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. After the application runs and creates a print file on the JES spool, AFP Download Plus is designed to perform the following steps to create a print-ready file for delivery:

• Obtain and store print job attributes
• Identify and gather resources used by the job from system and user resource libraries, including resources from JCL or the PSF PRINTDEV procedure
• Execute any PSF exits used by the job
• Convert line data or mixed mode data into the AFP datastream
• Create a single file containing attributes, resources and data
• Secure the file containing the print data and resources
• Generate a report on download processing, including informational and error messages
• Transmit the print-ready file to the target system

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.