Distributing AFP Output Electronically
A company creates complex documents that contain page segments, overlays, and
bar codes. The documents are then printed and distributed to users within their
network and external clients. This company wants to be able to distribute the
documents electronically. However, the documents require those external resources
to be available in order to print or view correctly.
Here is how this company can use the Infoprint Server components to meet its
requirements:
1. An application creates the data and puts it on the OS/400 spool.
2. The Create AFP Data (CRTAFPDTA) command generates the document as an
AFP stream file and gathers all of the needed resources into a resource stream
file. It then concatenates the AFP stream file and resources into a merged
stream file.
3. Users can now view the merged file on their workstation, use the file on another
system, or archive the file.
Figure 8 shows how you can use Infoprint Server to distribute AFP output
electronically.
OS/400
Spool
User
Application CRTAFPDTA
AFP Merged
Stream File
AFP
Resource
Stream File
AFP Stream
File
Other
System
Figure 8. Packaging AFPdata with its resources for electronic distribution
Chapter 2. Using Infoprint Server 15