What's New
Enhancements below are included in the FormSprint release 201001 available now to FormSprint users with Enhanced Support.
Please contact ICS if you wish to download release 201001.
PJL commands can be loaded from the form definition to add additional set up commands for a particular
form.
This extract function retrieves data from system data files based on key values
available in the input spool file.
PDF417 Bar Code
FormSprint now supports the PDF417 bar code. PDF417 is a two dimensional bar code supporting up to 1700 characters. The name stands for Packed Data Format, using symbols with four bars and four spaces, each 17 units wide. All basic upper and lowercase characters, numbers and punctuation are supported. Carriage return control characters can be included using the characters \c. European accented characters and graphic symbols are not supported.
Multiple lines of data can be sent to the bar code by selecting a range of lines and columns from the spool mapper screen.
Zebra Printer Inverted Label
FormSprint now supports inverted labels (rotated 180 degrees). This eliminates the need for rotating each entry by 180 degrees.
Notification For Errors In Producing PDF Files
Problems encountered in producing PDF files are always logged by the FormSprint batch jobs. However, if you want additional protection for large quantity PDF file production, you can code the batch processor to notify QSYSOPR and terminate the FormSprint batch job. In addition, if you use a unique user profile in the FormSprint batch job job description and then change the message queue for the selected user profile to a system operator, that operator will be notified whenever a FormSprint batch job ends.
Support of Faxing Comment Field
FormSprint will now pass the comment field to Quadrant Fastfax.
Other enhancements in earlier releases.
PC Designer provides complete form design and data mapping from Windows PCs. Import a spool file page and visually design your form around it. Remap spool file data with drag & drop simplicity. Convert graphic files (jpeg or bmp) using the built-in conversion tool or import existing FormSprint graphics. Your form is saved on the System i in the same place as forms created using the FormSprint editor and can be modified by the FormSprint editor. PC Designer is an optional program and requires v200801 or higher.
The Cyrillic character set is now supported with minor modifications to the EBCDIC/ASCII translation table.
FormSprint now fully supports the new Intelligent Mail Barcode (formerly known at the 4-state Customer Barcode) allowing the user to uniquely identify the sender, uniquely identify the mail piece, provide a destination Zip code for sorting and routing, and encode special service indicators and Address Change Service requests. These enhancements fully comply with the US Postal Service revision dated 10/30/07 resulting in shorter bars and additional services.
Based on user feedback, the naming of PDF and TIF files has been expanded to 50 positions when output to the IFS or to a QNTC destination.
The Buffer Map allows the printout of which buffers are being used and for what. The Buffer Map is an indispensible tool for complicated forms using many buffers because it gives the user a simple way to follow the logic through buffer loading and reading.
Two function keys have been added to the FormSprint Link as aids in diagnosing form processing problems. F13 displays the job log for FormSprint Link making it easy to look for error messages in the job log of forms that aren't processing correctly. F14 displays library QTEMP where file DISTPRINT can be viewed to determine how form pages are being distributed.
Based on user feedback, significant modifications have been made to the Archive Database System. These include the assignment of search parameter names when the database is first created, the output formtype defined in the form definition is now carried through to the archive document printing, and PDF files can now be created dynamically from the archive system and loaded directly to the IFS.
The Extract function has been expanded to include the User Defined Area of the spool file.
FormSprintCV is PC server-based software that provides conversion of FormSprint forms to PDF or TIF. It also includes a PCL viewer useful for displaying FormSprint forms and data on a PC screen during form development.
FormSprint can now produce Comma Separated Variable (CSV) data files for use in applications such as Microsoft Excel. CSV files are produced concurrently with FormSprint processing. ASCII CSV formatted files are placed in the IFS or shared folder system.
This function permits the PDF Conversion Utility to insert an Adobe signature block in the converted spool file. When used in conjunction with a Topaz digitizing tablet, it permits signing of the converted document directly in the designated signature block.
The Batch Job Controller now shows the status of the batch job which can be worked with from the Batch Job Controller Screen. Batch jobs now automatically sort alphabetically and new batch jobs are now added with F6 rather than entering 2 to change next to a blank batch job.
Archive Database System
The Archive Database System permits indexing archived form/data files with up to 10 user-defineable index parameters. Archived forms can be retrieved based on these parameters and printed, displayed in Adobe Reader, faxed and emailed. Optional FormSprint PDF, email and fax modules required for display, emailing and faxing.
A new program makes it easy to list all or specific forms along with the user who created it, description, last modification date, and graphic files used in the form.
Prior to the new release, PCL files could only be loaded through the form flash graphics screen. The new release permits loading PCL files dynamically from the Spool Mapper.
Other enhancements include new EXTRACT function parameters, fixed data buffer loading, dynamic output formtype, upside down page printing, calculating a date in X number of days, and batch form transfer from one system to another.
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