You enter InterForm400 via the command: APF3812/APFMENU.
General InterForm400 configuration is set via options:
70. Configuration and licences
2. Configure InterForm400
Then you will see the screens below.
Please notice, that you need to press Enter, and go through all of the screens (and press Enter on the final screen), before the changes values are stored.
The first screen is:
Configure InterForm 400 APF101D 1/25
Specify default output queue for users with no individual output queue.
Users may override value when using the system.
For laser print Output queue . . . . AFC_OUT1 Library . . . . . APF3812 Printer type . . . HP4D_PJL *BW, *BWD, *GREY, *GREYD, *COLOR, *COLORD
For label print Output queue . . . . AFC_OUT2 Library . . . . . APF3812 Printer type . . . ZEBRA300 ZEBRA203, ZEBRA300, QLZPL203, IPL203, IPL300, IDP203, IDP300
Allow users to override standard printer type ? Y (Y N)
F3=Exit F12=Cancel
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If you are only using one laser printer for manual merges (option 3 in the main menu), you can specify it above.
If you have more than one laser printer, you may wish to assign printers to users individually. This is done under Work with InterForm400 users.
The advantage of operating with standard output queues is, that users avoid having to select an actual output queue each time they enter the InterForm400 system. You setup a default output queue for both laser printing and for label printing - with fitting printer types. When you work in InterForm400 the output queue and printer type is always selected from these settings depending on the file set, that you are currently working with.
The system supports a number of different printers. Besides the types mentioned in the above screen, the system supports all other laser printers which emulates an HP printer. If you want to print in black/white, you should normally specify *GREY in the field Printer type.
If you have more than one printer type connected to System i, you should allow users to override the default printer type. Press Enter and the next screen is displayed.
Configure InterForm 400 APF101D 2/25
Specify default form type for the InterForm 400 system.
Users may override value when using the system.
Form type *STD______
Select paper size 4 1 = LETTER 5 = COM-10 A = LEDGER 2 = LEGAL 6 = MONARCH B = A3 3 = EXECUTIVE 7 = C5 C = A5 4 = A4 8 = DL
Do you want to define paper size on the individual overlays Y (Y N)
F3=Exit F12=Cancel
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The specified paper size will be used throughout the system, unless you state Y to allow individual paper size definitions for different overlays.
Note that the Paper size selection on the Design overlay menu (see screen with Global overlay settings) will only appear, if Y has been stated on the screen above. If N is inserted all overlays throughout the system will use the default paper size stated above.
Configure InterForm 400 APF101D 3/25
Number to be added to the macro numbers the system works with . . . ____0
The reason to add a number can be, that printers are equipped with flash-simm cards, that does not correspond to the HP standard saying, that a macro in the printers internal memory should be selected, even if it has the same number as a macro in the flash-simm.
F3=Exit F12=Cancel
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The screen above is a possibility of defining an offset to the macros generated by InterForm400.
InterForm400 will always load the overlay as a macro prior to the spool data for performance reasons. The macro ID can in some rare cases conflict with resident macros installed in the printer.
This default value of zero should normally not be changed.
Configure InterForm 400 APF101D 4/25
Do you want to use DDM to InterForm files on other AS/400
Use DDM . . . . . . . N (Y N)
F3=Exit F12=Cancel
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This screen above will allow InterForm400 to copy overlays from an installed InterForm400® on another System i using DDM (Distributed Data Management). When applying Y=Yes, the function key F10 will be available from the design menu, when copying from another overlay.
Configure InterForm 400 APF101D 5/25
The Name that is used for this AS/400 under "Other computers" on PC's.
Networkname . . . . . . . 222.2.1.247________________
Sharename . . . . . . . . APF3812Home
Public authorisation to files that are created in the /APF3812Home/VIEW directory.
