Printing Constant Forms

This example shows how to specify the constant-forms function using the CONSTANT command. The constant-forms function allows you to print overlays or a forms flash on blank pages without adding blank pages to your print job. Instead, the CONSTANT command generates blank pages on which to print the requested overlays and forms flash. These pages are called constant forms because no variable data from the print file is printed on the pages.

You specify the CONSTANT command for an entire copy group; you identify the overlays and forms flash in the subgroups of the copy groups.

The sample form definition XMPXXX shown below specifies that overlay XMP be printed on the back of each sheet with no variable data from the print job. The data from the print file is printed only on the front side of each sheet.

FORMDEF XMPXXX
        REPLACE YES
        DUPLEX NORMAL ;
  COPYGROUP XMPXXY
            CONSTANT BACK ;
    OVERLAY XMP;
    SUBGROUP  FRONT ;
    SUBGROUP  BACK
            OVERLAY XMP;
 
PAGEDEF XMPXXX
        REPLACE YES ;
  FONT  NORMALFONT  GT10 ;
  PAGEFORMAT XMPXXX  ;
    PRINTLINE CHANNEL 1 REPEAT 20
            POSITION 1 1 ;

The steps to write this form definition are:

1. Create a copy group.
   1. Specify duplex printing.
   2. Specify printing of a constant form as the back side of each sheet.
   3. Write an OVERLAY command.
2. Create two subgroups by writing two SUBGROUP commands. The subgroup for the back side specifies the overlay to be printed.