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Design Overview

FormSprint is a complete laser printer driver for the AS/400. It is far more than a simple forms overlay package.

The input to FormSprint can be a standard spool file produced by the AS/400. The spool file can be used without alteration, so no changes are required to the application program producing the file. FormSprint can also use a data file or direct data entry from input screens produced automatically by FormSprint.

The fixed form data as well as the manipulation of the variable input data are defined using the FormSprint designer. FormSprint can simply pass the input data to the printer, or it can completely rearrange and reformat the input, changing fonts, repositioning data, or adding bar codes, MICR check encoding, and graphics. Graphic material can be defined completely on the AS/400 or can be uploaded from a PC-based graphics package.

FormSprint Designer - The Form

The graphics portion of the FormSprint Designer defines all of the "fixed" material that will be printed. This includes text, lines, boxes, shading, logos and signatures. The design can be defined either on the AS/400, using simple data table entry screens with built-in word processing support, or using a PC-based graphics package.

When designed on the AS/400, FormSprint provides full text processing, including automatic text word wrap and justification, automatic centering, and text rotation for mixed text orientations on a single page. All printer resident fonts are supported, with complete control over font scaling. The MICR font is downloaded by FormSprint for check printing. Text can be printed in solid black, shaded, or white on a dark background. Graphics can be printed in four sizes and shaded for special effects such as a simulated watermark. A graphics editor is provided for modifications to scanned graphic images.

When designed with a PC graphics package, the output is uploaded to the AS/400 where it is modified by FormSprint to permit repositioning and combining with other portions of the design. Although the entire form page can be designed with the PC graphics package, it is also possible to design only the fancier portions on the PC and then mix them with AS/400 graphics, resulting in the best form design efficiency combined with the flexibility of PC graphics.

FormSprint Designer - Variable Data

The FormSprint Designer provides complete mapping of the input data. Any portion of any line in the input spool file can be positioned, copied, automatically centered or aligned right or left, rotated, or printed in a special font, including shaded and shadow fonts. This capability permits complete redesign of the output form without touching the program producing the spool file. As long as the required data appears somewhere, FormSprint can print it where ever desired. You can even instruct FormSprint to eliminate blank lines to produce a clean appearance when using spool files formatted for variable numbers of data lines.

The input can also be converted to any of the popular bar codes or the Postnet code. All bar codes (except the Postnet code, Australian postal bar code and MaxiCode) are scalable and can be rotated.

Graphics, such as logos and signatures, can be called directly from the input file. The input data can also call FormSprint macros, which can be thought of as pieces of a form that can contain lines, fixed text, boxes, shading, and graphics. This capability permits the "fixed" part of the form to be dynamic and totally controlled by the input spool file. For example, a single Accounts Payable form could produce checks drawn on various banks by various business entities.

Input Data Streams

FormSprint accepts three types of variable data input: conventional spool files, data files, and direct data entry.

Spool files produced by in-house or third-party application programs can usually be used without alteration, since FormSprint has the capability of remapping the spool file if required. The FORMTYPE parameter for the spool file is used to select the FormSprint form design and variable mapping instructions.

Data files can be created containing unformatted data and FormSprint design reference numbers to identify the processing for each data item. The form definition to be used is identified with a code in the data file and multiple forms can be combined in a single data file, producing a multiform output print file so that a collated form package can be produced directly from FormSprint.

FormSprint can automatically create data entry screens and a data base system for a form. Direct data entry permits FormSprint to be used as a stand-alone application for producing printed output.

Definition of a form for direct data entry automatically creates data entry screens for filling the form. Individual data sets can then be created for each use of the form, so that the fill data can be reviewed and modified or copied into a new data set.

Integrated Job Controller

FormSprint incorporates an integrated job controller to manage the FormSprint automatic processing system. The job controller ensures that FormSprint operates efficiently without using undue system resources or interfering with interactive users while still driving the printers at rated speed. FormSprint operation is completely automatic, requiring no user intervention.

On the basis of user input, the job controller creates virtual input queues, each paired with a physical printer. Once the batch jobs and their queues have been defined, invoking FormSprint processing is as simple as sending the spool file to one of the FormSprint input queues. FormSprint checks the spool file FORMTYPE parameter for the name of the form to merge the spool file with and automatically performs the merge.

The job controller includes a simple entry screen for each batch job for selecting operating options and for performance tuning. Options include saving or deleting the input spool file after processing; selection of the appropriate print driver to match the laser printer characteristics; and selection of the EBCDIC/ASCII translation table (which is user definable).

Performance tuning parameters include pool selection, run priority, and time slice. In addition, the job controller permits selection of FormSprint jobs for automatic startup during a system IPL.

Distributed Printing, Faxing, Emailing and Archiving

When producing multipart forms with FormSprint, the output can be produced on a single printer in collated sets, produced on a single printer in uncollated sets, or distributed so that each form part is sent to a different printer. Manual bursting and distributing multipart forms is completely eliminated.

FormSprint can also output to a variety of PCL-based fax and email devices to provide totally automatic fax and email delivery. Either spool file output or data file output is available for the fax and email software. Fax and email control sequences can be defined as a part of the form definition or imbedded in the variable data, depending on the requirements of the fax/email product. When combined with the distributed print function, in-house copies can be automatically distributed to the correct work location and outside copies can be automatically faxed or emailed directly to the recipient.

An optional PDF/TIF conversion module is available for converting FormSprint output to PDF or TIF file format. The file is placed in a shared folder where it can be accessed by a PC through Client Access for on-screen viewing, emailing as an attachment, or graphic processing on the PC.

FormSprint incorporates an archiving system that saves print output, either all pages or selected pages, in compressed PCL format, complete with graphics and merged variable data. The archiver will assign a member name within a database file named with the spool file name or permit dynamic assignment of both the member and database name. An integrated retrieval system then permits reprinting all or any part of any FormSprint print run. Retrieval indexing is provided on the basis of file name, form type, user, and date range.

Special Print Features

The FormSprint processor incorporates important features for professional form production, including conditional printing, check signature control, page tiling, and color support.

Conditional printing permits suppression of printing data unless the data contains a designated word or character code. This simplifies the coding of the spool file by maintaining consistency between records while still permitting the printed output to contain only the desired data.

Check signature control permits FormSprint to read the amount of a check and output a signature only if the amount is below a selected value. Check signatures are also suppressed if the value field has invalid characters.

Page tiling permits FormSprint to output several input pages to a single output page. Tiling is valuable for multipart forms where the parts are printed on a single perforated sheet, e.g., W2s; production of labels, and printing multiple report pages on a single page.

FormSprint supports PCL5C color printers using the full palette of color combinations. Included is a color palette designer to define unique color palettes for each application.

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