PRODUCTS

AFP2PDF

SOLUTION SCOPE

SCEPTRON has developed AFP2PDF to provide more flexible options in converting AFPDS files to PDF documents.

AFP document production solutions offer different levels for structuring document contents by grouped information. However, the nature of the AFPDS document does not always satisfy special requirements for identifying structured information.

One way of meeting such requirements is to group document pages logically according to the meaning of the data on pages. Alternatively, if the AFP application is not able to accommodate this approach, it can be directed to generate separate AFP documents by category - e.g., to generate copies of invoices, summaries, or workflow information.

But this isn't a solution for high volume prints. For that purpose, the output for all data you need to print must be in one print file. PDF files are useful for archival and distribution purposes, as well as for use in workflow systems. However, converting AFPDS files to PDF now might impose undesirable usage limitations on the resulting PDF files.

Even if data are well-structured in the AFP file, generally available converters may not produce PDF files that allow flexible and selective use of converted data.

PURPOSE

Standardize document exchange with business associates and contacts by converting your AFPDS files to an industry standard document format. Take advantage of document distribution the electronic way.

Browse through PDF documents just like the AFPDS version - even if there are barcodes. Would you like your AFPDS divided into multiple PDF documents? No problem -- define your own criteria or let the converter follow the structure of your AFPDS. For example use this function if your PDF document will not fit by PDF browser capability - or if you need to distribute parts of the AFP document in PDF format.

Want to suppress some of the information in your AFPDS file? Again - no problem. Choose criteria such as a page copy, page numbers from the AFPDS, or search terms for your AFP page text.

How about generating an index file for the PDF document? Take your pick - use the indexing information from the AFPDS or define your own criteria. Plus, the converter offers different index format options to meet requirements for your archiving and DMS solutions. Save your time and effort. Let SCEPTRON's components do the work.

CONVERSION

AFP2PDF provides 2 functions for specifying conversion parameters according to the contents of a document page: SPLIT and FILTER document control.

When converting AFPDS to PDF documents the functions perform page-oriented segmentation to PDF documents according to the definitions you specify. The functions may be used separately or in combination.

SPLIT generates valid PDF document units when converting AFP data. The criteria are specified in a split specification file representing search terms and boolean terms. The criteria can be either logical or technical in nature.

All resources like fonts, overlays, etc., associated with the entire PDF document are preserved as content of the sub-document, as required by the pages the sub-document contains.

FILTER provides a means for suppressing conversion of specific information in AFPDS files. When combined with SPLIT, the FILTER function suppresses conversion of pages of your AFPDS print file to a PDF document or documents. The criteria are specified as search terms and boolean terms in a filter specification file.

As with the SPLIT function, the criteria can be either logical or technical in nature.

PLATFORMS

AFP2PDF is available for:

AFPXray

SOLUTION SCOPE

SCEPTRON has developed AFPXray to provide more flexible options in analyzing and editing AFP data stream objects.

AFPXray is easy to use. It allows fast and clear navigation in the data stream structure of AFPDS files and objects. The AFPDS can be of any size.

The data stream is displayed in object oriented hierarchy that you can expand to view lower-level structures. Structures are displayed as trees.
Structure elements - e.g. a page or an object environment group - are displayed from left to right.

Finally, the structure of a data stream element -- e.g. a presentation text object or an image object -- is presented with its structured fields.

AFPXray is a JAVA based tool. All of the AFPDS is analyzed by an XML coding scheme of the MOD:CA architecture. Values of data fields and triplet parameters can be edited. In edit mode all of the AFPDS data types are supported.

PURPOSE

AFPXray is for the experienced AFP user as well as for AFP application developers. It provides detailed information of the structure and contents of complex AFP files and AFPDS objects.

Using the built-in editor AFPXray helps:

with detailed information as a help to structured fields and data values

PLATFORMS

AFP2PDF is available for

Win XP	Win NT	Win 2000	Win ME
AIX	HP-UX	LINUX	Solaris