simple forms or text change. This is much
to restrictive and expensive.
Q: Can
I print Postscript files on AFP printers?
A: Yes. The
conversion is only possible on OS/2 or AIX using
the relevant versions of PSF. The resulting AFPDS
file can be sent to any AFP platform. In most
cases the generated AFPDS files have a very large
image content and print very slow. The same is
true for other PostScript solutions like the Entire
Fibre Gateway for Xerox printers.
Q: What
is SCS?
A: SNA Character
String is a very old print datastream which is
still used for compatibility, but most of the
time in connection with Escape sequences mixed
into the data to control the printer HW from the
application program.
Q: Can
I print Windows 3.11 documents to AFP?
A: Yes. Depending
on the Windows platform, the conversion requires
ISIS supported migration.
Q: Can
I print such a Windows AFP document to a Xerox
Printer?
A: Yes. The
Papyrus Server will dynamically create the all
the Xerox fonts required. Performance depends
very much on the overall document complexity and
the number of fonts used.
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