User`s manual

Section 1: General Information
AXIS AFP IOP User’s Manual 9
IPDS The Intelligent Printer Data Stream (IPDS) is the host-to-printer data
stream for Advanced Function Printing (AFP) subsystems. It is part of
IBM's System Application Architecture (SAA).
The IPDS architecture is functionally divided into eight towers of
command sets, each representing a major printer capability. Five data
towers: Text, IM Image, IO Image, Graphics and Bar Code; and three
resource towers: Page Segment, Overlay and Loaded Font.
With IPDS it is possible to:
• use the all-points-addressable printing capability of the page printer to
print text, graphics, images or bar codes at any point on the page.
• use images and vector graphics to print line drawings, pie charts, bar
charts, graphics, logos, signatures etc.
• combine all kinds of data on the same page.
• print in all rotations either on separate pages or on the same page.
• electronically store and later print forms and letterheads.
• electronically store and later print host fonts.
The Distinction
between AFP and
IPDS
In general AFP is the entire SAA print concept, whereas the AFP Data
Stream (AFPDS) represents closed page definition files which have
information of various resources (e.g. the coordinates of a line and where
to place a logo). The resources, not already resident in the printer (e.g. the
logo), are picked up in the PSF libraries and incorporated in the IPDS
format representing the final formated output, which communicates
bidirectionally between the PSF and the printer. This interaction ensures
for instance that the logo is loaded into the printer only when needed (first
time and after an error situation), and deleted only when other resources
need the space.
Fonts The AFP IOP contains a total of 32 resident 300 dpi (dots per inch) fonts
(4028 emulation) and 35 resident 240 dpi fonts (3812 emulation). The
fonts are functionally equivalent to the standard IBM 4028 AS1/NS1 and
the IBM 3812 Model 2 fonts. Refer to Appendix B IPDS Font Summary
for a full listing of the resident fonts.