How AFP Download Plus differs from other PSF features

PSF and three of its features, AFP Download Plus, Download for z/OS®, and AFP Conversion and Indexing Facility (ACIF), perform various functions on print data. Each feature has its own specific purpose depending on where the print data is coming from and where the AFP data is being sent.

These descriptions summarize PSF and each of the features:

PSF

PSF is the z/OS printer-driver program that manages and controls data that is transmitted to AFP printers. PSF obtains the print data from the JES spool, combines the data with the necessary resources from system and user resource libraries, transforms the data into the Intelligent Printer Data Stream (IPDS), and sends the result to the printer.

AFP Download Plus

AFP Download Plus sends AFP data and all resources to a receiving system for processing. This feature obtains data from the JES spool, obtains resources from system and user resource libraries, transforms the data to MO:DCA-P (if required), and builds a MO:DCA resource group. AFP Download Plus temporarily stores the resource group in a file in a z/OS File System (zFS) working directory before sending it to the receiving system. AFP Download Plus can temporarily store the MO:DCA-P data in a file in the working directory before sending it to the receiving system or, optionally, send the MO:DCA-P data directly to the receiving system without storing it in a temporary file in the working directory. The MO:DCA-P data and resource group can optionally be encoded, compressed, or both before sending them to the receiving system.

Download for z/OS

Download for z/OS sends data, without transforming it, to a receiving system for printing or archiving. This feature obtains the data from the JES spool (but does not obtain any resources) and requires a routing-control data set to specify where the data is sent.

ACIF

ACIF is a batch utility that formats data from a data set to create documents that you can print, view, or archive. ACIF provides indexing capabilities and packages AFP resources in a separate file so you can view, distribute, archive, and retrieve document files across systems.

AFP Download Plus performs similar functions as Download for z/OS and ACIF, but it is not a replacement for Download for z/OS or ACIF. AFP Download Plus has its own unique capabilities, including these advantages:

• The data is obtained from the JES spool, not a data file as with ACIF.
• The data is downloaded automatically and consists entirely of MO:DCA-P data.
• All required resources for printing can be included in the downloaded file, including PSF and JES default resources.
• Installation exit processing, similar to PSF, is reflected in the downloaded file.
• SMF type 6 records are produced, similar to PSF.
• Resource Access Control Facility (RACF®) checking is performed for user resource libraries.
• Distributed data can optionally be protected by secure transmission.

Table 1 shows how AFP Download Plus differs from PSF, Download for z/OS, and ACIF.