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Q.
Exactly what are AFP, PSF & IPDS?
A.
Advanced Function Presentation (AFP) is a Print Description
Language (PDL) which is written out by various software applications.
It may contain embedded resources (fonts, images, overlays etc.) or
tags indicating where resources are required. An AFP file may be
spooled, copied and transferred electronically in BINARY fashion.
AFP files may also be viewed and indexed/searched with appropriate
tools.
IBM's Print Services Facility (PSF) is a program which reads an AFP
file from disk and interprets it, gathering resources as required from
various libraries. PSF queries the target device as to whether
required resources are already present on the printer and sends them
if not.
This two-way conversation between PSF and the target printer is called
Intelligent Printer Data Stream (IPDS). The same AFP file
printed twice may produce a different IPDS because the printer may
hold resources and not require them the second time around. As
IPDS is a dynamic printstream, it is not possible to spool it to DISK.
Q. Remote controlling a Windows
2000 machine running BEPS, if we try to add/modify a Barr Port
printer, we cannot. What gives?
A. Remote control using Remote
Desktop Protocol (RDP), even with the "/console" switch, doesn't allow
Barr port manipulation on Windows 2000 Workstation or Server.
Use NetMeeting instead, which works fine in this environment.
Q. Who is/are Atac?
A. Atac is the
Barr and Emtex Distributor for Australia, New Zealand and South-East
Asia. With over fifteen years experience in the market, we
support systems running 24x7x365 from Christchurch to Tokyo and Perth
to Mumbai, in most of the largest print shops in the region.
Our
customers include banks, print bureaux, financial institutions and
petro-chemical companies as well as printer and mainframe vendors.
Outsourcing organisations and facilities management companies make
extensive use of Atac's expertise.
Atac is privately owned, with an extensive technical background
stretching back over forty one years of continuously profitable
operation.
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