1 0 = *EXCLUDE 1 = *ALL
Install SwiftView at drive C A - Z
F3=Exit F12=Cancel |
Networkname
Enter the IP-address or Network name/NetServer Name of the System i you work on. This name can be found with the command APF3812/DSPNETSVRA, or can be found under "other computers" on your System i Access connected Windows PC. This option is used in relation to the PCL viewer and the DDM features. If you are in doubt you can also specify the IP address of the System i - without delimiters.
Sharename can be used for situations, where you do not want to share the complete APF3812Home (In InterForm400 it used mainly for the possibility of a graphical view). If you instead have shared the APF3812Home/VIEW directory you can state the sharename here. Note, that you need to add the share before InterForm400 will accept this sharename. Use e.g. the command: APF3812/ADDFILSHR to share a directory.
Public authorisation
When you view a merge graphically a temporary file is created in /APF3812Home/VIEW. You can restrict access to this file, so that the public authority is *EXCLUDE. Then only the file creator and users profiles with authority *ALLOBJ have access to the file.
Install SwiftView at drive
If your users want to install Swiftview in another drive than the usual C-drive you can state a different drive name here. This is for all users.
The change of PUBLIC authority of the files in /APF3812Home/VIEW is only used when creating new files (not when replacing existing). To use the new authorization delete the files in /APF3812Home/VIEW, that holds the names of your end users. Do not delete the file SVIEW.EXE.
Configure InterForm 400 APF101D 6/25
Select primary language.
Language code . . . . EN DE=Deutsch, DK=Dansk, EN=English, ES=Españoles, FR=Français, PT=Português
F3=Exit F12=Cancel |
The screen above sets the primary language for the InterForm400 menus. This can be overwritten for each individual user.
Configure InterForm 400 APF101D 7/25 Do you want to use the APF3812/STRWTRCHK program as validity checking program for the STRPRTWTR and STRRMTWTR commands, to avoid a writer to be started with FORMTYPE(*ALL) on one of the output queues defined in Auto-Forms-Control, and if yes, what formtype has to replace *ALL when a writer is started on one of these output queues.
Use APF3812/STRWTRCHK as a validity checker N (Y N)
Formtype to replace *ALL . . . . . . . . . . __________
This option is especially useful, if you are using the same output queue for both input to AFC-functions and for output to a printer, as a writer never should be started with FORMTYPE(*ALL) on such an output queue.
F3=Exit F12=Cancel |
Normally you should add an additional output queue for each supported printer in InterForm400, but with this option you can share a single output queue between a printer and Auto Forms Control. State N if in doubt
If you want Auto Forms Control to monitor output queues, that also has printers attached, you can state a specific Form Type, that the writer should print (and ignore spooled files with other form types). If you activate this option with 'Y' above, then the OS400 commands STRWTRJOB and STRMTWTR are changed, and the validity checking program, APF3812/STWTRCHK are added to these commands.
Think twice before you activate this option. Perhaps you should copy the commands to another library and place that higher in the library list (than QSYS) to be sure, that you can always revert back to the original commands.
The option above will force the writers to only print spooled files with this specific form type, and ignore the spooled files with other form types, as they should be handled by Auto Forms Control.
Configure InterForm 400 APF101D 8/25
Do you want to be able to use UCS2 (unicode) or DBCS (double byte)print.
Use UCS2 / DBCS . . . Y (Y N)
Do you want underlines to be removed from DBCS input before merge.
Remove underlines . . N (Y N)
Do you want a default soft font to be used for unicode/PDFA PDF-files when download is not defined.
Default soft font . . . ARIAL_UCS2 Name, *NONE
F3=Exit F12=Cancel
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Use UCS2/DBCS
On the screen above you state, if you want to use unicode and/or DBCS spooled files with InterForm400. If you state ‘Y’ unicode options will be visible and the USRDFNOPT field of spooled files to be merged will be inspected: If the value ‘IF-UCS2' is found the spooled file is considered to be unicode. You can also activate unicode output when you merge a spooled file with an overlay by stating ‘Unicode output=*YES’.
Remove underlines
The Remove underlines option simple indicates, if you want any underline characters from input DBCS spooled files in the final output. If you do not, then you can set this option to ‘Y’.
