Understanding PSF for z/OS

Print Services Facility (PSF) for z/OS® (referred to as PSF) is a licensed printer-driver program that manages and controls the input and output data streams required by supported Advanced Function Presentation (AFP) printers or microfilm devices. PSF combines print data with other resources and printing controls to produce AFP data that can be printed.

PSF supports Mixed Object Document Content Architecture (MO:DCA) Presentation Interchange Set (IS) data streams, including:
MO:DCA AFP/Archive (AFP/A)
MO:DCA AFP/A is an AFP document architecture interchange set that is used for long-term preservation and retrieval. This subset ensures page independence and eliminates images without clearly specified resolution, device default fonts, and external resources.
MO:DCA Interchange Set 3 (IS/3)
MO:DCA IS/3 is the first interchange set to achieve industry consensus through a rigorous open standards process. It improves existing functions and introduces new functions, such as Begin Print File (BPF) and End Print File (EPF) structured fields, and multiple image TIFF object support.
MO:DCA AFP/A, IS/3
MO:DCA AFP/A, IS/3 is an AFP document architecture interchange set that complies with the rules and restrictions of both the AFP/Archive and IS/3 interchange sets.
MO:DCA Graphic Arts Function Set (GA)
MO:DCA GA is an extension of MO:DCA IS/3 that adds PDF presentation object support.
See Mixed Object Document Content Architecture Reference for more information.
PSF can be used in either of two ways:
  • In deferred-printing mode, PSF serves as an output writer under Job Entry Subsystem (JES). It processes the spooled output from JES and sends a data stream to a page printer.
  • In direct-printing mode, PSF serves as the access method to process an output data set. Printers that are attached by using Systems Network Architecture (SNA) or Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) cannot be used in direct-printing mode.
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