InfoPrint ProcessDirector V1.3.1 helps you manage print workflow with flexible control for efficiency and cost-savings

Transcription

1 Announcement ZP , dated November 13, 2007 InfoPrint ProcessDirector V1.3.1 helps you manage print workflow with flexible control for efficiency and cost-savings Key prerequisites...2 Description...2 Product positioning... 4 Reference information... 4 At a glance InfoPrint ProcessDirector V1.3.1: Provides an entry-level output-management workflow system Offers automated print management with job-level and workflow control functions Enables you to manage document reprints from within your print center, with precision Includes Print Services Facility (PSF) print driver and a built-in file viewer for viewing Advanced Function Presentation (AFP) files Utilizes a database-driven process engine with an extensible backbone for process management Allows you to start small and grow according to your business needs Overview InfoPrint Solutions Company, a Ricoh -IBM joint venture, announces InfoPrint ProcessDirector V1.3.1, an extensible and configurable output-process management system that lets you start small and grow over time. InfoPrint ProcessDirector is a cost-effective, entry-level solution that can help you control and manage your transaction output processes. InfoPrint ProcessDirector enables flexible control of your print/mail production processes, helps enhance customer service, reduce errors, and lower costs. The base functions of InfoPrint ProcessDirector include the ability to: Receive files from z/os using Download for z/os or AFP Download Plus, by copying files to a directory defined as a hot folder, or from a command line print request (such as lpr) to the InfoPrint ProcessDirector LPD receiver Manage print queues Track the production process from receipt of the print file to final delivery Use a file viewer to find the pages of AFP jobs that need to be reprinted Interface with other application programs, such as InfoPrint Manager for AIX (AIX secondary servers only) Third-party applications User-written applications The Secondary Server optional feature allows you to drive more printers or balance third-party applications and workflow tasks across multiple InfoPrint is a registered trademark of Ricoh Co., Ltd. 1

2 servers. Key prerequisites A minimum configuration for InfoPrint ProcessDirector for Linux V1.3.1 is a PC with: SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (9.0) with Service Pack 3 for x86 One or more 2.8 GHz or faster processors A drive capable of reading CD-ROMs 4 GB, or more, RAM Display with minimum resolution of 1024 x 768 Connectivity to the LAN A minimum configuration for InfoPrint ProcessDirector for AIX V1.3.1 is a pseries server with: IBM AIX V5.3 One or more 1.9 GHz or faster RISC processors A drive capable of reading CD-ROMs 4 GB, or more, RAM Display with minimum resolution of 1024 x 768 Connectivity to the LAN Planned availability date November 16, 2007 Description InfoPrint ProcessDirector is a robust application with a Web interface that turns your printing operation into a controlled manufacturing process. It is a powerful and cost-effective system that helps you manage your printing environment from a single point through a comprehensive user interface. Processing phases managed by InfoPrint ProcessDirector Print jobs that are submitted to InfoPrint ProcessDirector are assigned to job types that you define based on the processing that is required. Each job type includes a variety of processing steps, arranged in phases according to the type of processing that occurs during that phase. The key processing phases in the base product are the Receive Phase, the Prepare phase, the Print phase, and the Complete phase. Receive phase: In the Receive phase, the InfoPrint ProcessDirector system accepts input files for processing and assigns job types to them. The file types that are supported are: Line data Advanced Function Presentation (AFP) format files Mixed-mode input files, which consist of line data with AFP structured fields The following data streams can either be transformed to AFP by an external transform product, or passed through to a printer that accepts them: PostScript, PDF, and PCL Image data streams, such as JPEG, TIFF, and GIF The supported job submission methods are: Download for z/os: Download for z/os is an optional feature of IBM Print Services Facility for InfoPrint is a registered trademark of Ricoh Co., Ltd. 2

