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Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion

13 Jan 04 - 04:11 PM (#1092120)
Subject: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: jeffp

I know this is not exactly on-topic for a folk music forum, but the breadth of knowledge here leads me to try anyway.

I have been given the task of researching methods of converting from Portable Document Format (PDF) to Advanced Function Printing (AFP). Has anybody out there had any experience with this and can give me a few pointers or point me to some good sources of information?

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give.

jeffp


13 Jan 04 - 04:33 PM (#1092137)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: GUEST

Why do you want to do this?

If you want to print pdf files without manual intervention, look at any PS level 3 printer. You should be able to automate the download and printing easily enough.

Otherwise, your best bet might be an AFP printer driver. Open the pdf in Acrobat, and print to an AFP printer.

Hope this helps, but I'm confused as to your need...


13 Jan 04 - 04:35 PM (#1092139)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: GUEST,MMario

most of the stuff I find on the web is going the other direction - AFP to PDF


13 Jan 04 - 04:44 PM (#1092146)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: GUEST

With all due respect, MMario, I think that jeffp already knew that...


13 Jan 04 - 05:52 PM (#1092196)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: GUEST,Ar


13 Jan 04 - 05:54 PM (#1092200)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: GUEST,Arkie

I'll try again. There is software available to convert PDF to Word and other type formats. Can you convert to Word and then to AFP?


13 Jan 04 - 06:20 PM (#1092218)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: Amos

Here is a downloadable AFP driver which   ought to do the trick I think. Sorry if not.


A


13 Jan 04 - 06:30 PM (#1092226)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: GUEST,JTT

Try asking on planetpdf.com - there's a forum there where you may (or may not) get some help.

Would this software be any use? http://www.pdfgrabber.com/


13 Jan 04 - 06:38 PM (#1092233)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: Cluin

Change the A to a D, then move the P so it comes after the F.

Viola!

Hope that helps.


13 Jan 04 - 07:59 PM (#1092294)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: JohnInKansas

IBM put a hidden p.o.s. in something I copied on my first try.

Overs:

I think Amos may have beat me posting to what I found.

IBM owns AFP, so the starting point is ibm.com.

I looked for Windows drivers, since that's my system, but there are separate entry points for other systems.

IBM AFP for Windows

If the search result is reproduced: Search "Convert PDF to AFP" shows:

3.   j02print.pdf
can now convert the documents to PDF and even ... generate AFP documents ... and PDF) and converting them to AFP for iSeries
http://www-912.ibm.com/as400/v5r2to/pdfs/j02print.pdf
appears to say that the drivers for the IBM iSeries printers can do the conversion you want (and produce files as output), although in typical IBM fashion there's so much hype that it's hard to read any real specs from the document.

6.   C4973
provides transforms that convert PCL, Postscript, and PDF files,and ... applications into AFP datastreams ... refer to SoftwareAnnouncement
http://www-3.ibm.com/common/ssi/rep_ca/4/897/ENUS299-234/ENUS299-234.PDF.
Item 6

Another long .pdf (31 pages) but:
Check out page 3: Automatic Datastream Transforms and Printing over the Internet (Format and Protocol Support)

"The transforms are free but must be ordered separately," but it doesn't say whether you have to own the IBM system to get them free. If you need to make the transform, someone in your org probably has a suitable printer to qualify(?)

John


13 Jan 04 - 08:05 PM (#1092303)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: JohnInKansas

Two strikes so far, but I apparently copied something strange into my first attempts at this post. Hopefully I've got it now:

I think Amos may have beat me posting to what I found.

IBM owns AFP, so the starting point is ibm.com.

I looked for Windows drivers, since that's my system, but there are separate entry points for other systems.

IBM AFP for Windows

If the search result is reproduced: Search "Convert PDF to AFP" shows:

3.   j02print.pdf
can now convert the documents to PDF and even ... generate AFP documents ... and PDF) and converting them to AFP for iSeries
Item 3.

Item 3 on the search result list is a rather "longish" (23 page) .pdf document that appears to say that the drivers for the IBM iSeries printers can do the conversion you want (and produce files as output), although in typical IBM fashion there's so much hype that it's hard to read any real specs from the document.

6.   C4973
provides transforms that convert PCL, Postscript, and PDF files,and ... applications into AFP datastreams ... refer to SoftwareAnnouncement
Item 6

Another long .pdf (31 pages) but:
Check out page 3: Automatic Datastream Transforms and Printing over the Internet (Format and Protocol Support)

"The transforms are free but must be ordered separately," but it doesn't say whether you have to own the IBM system to get them free. If you need to make the transform, someone in your org probably has a suitable printer to qualify(?)

John


14 Jan 04 - 08:23 AM (#1092611)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: jeffp

Thanks folks! I knew I could find something useful here. This is for work. We're responding to an RFI (request for information) which may lead to some work. It involves automating PDF to AFP conversion for forms. I really can't give more details. I'll check out these links and tell my boss what I've found.

