Understanding ACIF

AFP Conversion and Indexing Facility (ACIF) is a batch application development utility. You can use ACIF to create documents by formatting line data (record format and traditional), XML data, MO:DCA-P print files, and unformatted ASCII files, and then print them with InfoPrint Manager or IBM® Print Services Facility™ (PSF). ACIF also provides indexing and resource retrieval capabilities so you can view, distribute, archive, and retrieve document files across systems and operating systems.

InfoPrint Manager uses ACIF in the AIX®, Linux, and Windows environments. ACIF is also used in the z/OS®, VM, and VSE environments.

This topic gives an overview of ACIF, explains the functions that ACIF can do, describes different scenarios for processing your files, describes the IBM products that you can use with ACIF, and lists the system limitations and prerequisites you must consider for ACIF.