Abstract for PPFA User's Guide
Purpose of this information
This publication describes how to use the Page Printer Formatting Aid (PPFA) to create and compile page definitions and form definitions for printing or viewing files with Advanced Function Presentation products, such as Print Services Facility™.- All PPFA/370 functions that are described are available on the z/OS® operating system. However, because functions on PSF/VM and PSF/VSE and PPFA/370 functions for VM and VSE are not updated, some of the PPFA/370 functions that are described are not available on the VM and VSE operating systems.
- Not all of the functions that are provided by PPFA are supported in all print server licensed programs. Refer to the information for the print server licensed program that you are using to determine which functions are supported. For more information about a specific environment, see System Dependencies for PPFA for the steps that are required to process page definitions and form definitions.
Who should use this information
- A first-time user
You are using PPFA for the first time to create form definitions and page definitions. You are familiar with system commands, but you are not familiar with Print Services Facility (PSF) concepts and Page Printer Formatting Aid parameters. You need to read all of the information that is contained in this publication, and then use it as a reference.
For more information about z/OS, VM, or VSE, see the Application Programming Guide for the operating system that you are using.
- An intermediate user
You are familiar with print server concepts and with Page Printer Formatting Aid parameters and you know the difference between a logical page and a physical page. You already know how to create and use form definitions and page definitions. Use this publication as a reference to learn more about PPFA commands and syntax. Refer to the examples for useful information.
- An advanced user
You understand print server concepts and have used PPFA to create form definitions and page definitions. You understand the use of data stream processing. You are using this publication mostly as a reference. Creating Complex Printouts might be especially helpful.
Related information
You can obtain the publications that are listed in this section from the AFP Consortium web page and the z/OS Internet Library.
| Publication | Order Number |
|---|---|
| Advanced Function Presentation: Programming Guide and Line Data Reference | S544-3884 |
| AFP Conversion and Indexing Facility User's Guide | S550-0436 |
| AFP: Printer Information | G544-3290 |
| Bar Code Object Content Architecture (BCOCA) Reference | AFPC-0005 |
| Color Management Object Content Architecture (CMOCA) Reference | AFPC-0006 |
| Font Object Content Architecture Reference | S544-3285 |
| Graphic Object Content Architecture for Advanced Function Presentation Reference | AFPC-0008 |
| IBM® AFP Fonts: Font Summary | G544-3810 |
| IBM AFP Fonts: Technical Reference for Code Pages | S544-3802 |
| IBM Infoprint Fonts: Font Summary | G544-5846 |
| IBM Overlay Generation Language/370: User's Guide | S544-3702 |
| Image Object Content Architecture Reference | AFPC-0003 |
| Intelligent Printer Data Stream Reference | AFPC-0001 |
| Mixed Object Document Content Architecture Reference | AFPC-0004 |
| Presentation Text Object Content Architecture Reference | SC31-6803 |
| Print Services Facility/VM: Application Programming Guide | S544-3677 |
| Print Services Facility/VM: System Programming Guide | S544-3680 |
| Print Services Facility/VSE: Application Programming Guide | S544-3666 |
| Print Services Facility/VSE: System Programming Guide | S544-3665 |
| PSF for z/OS: AFP Download Plus | S550-0433 |
| PSF for z/OS: Customization | S550-0427 |
| PSF for z/OS: Diagnosis | G550-0428 |
| PSF for z/OS: Download for z/OS | S550-0429 |
| PSF for z/OS: Introduction | G550-0430 |
| PSF for z/OS: Messages and Codes | G550-0432 |
| PSF for z/OS: Security Guide | S550-0434 |
| PSF for z/OS: User's Guide | S550-0435 |
| Using OpenType Fonts in an AFP System | G544-5876 |