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www.vrtech.bizEasyOutput400

EasyOutput400

Output management solution

for IBM i (AS/400)


Introduction

EasyOutput400 is a complete print formatting solution designed to get

the data out from your IBM i information systems and into trending

formats such as fully formatted PDF documents and reports, digital

signatures, Word and Excel files and more

It does this without any system integration and there's no need to touch

your existing programs


Printers & Fax

E-mail

Archive

On-Demand

Web-Service

IBM i

Spool Files

APIUser

RPG/Cobol

Programs

Invoice

EasyOutput400

EasyOutput400


Inputs

Print files – Spool Files

Print queues attached to a product are monitored by

EasyOutput400. Each print file entering these queues is

routed according to the printing spool attributes

(Spool name, User data, Job… ) to the appropriate formatting

and distribution template.

PF - Physical files

Any record in a file serves as data for a single PDF file or

whole file can be exported to excel.

No need to generate spool files.

API

RPG/Cobol API provides for the production of PDF documents

directly from programs in IBM i. RPG and Cobol programmers

can produce quality PDF documents easily without further

training or having to build a print report in IBM i.

Spool

file

Physical

file


Splitting of print reports - Spool Splitter

• Spool Splitter provides for cutting and splitting

long print reports into separate spools. Each

entity in separate spool in the out queue.

• Spool Splitter maintains the original spool attributes,

thus allowing for easy tracking of split reports

and easy definition of their handling in the product.

• EasyOutput400 performs the Spool Splitter splitting

action automatically as part of the print handling process

Spool Splitting


Formatting

Automatic formatting

Automatic formatting of a print file provides

control of the following format components:

• Font (type, size, color)

• Logo, image, barcode

• Conversion of text tables into tables

made of continuous lines.

(The table should have a structure that

the system can process)

• Addition of a signature from a

signature file or signature pad


Formatting

Template dependent design

• The data arriving from a spool file,

physical file or RPG and

Cobol programs are set

into a ready made PDF or

Word template.

• Using the administrator,

the PDF/Word fields may be

controlled and such values as font,

font size, color, barcode, signature

from a signature pad and more.

Template based design provides for a higher document

design level.


Authentication

and security

Attaching signature from a signature file or signature pad

The system provides ability to add signature image of the

document producer to the PDF document.

The signature can be added from a signature file or signature pad.

Adding digital signature to the PDF document

The system provides ability to sign the PDF document

with digital signature.

Securing the document with password

The system provides the ability to secure the document with

dynamic user password. This way the system can secure

document data privacy.


Outputs

PDFOn-Demand

Fax Email Folder/NFS

3th party

archiving

system

Archive Printer

Network

Printer

IBM i

output

queue

Hierarchical

Folders


Distribution channels

• Network folders/IFSUploading finished formatted files in any folder on network (NFS)

or in IBM i folders (IFS).Control of the partition path

and filename based on data appearing in the print file

or in the user's program.

• Sending as an email attachment or hyperlink by email

Sending of a documents as an email attachment or as hyperlink

that redirects to a PDF file

• Printing using network printers or IBM i printers

Printing directly to enterprise network printers that are

available for a server or uploading to the IBM i print queues,

from which they are printed using printers connected

to IBM i and supporting this printing type.


Archive systems

• Archiving in an hierarchical archive based on network partitions

The system retrieves the catalog keys directly from the printing and arranges the

documents in hierarchical network partitions that represent the various keys.

The hierarchical structure eliminates the need to use a database to contain the archive

records and provides for easy integration of the archive with other IT environments.

• Archiving on the archive network that stores PDF files in XML format in a

database (PDF On Demand)

This novel archiving provides for keeping PDF data separately from the empty PDF

template. The data is kept in a database in XML format, whereas the empty PDF

template is saved in a single copy in the system.

Using this archiving method, retrieval is performed on demand via a Web Service

interface. Once it is necessary to display the document to the end user, the system

combines the relevant information record with the appropriate PDF template and

displays the complete document to the user.

Archiving using this method provides a range of advantages such as saving of disk

space, information security, easy maintenance, ability to retrieve documents by

archiving keys, ability to search for non-key data freely,

information security, gathering of an information log on retrieving parties and more.


•Archiving of PDF into existing archiving systems in the organization

The EasyOutput400 includes export interfaces that provide for the transfer of PDF

files into existing archives in the organization.

EasyOutput400 produces a key file that accompanies the PDF document.

