Processing resources installed with resource access tables

Originally, ACIF could only support resource files that are installed as partitioned data set (PDS) members. This restriction meant that the resource names ACIF processed were limited to 8 characters. Now, with changes to MO:DCA and the use of resource access tables (RATs), ACIF no longer has this limitation. For more information, see Mixed Object Document Content Architecture Reference,AFPC-0004.

A RAT maps a resource name that is specified in the MO:DCA-P data stream to information used to find and process the resource. The resources that are installed with a RAT include:

  • TrueType and OpenType fonts
  • Data object resources, such as color management resources (CMRs)

    For more information about using data objects and CMRs in color printing, see the documentation for InfoPrint Manager or RICOH ProcessDirector.

In order for ACIF to process resources installed with a RAT, you must:

  1. Use the InfoPrint AFP Resource Installer or a similar product to install the resources and create RATs in the appropriate resource directories on your system.
  2. Run ACIF. ACIF searches in this order for object containers in these locations:
    1. Inline resources
    2. RAT entries in any directory that is specified with the USERPATH parameter
    3. File name that matches the object name in the paths (for each directory in the path, ACIF checks for a file with names in this order: 1) no extension 2) .OBJ 3) .OBJECT) or DD names that are specified with the USERLIB parameter
    4. RAT entries in any ACIF system paths that are specified with the OBJCPATH parameter for data objects or CMRs, the FONTPATH parameter for TrueType and OpenType fonts, or the RESLIB parameter
    5. File name in these system paths:
      • OBJCONLIB parameter
      • RESLIB parameter
      • PSFPATH environment variable (AIX only)
      • /usr/lpp/psf/reslib directory (AIX only)
      • Registry value for RESLIB (Windows only; for each directory, ACIF checks for a file with names in this order: 1) no extension 2) .OBJ 3) .OBJECT)
  3. Modify your application to include the RAT-installed resources in a page definition, form definition, or Map Data Resource (MDR) structured field. For more information about including resources, see Page Printer Formatting Aid: User's Guide, S550-0801
Note: You can use the RESTYPE parameter to control what type of resources are included in the resource file.
Parent topic: AFP Conversion and Indexing Facility: User's Guide