Default soft font
The last option, Default soft font can help you, if you quickly want to be able to generate unicode pdf or PDF/A output. A prerequisite for unicode and PDF/A is, that any font number used in the relevant overlay(s) a unicode soft font must be linked (via Autodownload) to an installed unicode soft font.
Instead of mapping each and every font number, you can instead here just select a default soft font to use for PDF. The unicode soft font must have already been installed as either a unicode soft font or a universal font.
Configure InterForm 400 APF101D 9/25
Auto Forms Control subsystem
Subsystem description . . AUTO FORM Library . . . . . . . . APF3812
F3=Exit F12=Cancel
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Just like for the AUTO_FORM subsystem above, InterForm400 will ask, if you want to change the other subsystems on the next 4 screens:
Output Schedule Control |
Default subsystem: APF3812/OSCCTL |
Email recovery |
Default subsystem: APF3812/MAILINTER |
Card reader terminal |
Default subsystem: APF3812/TERMINTER |
WinPrint |
Default subsystem: APF3812/WINPRINT |
WARNING: You should only refer to subsystems, that can be shut down during upgrades of InterForm400 without causing any problems. Sub systems like e.g. QINTER and QBASE should NOT be referred here.
It is very easy to change the subsystem: You just type the new name and library above. If the subsystem does not exist InterForm400 will suggest to copy and/or update a few necessary objects:
Create AFC subsystem description
Subsystem description . . AUTO_FORM3 Library . . . . . . . . KSE
Press Enter to create the subsystem description or press F3 or F12 to cancel.
Note: The following objects will also be created or updated in the subsystem library:
Object Type Description AUTO_FORM *JOBQ Auto Forms Control job queue AUTO_FORM *CLS Auto Forms Control class AUTO_FORM *JOBD Auto Forms Control job description AFCSTART *JOBD Auto Forms Control startup job description
F3=Exit F12=Cancel |
Check here to see the authority requirements for the Auto_Form job description used.
Important! If you chose to change the subsystem name or library then remember to change your start up IPL program to start the new sub system(s)!
(The Card reader terminal is used for the Digital signature/PDF Security module only).
The next configuration screen indicates how to handle Zebra printers:
Configure InterForm 400 APF101D 14/25
Command prefixes and delimiter on Zebra printers.
- Control commands prefix Hex 7E Default = X'7E' (tilde)
- Format commands prefix Hex 5E Default = X'5E' (caret)
- Delimiter Hex 2C Default = X'2C' (comma)
F3=Exit F12=Cancel
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Above you set the control characters, that InterForm400 should use as a part of the ZPL data stream. If you print to the same physical printer from other applications, then you need to make sure, that all applications are using the same control characters.
When you press Enter this screen appears:
Configure InterForm 400 APF101D 15/25
Do you have Zebra printers with firmware nn.13.nn or older? N (Y N)
Do you have Zebra printers with firmware nn.18.nn or newer? Y (Y N)
This information is used to control format of soft fonts.
If you have both old and new versions of Zebra printers, you will have to define which output queues uses the old firmware in work with printer control options on the administration menu.
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The settings should normally be as above, to indicate that you have only printer with new firmware in used. Printers with the older firmware was last sold over 15 years ago, so normally it is safe to assume, that your printers understand the new print data stream.
It is important to state the firmware that you printers are running above. Zebra has changed the supported soft font formats:
Firmware versions up to and including nn.13.nn supports one (older) kind of soft font support.
Firmware versions in the range nn.14.nn - nn.17.nn supports both the old soft fonts and a new, more efficient way to include soft fonts.
Firmware versions nn.18.nn and newer supports only the new, efficient types of soft fonts.
If you have a combination of both old printers (nn.13.nn or older) as well as new printers (nn.18.nn or newer), then you need to state Y for both above and you also need to tell InterForm400 on which output queues the old printers are attached as described here.