This file contains the keys of the produced document.

This way, the files and their keys may be imported into external archiving systems

in a completely automatic process.

The accompanying key file structure is user controllable and may be adapted to

differing needs or differing formats such as INI, XML, TXT.

Archive systems


• Retrieval directly from the emulation screen in IBM i

Documents may be retrieved directly from the emulation

environment using Vrtech LinkIt Archive product by reading

key fields from the application in the emulation screen and

retrieving the appropriate document directly from the

product archive.

This solution is applied without a change in the original

application code in IBM i.

• Retrieval from a Windows environment

Retrieval that provides for entering search keys in a

Windows based screen of the product, and receiving

the document group that fulfills the requirement,

selection and display of the relevant document.

Archive systems


Retrieval using Web Service

This method provides for full flexibility in contacting

the archive and gives technological freedom of action

to the development teams of the computer unit.

Using Web Services one may also query the archive

from the enterprise portal and other applications

that exist inside and outside the organization.

Each querying of the system is documented in the

system log, so retrievals of the various documents

in the organization may be tracked.

Archive systems


Case Studies


Kerakoll (Italy)

Kerakoll is a multi-dimensional Italian conglomerate that distributes

industrial adhesives for the construction world.

It works in many countries, such as Spain, Poland, Greece and India.

This customer was exposed to our solution through the chief representative of VRTECH in Italy.

Using EasyOutput400 and without any change in the IBM i system of the company, the spool

files are converted to PDF directly from the print queues of the various users.

The truck drivers making a single signature on the signature pad for the document group.

The formatted prints including the signature are sent for printing on the counter computer in

less than 3 seconds.

The PDF files are transferred automatically to a keyed archive.

The system was developed to support multiple languages and it will be installed during the

year in dozens of branches of the company outside of Italy.


Kerakoll (Italy)


• A user counter signature pad provides

for signature input and integration in printing

• Customer signature incorporated

into the formatted printout

Kerakoll (Italy)


Menora

Insurance Company

Menorah, biggest Israel Insurance Company, incorporates the

EasyOutput400 product into its enterprise systems.

EasyOutput400 provides for simplification of the print setting process

of documents that are printed for agents and end customers.

During the print setting, EasyOutput400 checks the correctness of the print

addresses and adds other details that did not appear in the original printout.

Using User Exit Program, which is run for the print jobs, it is possible to control

directly from the programs in IBM i values out of the PDF file that is intended for

printing such as Original, Authentic copy, Copy and so on.

In addition, the system interfaces with PF files in IBM i in order to produce documents

and letters based on records in the existing file. This method eliminates the need to

create print spool files before this, and increases the efficiency of the document

production process in the organization.


S. Shlomo

Insurance Company

The company produces dozens of reports that are distributed

to various agents and other elements within the organization.

Using EasyOutput400, these reports are not printed any more, but automatically

converted to PDF and stored in an enterprise archive on the network.

There was no need to make changes in the existing software package in the

organization because EasyOutput400 automatically gathers the print reports directly

from the print queues.

Within the PDF conversion process, a header that contains the company logo and a

footer containing the contact details of the organization have been added.

EasyOutput400 disseminates the PDF files by email as an attachment for end users.

This way they receive current enterprise reports directly into their mailboxes.

In cases in which the reports are particularly large, with the wish of preventing

unnecessary traffic, the system sends a link to the PDF file, which the user clicks to

display the requested report.


EasyOutput400

clients


Steps defining

formatted PDF


1. Create new template in Word or any PDF editor

Steps defining

formatted PDF


2. Add PDF fields using PDFill, provided with EasyOutput400

Steps defining

formatted PDF


3. Map data in the spool for the fields in the PDF template

using EasyOutput400-PDF Admin

Steps defining

formatted PDF


Steps defining

formatted PDF

4. Define final destination of the PDF document


Steps defining

formatted Word


Steps defining

formatted Word

1. Create new template in Word using Merge Fields for data

coming from IBM i


Steps defining

formatted Word

2. Map data in the spool for the fields in the Word template

using EasyOutput400-Office Admin


Steps defining

formatted Word

4. Define final destination of the Word document


Formatted Word

example


Steps defining

Excel output


1. Map data in the spool as columns for Excel

using EasyOutput400-Office Admin

Steps defining

Excel output


4. Define final destination of the Excel document

Steps defining

Excel output


Excel output example