Creating AFP data

There are several different ways to generate Advanced Function Presentation (AFP) data. You can use a printer file, DDS keywords, Infoprint Server, the AFP printer driver, or Advanced Function Printing Utilities.

Creating AFP data by using a printer file

You can create AFP data on IBM® i from applications using a printer file with the device type (DEVTYPE) parameter value set to *AFPDS.

Creating AFP data by using DDS keywords

You can create AFP data with Data description specifications (DDS) printing functions that are tailored for use with AFP.

Creating AFP data by using IBM Infoprint Server for iSeries

Infoprint Server has a Create AFP Data (CRTAFPDTA) command that lets you transform line (*LINE) or mixed (*AFPDSLINE) data into AFP (*AFPDS) data. It can also take an AFP file as input and generate an AFP stream file. It can index a document for viewing, archiving, or document retrieval. Optionally, it retrieves and packages the AFP resources that are needed for printing or viewing. Refer to the Infoprint Server for iSeries: User's Guide for instructions to use the CRTAFPDTA command.

Creating AFP data by using the AFP printer driver for Windows

The AFP printer driver creates AFP documents, overlays, and page segments from your Windows applications. For more information about the AFP printer driver or to download the printer driver, see the InfoPrint Solutions Company web site Link outside information center .

Creating AFP data by using IBM Advanced Function Printing Utilities

By using the IBM Advanced Function Printing Utilities (AFP Utilities) licensed program, you can create and print AFP data from an existing database file, merged with an overlay. For more information about this licensed program, see AFP Utilities for iSeries: User's Guide (S544-5349). This publication is available on the IBM Publications Center Web page Link outside information center at http://www.elink.ibmlink.ibm.com/public/applications/publications/cgibin/pbi.cgi.