Using page segments

You can include a page segment in an overlay by using commands in a utility such as OGL. For line data and XML data, you can create a page definition to include a page segment positioned relative to a print line (in traditional line data), layout (in record format line data), or xlayout (in XML data). You can also include page segments in line data and in MO:DCA-P data by using MO:DCA-P structured fields. An Include Page Segment (IPS) structured field specifies the name and page position for a page segment. An Include Object (IOB) structured field can also specify size, rotation, and color for a page segment. IBM® recommends a prefix of S1 for page segments.

To include a page segment in a print data set or in an overlay, you can use commands in an AFP resource utility (such as PPFA) or in a document layout application, to specify the name of the page segment and where to place it on the page.

Page segments included with an IOB structured field must be MO:DCA-P page segments. MO:DCA-P page segments consist of image (IOCA), graphic (GOCA), or bar code (BCOCA) object data. For more information about writing MO:DCA-P structured fields, see AFP structured fields included in line data.

When you are printing a page segment on more than one page of a print data set, you can improve performance by requesting that PSF retain the page segment in the printer while the file is printing. Page segments that are retained in printer storage are called hard page segments. To request that PSF retain the page segment in printer storage do this:

• For line data, specify the page segment in the page definition.
• For page data, identify the page segment as a hard page segment in a Map Page Segment (MPS) structured field in the print data set.

If a page segment is included in an overlay, PSF retains the page segment in printer storage provided that the overlay is retained.

Page segments included through an IOB structured field are always soft page segments, because the information in the object environment group must be changed for the override values specified in the IOB.

You can also include page segments in a print data set by coding structured fields in the print data set. Advanced Function Presentation: Programming Guide and Line Data Reference, S544-3884 describes how to code the structured fields used to include page segments on a page.⁶  For an example of how to use these structured fields, see Printing page segments.

With IBM printer microcode for extended page segments, the maximum number of page segments is extended to a total of 32511 page segments per sheet. Extended page segments are not supported when the printer is connected with DPF or RPM3.