IBM Print Services Facility (PSF) for z/OS

How does PSF for z/OS manage AFP printing?
To manage and control data transmitted to AFP™ printers, PSF is designed to process data streams from the job entry subsystem (JES) spool, combine the data streams with resources needed to print the data, convert the data into IPDS™, and then send the result to the printer.

PSF can communicate back and forth with the printer through IPDS to successfully manage and control the data transmitted to the printers. For example:

1. PSF can send a print job to a printer.
2. The printer can use IPDS to tell PSF whether or not it has the requested resources loaded.
3. PSF can send the resource to the printer if it is not already present.

This two-way dialog between PSF and the printer is designed to provide superior error recovery. Because PSF can send IPDS formatted pages to the printer, the printer can tell PSF the status of each page of a print job as it is processed. PSF therefore can identify the last successfully printed page and can recover the print job from that page if an error is encountered. This page-level error recovery contrasts with other systems' job-level recovery, where a continuous stream of data is sent through the printer and recovery of a job might or might not be possible.

PSF's page-level recovery can help prevent duplicate or missing pages in such important documents as billing statements, financial statements, and published books, as long as documented operational procedures are followed.

With the addition of the AFP Download Plus capability, PSF V4 is designed to automate the process for generating print-ready files for secure transfer to another location.

By automating the steps in the process and reporting on the process, AFP Download Plus can help significantly reduce the risk of sending a print job with the wrong attributes or with missing resources.

In PSF V4R2, the AFP architecture and PSF have been enhanced to support architected color management using Color Management Resources (CMRs). These resources let you manage color processing within a print file at the job, document, page, page group or even single object level. They also assist in rendering consistent, device-independent color across a variety of printer technologies, print vendors and data streams.

This latest release, IBM® Print Services Facility&tradem; V4.3, for z/OS® helps provide: enhanced bar code processing to provide more flexibility in applications that use bar codes, improved color management capabilities, new finishing options for better professional-grade documents, updated AFP Download Plus, a separately priced PSF feature, and improved messages and error handling to improve quality and assist in diagnosing print processing errors.