3 z/os V4.1 (5655-M32) that can automatically transmit host files to InfoPrint ProcessDirector. AFP Download Plus: Another optional feature of IBM Print Services Facility for z/os V4.1 that can gather job attributes and print resources, process PSF exits, convert line data into the AFP data stream, package the job, and secure it before transmitting it to InfoPrint ProcessDirector. AFP parameters, can be sent with the jobs. LPR using industry-standard LPD protocol from a variety of host systems. FTP, SCP, or your preferred file copying method can be used to move print files into hot folders, which are monitored by InfoPrint ProcessDirector so that job processing is initiated as soon as the files are received. Prepare phase: The optional Prepare phase can be used to apply additional processing to a print job before it is printed. For example, you can define a job type that includes steps in the Prepare phase to transform datastreams or to index jobs to facilitate reprints. You can also add steps to run customized scripts to further condition or compose the job. Job types are not required to have steps in the Prepare phase. Print phase: The optional Print phase transmits the job to an available printer, monitors printing status, and reports print completion. It can also include a manual quality check step, which can allow the operator to make printer adjustments prior to reprinting the job. Job types are not required to have steps in the Print phase. Complete phase: Once jobs have completed all other processing, the Complete phase manages the retention period for jobs; it deletes jobs that have no retention period or whose retention periods have expired. You can add a step to the Complete phase that copies the job to an archive system or that runs a program that verifies that all of the expected pages in the job were received or printed before the job is deleted from the system. InfoPrint ProcessDirector provides flexibility and consistency The open framework of InfoPrint ProcessDirector allows you to make the most of your existing software investment. You can use third-party programs, or create your own command line programs and define them as steps in your InfoPrint ProcessDirector workflows. InfoPrint ProcessDirector provides seamless connections to your sources of data, either on the mainframe or over the network. InfoPrint ProcessDirector provides detailed audit information about your printing workload and tasks, and allows you to manage your business more efficiently. InfoPrint ProcessDirector supports color InfoPrint ProcessDirector V1.3.1 supports the AFP Color Management Architecture for consistent color across multiple printers. The AFP Color Management Architecture is based on the concept of an architected Color Management Resource (CMR), which describes the structure and syntax for managing color information so that it can be processed in an AFP production workflow. Like other AFP resources, CMRs can be associated with document components and are managed by InfoPrint ProcessDirector and printers so that they can be downloaded once, captured, and used repeatedly throughout a print job. There are several types of CMRs: Color conversions (CCs) are ICC profiles that associate a device-specific color with a profile connection space (PCS). Tone transfer curves (TTCs) are used to modify the values of a particular color component, the rendering of grayscale on black-and-white printers, as well as color output. Indexed (IX) CMRs map indexed colors in the data to output device colors or colorant combinations. Link color conversions (LKs) provide look-up tables that directly convert from an input color space in the presentation data to the output color space of a particular device. CMRs are installed and managed in AFP resource libraries using the InfoPrint Solutions Company AFP Resource Installer (5639-EE2). When installing the resources, the Resource Installer also builds a Resource Access Table (RAT) entry that maps and links CMRs together. The Resource Installer can also install data. InfoPrint ProcessDirector uses the Resource InfoPrint is a registered trademark of Ricoh Co., Ltd. 3

4 Access Table to locate CMRs referenced in the print file, or in a FORMDEF external to the print file. It also uses the RAT to locate data objects installed using the AFP Resource Installer. Once PSF locates the requested CMR, it is loaded to the printer, where it can be captured and used multiple times. Lower cost The Third Party Connectivity feature that was an optional feature with a separate charge in InfoPrint Process Director for Linux V1.2 is now included in the product base with no additional charge. New functions New functions in both InfoPrint ProcessDirector for AIX V1.3.1 and InfoPrint ProcessDirector for Linux V1.3.1 include: Support for the AFP color management system, including the ability to send jobs to an InfoPrint 5000 color printer with the IPDS optional feature. Enhanced AFP Viewer, including the ability to display text formatted with TrueType fonts and additional bar codes, such as PDF417, DataMatrix, and USPS 4-state. A more flexible design of the InfoPrint ProcessDirector user interface that allows each user to customize what aspects of the system are most important by reordering or maximizing separate portlets for printers, jobs, and input devices. Support for Internet Explorer 7 on Windows Vista. New functions in InfoPrint ProcessDirector for AIX V1.3.1 include: Ability to run both InfoPrint Manager for AIX and InfoPrint ProcessDirector on the same server. Support for both Windows and Linux secondary servers. Translations into French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish. New functions in InfoPrint ProcessDirector for Linux V1.3.1 include: Ability to receive a job using the industry-standard LPD protocol. Ability to print on PostScript, PDF, and PCL printers. Ability to have InfoPrint ProcessDirector input devices defined on AIX secondary servers. Product positioning InfoPrint ProcessDirector V1.3.1 is intended for use primarily for printing AFP datastreams in production environments. InfoPrint ProcessDirector for AIX V1.3.1 supports coexisting with InfoPrint Manager for AIX V4.2 on the same server or on a secondary server. Reference information For more information about InfoPrint Manager for AIX V4.2 and InfoPrint Manager for Windows V2.2, refer to Software Announcement ZA , dated September 9, 2005, InfoPrint Manager enhancements improve productivity and ease of use. For more information about InfoPrint Transform Manager for Linux, refer to: Software Announcement ZP , dated November 30, 2004, IBM InfoPrint Transform Manager improves datastream transforming Software Announcement ZP , dated November 22, 2005, IBM InfoPrint Transform Manager transforms more datastreams For information about ordering and pricing of InfoPrint ProcessDirector for AIX V1.3, refer to Software Announcement ZP , dated September 11, 2007, InfoPrint ProcessDirector for AIX 1.3 helps you manage print workflow with flexible control for efficiency and cost-savings. InfoPrint is a registered trademark of Ricoh Co., Ltd. 4

5 Availability of national languages InfoPrint ProcessDirector V1.3.1 will be translated into French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish on November 16, Trademarks AFP, Print Services Facility, Advanced Function Presentation, and IPDS are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States or other countries or both. z/os, AIX, and pseries are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States or other countries or both. Windows Vista and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Linux is a trademark of Linus Torvalds in the United States, other countries or both. InfoPrint is a registered trademark of Ricoh Co., Ltd., in the United States, other countries, or both. Ricoh is a registered trademark of Ricoh Co., Ltd., and it's affiliated companies. Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others. This announcement is provided for your information only. For additional information visit the InfoPrint Solutions Company worldwide contact page at: InfoPrint is a registered trademark of Ricoh Co., Ltd. 5