Rendering documents on IBM i

In order to enable document preview functionality for IBM® Web Content Manager and the Common Mail portlet, you must set up an HTML rendering server to work with WebSphere® Portal. Because IBM i does not contain native graphics support, you must install additional fonts to perform the document conversion required by these functions. Document conversion enables WebSphere Portal to convert documents produced by commonly used office programs into Web pages, so that they can be viewed and searched by users online. The additional fonts include an HTML rendering server known as X virtual frame buffer for the X server.

Before you begin

Before you begin, you must have:
  • A WebSphere Portal profile running on your IBM i system; record the name of your WebSphere Portal profile for future reference.
  • OS/400 - Additional Fonts (5761SS1, Option 43) or OS/400 - Additional Fonts (5770SS1, Option 43).

About this task

After setting up your HTML rendering server, you must also enable the Document Conversion Services. See Related tasks for the link to Document Conversion Services.

Complete the following tasks on each WebSphere Portal node to render documents on IBM i:
Note: The HTML rendering server (X virtual frame buffer for X server) that you associate with your WebSphere Portal profile should only be used for WebSphere Portal. Using the HTML rendering server with other applications may cause problems.
  1. Configuring an HTML rendering server on IBM i
    After you have installed OS/400 - Additional Fonts (5761SS1, Option 43), which is for Version 6R1, or OS/400 - Additional Fonts (5770SS1, Option 43), which is for Version 7R1, on your IBM i system, an HTML rendering server (X virtual frame buffer for X server) is present. You must select a display number for the HTML rendering server.
  2. Optional: Associating an HTML rendering server with WebSphere Portal on IBM i
    After selecting a display number for the HTML rendering server (X virtual frame buffer for X server), you must associate this server with the installed IBM WebSphere Portal profile.
  • Parent topic: Installing on IBM i
    • Related tasks:
  • Enabling Document Conversion Services