The next screen looks like this:
Configure InterForm 400 APF101D 16/25 Zebra spooled file preview
Preview mode . . . 1 1 = Display simulated print 2 = Use preview printer 3 = Use preview printer, if available (otherwise display simulated print)
Preview printer 192.168.151.238 Host or ip address
Port . . . . . . . 9100 1-65535 (Default = 9100)
F3=Exit F12=Cancel
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In this screen you can decide how you would like to preview the merged ZPLII result from InterForm400. The possibilities are these:
1 = Display simulated print
This is the default value. With this the ZPL spooled files are displayed via an internal conversion in InterForm400, that converts the ZPL datastream into PDF. The advantage with this is, that you will see the result very quickly and no physical printer is required. The disadvantage is, that what you see is not 100% correct (e.g. some fonts might look different than the printed result).
2 = Use preview printer
If you specify a printer (either as a name or IP-address) and a port number, then you can use the printer for making previews. The advantage is, that the displayed result is 100% the same as the printed result. The disadvantage with this is, that the printer cannot be used for any printing while previewing, it will also take longer to view the result and that only the first page will be shown.
3 = Use preview printer, if available
If you select this option, then InterForm400 will use the specified printer if available. If the printer is not available, then simulated print will be shown.
The next screen concerns the use of IPL compatible printers (IPL is short for Intermec Printer Language). If you are not using any IPL label printers with InterForm400 you just answer ‘N’ on the first screen and InterForm400 will skip all IPL related questions.
Configure InterForm 400 APF101D 17/25
Do you use Intermec label printers . . . . Y (Y N)
The system has support for Intermec printers up to model PD41/PD42.
Newer printers are not supported, as these printers does not support soft fonts in the data stream.
F3=Exit F12=Cancel
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If you answer ‘Y’ on the previous screen, then this will be shown:
Configure InterForm 400 APF101D 18/25
Some old Intermec printers does not have the Swiss 721 Bold Condensed font, that we use as a substitute for the Triumvirate Bold Condensed font in Zebra printers.
Do you have such old printers . . . . . . Y (Y N)
If you have not yet installed a soft font for Zebra printers, answer no here, and return to the configuration after having done so.
F3=Exit F12=Cancel
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If you are in doubt in regards to if you have these old printers, then you can initially answer ‘N’ above and then only change into ‘Y’ if you experience, that font numbers in the range 2000-2999 are not printed correctly on some IPL printers. If you select ‘Y’ on the screen above, then you will need to tell InterForm400 which soft font to use instead of the Swiss 721 Bold Condensed on the next screen:
Configure InterForm 400 APF101D 19/25
Soft font to be used as substitute for Triumvirate Bold Condensed on Intermec printers.
Font name . . . . . . . . . . ARIALM F4=List
F3=Exit F12=Cancel
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You can e.g. consider to use Arial Narrow Bold or similar instead. The procedure to install soft fonts for label printers is described here. Here you need to install the True Type Font (TTF) for the western codepage to be shown on the list above.
The screen below can be used, if you are printing with the Intermec Direct Protocol (IDP) print data stream (printer types IDP203 and IDP300). If so, you can select one of your Direct Protocol compatible printers for previewing in InterForm400. The printer should not be used for production printing in parallel.
Configure InterForm400 APF101D 20/25 Intermec Direct Protocol preview printer
Preview mode . . . 1 0 = No Direct protocol preview 1 = Use preview printer
Preview printer 192.168.151.185 Host or ip address
Port . . . . . . . 9100 1-65535 (Default = 9100)
F3=Exit F12=Cancel
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The next screen of the configuration looks like below. You should normally select principle 1 as shown below. If you however have any issues, when selecting the right drawer on the connected printers (when using the paper type), then you should consider changing it to principle 2.