Thanks again everybody!!!!

jeffp


05 Apr 07 - 03:06 PM (#2017537)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: GUEST,jimh

Hi Jeff, I've been asked to do the same type of thing. I have been given a PDF form template and I need to convert it to AFP and load it to a z/series mainframe. Then I will merge the AFP form template with variable mainframe data and print the forms.

Is that what you were trying to do? If so, did you get it to work?

Thanks, Jim


05 Apr 07 - 03:08 PM (#2017541)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: jeffp

We never got a contract out of it, so we never put any effort into it. Sorry I can't be more help.


05 Apr 07 - 03:53 PM (#2017595)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: GUEST,jimh

Thanks for responding so quickly.


20 Mar 08 - 03:39 PM (#2293881)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: GUEST,GUEST, fjf

There are a number of mainframe products on the market that do this conversion as well

See www.xenos.com and www.crawfordtech.com; conversions from PDF to AFP, AFP to PDF, metacode to AFP, metacode to PDF, etc.


04 Jun 08 - 01:51 PM (#2357366)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: GUEST,prasad

Hi Jeff,

Is there any solution to convert PDF to AFP.


08 Aug 08 - 11:51 AM (#2408464)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: GUEST

prasad -

In terms of deciding which software you want to use, you might think about issues such as:
- do you need the AFP to contain readable/searchable text, or are full page graphics OK (some conversions RIP the page into a raster, some do object-to-object conversions)
- are you converting many smaller PDFs or a few much larger PDFs?
- do you need/want to further manipulate the AFP later or is it going straight to print?
- do the PDFs contain color (images and/or text)?
- do the PDFs contain raster and/or vector graphics?
- is this a one-time conversion for a few pages so speed isn't critical, or does this need to go into a production shop where speed matters?
- does operating system or platform matter (i.e., Windows, UNIX flavor, host)?
- do you need to get the resulting AFP up to a host platform?   

Take a look at www.crawfordtech.com/pdf_to_afp_conversion.htm.

Good luck,
Stephen


18 Dec 08 - 03:51 AM (#2518635)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: GUEST,Shaun

Hi,

Did anybody find a solution?

I work for a company that would be able to convert your PDF's to AFP files.

If you would like more information please email me.

shaun.rogerson@communisis.com

Merry Christmas
Shaun


24 Feb 09 - 09:57 AM (#2574649)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: GUEST,Tom P

On the flip side, Adobe owns PDF (though they like to share) and they offer an enterprise server product called LiveCycle which will do this conversion. One way LiveCycle is used is to automate this type of conversion for big production print houses. The component is called LiveCycle Production Print. You can look into it more here: http://www.adobe.com/products/livecycle/productionprint/


23 Jul 09 - 02:23 PM (#2686162)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: GUEST,WicheD

We offer different converter solutions for client and server usage. You can get a free trial version with full functionality. Visit our homepage:

http://4cast.de

and take a look to the AFP2web section. The standard settings of the license key (which is automaticaly sent by mail) is AFP to PDF. Please submit the conversion direction "PDF to AFP" in the memo box to send you separately a new key for this conversion direction.

Unfortunately the website is written in German. If you have any questions feel free to contact us via Skype by wiched.4cast. Hope to see you soon and have a great day.

Regards, WicheD


22 Sep 09 - 12:40 PM (#2728922)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: GUEST,Prestige Solution

We have a multithread software, that can run in batch mode, to convert pdf to afp.

Pdf to Afp software

Regards.


18 Mar 10 - 03:46 AM (#2866627)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: GUEST,Tony

GUEST,Prestige Solution....How much would it cost for the converter that can run in batch mode?


29 Apr 10 - 07:23 PM (#2896945)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: GUEST,Bob

Hi Tony

Here is how we do it.

This is the no cost solution.

It uses the free IBM Windows AFP print drivers and FTP.

I am assuming that you have you are in a z/OS shop and you
are printing with PSF/JES.

= = = = = = = = = = =

Method: Windows print to a file
Vendor: IBM
Overview:

1)        Configure the windows printer to print to a windows file. An IBM AFP print driver is selected which converts the document to an AFP data stream.   

2)        File transfer to the output from step 1 to z/OS. Key parameters are Binary, recfm=vb,lrecl=32756

3)        Use the PSF Rexx AFRREBLK to reblock to records that PSF will recognize. This is documented in the PSF V4R1 users guide chapter 9.Use IEBGENER to copy into the z/OS spool.

I'll try to check back in a few days to see if you have any questions.

Regards

Bob


05 May 10 - 06:22 AM (#2900443)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: GUEST,Prestige Solutions LLC

Hi, we have created a professional solution.
Please visit:
http://www.prestige-solutions.org


08 May 10 - 12:09 PM (#2902720)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: GUEST,Bob

So has IBM and there solution cost nothing.

Good luck with that Prestige Solution LLC (Limited Liability Corporation) solution.

Regards

Bob


09 Jun 11 - 08:39 AM (#3167603)
Subject: RE: Tech: PDF to AFP Conversion
From: GUEST,mario gomez

hello,
this may be a little late but you might want to check out this link here. they say they can convert pdf to afp, pcl, txt, rtf and many other formats I hadn't even heard of before!
it's called print transform: www.printtransform.com
I hope it helps,
mario