Configure InterForm 400 APF101D 21/25 Paper type selection principle
Principle . . . . . 1 1 = HP and most other printers 2 = Kyocera
F3=Exit F12=Cancel
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The next screen of the configuration is this:
Configure InterForm 400 APF101D 22/25 Do you want email addresses to be syntax checked
Y (Y N)
F3=Exit F12=Cancel
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On the screen above you decide if you want InterForm400 to do a syntax test of email addresses when they are handled in an email finish definition. If this is ‘Y’ (recommended), then any email address is e.g. syntax checked when entered in the menues. If you set this to ‘N’, the syntax is not validated. The value ‘N’ can be used in installations, where customers e.g. using a special fax solution that is supporting email addresses not fitting all syntax requirements.
The final screen looks like this:
Configure InterForm 400 APF101D 23/25 Which PDF/A format do you want when creating PDF-files in PDF/A format.
PDF/A format . . . . 2 2 = PDF/A-2b 3 = PDF/A-3b PDF Version. . . . . 1.7 1.4, 1.7
When you are embedding files into a PDF-file format PDF/A-3b will be used.
F3=Exit F12=Cancel
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The PDF/A files created by InterForm400 are PDF/A-2b compatible unless you are embedding files into the PDF file, in which case the PDF/A files will be PDF/A-3b compatible.
The requirements for PDF/A-2b files are higher than for PDF/A-3b, so the recommendation is to select 2=PDF/A-2b above to signal the toughest requirement, that the PDF/A files meet.
However if you specifically want that the PDF/A files should claim to be PDF/A-3b compatible (even though they actually are both PDF/A-2b and PDF/A-3b compatible), then you set the choice to 3=PDF/A-3b above.
PDF version
The PDF version sets the version of PDF, that you want to generate. The PDF version will however be forced to version 1.7, if you create a PDF/A file or if you have embedded file(s) in the PDF.
Configure the AFC Error monitor
On the next screen you can activate the InterForm400 Error monitor for Auto Forms Control:
Configure InterForm400 APF101D 24/25 Do you want the system to monitor AFC-jobs for errors and report errors by sending emails?
Monitor . . . . . : Y (Y N)
How many seconds delay between run of monitor job?
Seconds . . . . . : 300 (10 - 600)
Which email address should be used as sender of error emails?
Email address . . : sender@mydomain.com
F3=Exit F12=Cancel
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(The middle part of the screen above is only shown if you have activated the monitor with 'Y').
The fields are these:
Monitor
Activate the AFC Error monitor with Y if needed.Deactivate it with N.
Seconds
The number of seconds between each verification to check if any jobs are waiting with an error (MSGW).
The email address aboce is used as the sender of emails sent by the AFC Error monitor.
When you press Enter the next screen will be shown only if you activated the Error monitor on the screen above (24/25):
Configure InterForm400 APF101D 25/25 Do you want a default receiver of error emails from monitoring AFC-jobs, that is all jobs will be monitored also those without a specific receiver of mails?
Use default receiver . . . Y (Y N)
Default email address . . .
Or
Default email group . . . . PMKTEST
F3=Exit F4=Prompt F12=Cancel
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On the last screen above you can choose if you want to send emails from the AFC Error monitor to a default email address or an email group. This can be overridden per output queue in the Error monitor.
The fields are these:
Use default receiver
If Y, then you need to fill out an email address or email group below.
Default email address
The default email address to send error report to.
To finalize the configuration you should do this:
From the InterForm400 Main Menu select ‘80. Administering InterForm 400' and then enter 1. Work with InterForm400 users. Press F6 to enter your System i user ID. Later you can add additional users which will have access to configure and/or define overlays and merge-definitions in InterForm400®.
Enter 2. Work with file sets (on the administration menu). Press F6 to create an overlay file set called e.g. TEST (select 1=Black/White Laser for Printer Class). Later you can add file sets for different purposes or for specific users.
Enter 3. Connect users with overlay file sets (on the administration menu). Connect your user profile to file set SAMPLE, and the file set you created in the previous step.
Start subsystem AUTO_FORM: From the Select 5. Work with Auto Forms Control from the InterForm400 Main Menu followed by option 10. Start AUTO_FORM subsystem.
You can now proceed to install and setup the PCL/PDF-viewer and the graphical designer.
