Creating and managing resource-context objects

Resource-context objects identify the locations of different types of Advanced Function Presentation (AFP) resources that jobs sent to PSF physical printers can reference. Resource-context objects let you encapsulate the directory path name in one place. Then you specify the resource-context object name rather than directory names with documents and actual destinations when specifying where to find resources. Later, if the location of a resource changes, you only need to modify the path name specified in the corresponding resource-context object.

The different types of AFP resources are:

Color management resources (CMRs)

CMRs are the foundation of color management in AFP print systems. They provide all the color management information, such as ICC profiles and halftones, that an AFP system needs to process a print job and maintain consistent color from one device to another.

Note:
1. CMRs are stored in resource libraries that use resource access tables (RATs). When you update an existing CMR or add a new CMR to a resource library, the RAT is updated. You must restart PSF so the changes take effect.
2. CMRs are considered data objects for accounting purposes.
3. For retention of resources across print jobs, CMRs are counted as part of the maximum-presentation-object-containers-to-keep.

Data object font resources

A data object font resource can be an OpenType font collection, an OpenType set of linked fonts, or OpenType fonts that are installed in one or more directories on your InfoPrint Manager server. Data object font resources are the only fonts registered through a RAT that are located in the same directory as the fonts. For more information about using data object font resources with InfoPrint Manager, see Using OpenType Fonts.

Data objects

Data objects can be IOCA files or types of files natively supported by a particular model of printer (for example, an EPS file on an InfoPrint 5000). In addition, if you use the transforms that come with InfoPrint Manager to convert objects into AFP first, these non-native types of files can be used as data objects. In InfoPrint Manager, data objects are grouped with BCOCA and GOCA objects, and they are collectively known as presentation object containers.

Note: Data objects are stored in resource libraries that use RATs. When you update an existing data object or add a new data object to a resource library, the RAT is updated. You must restart PSF so the changes take effect.

Fonts

A font is a single size and typeface in a particular type family, including letters, numerals, punctuation marks, special characters, and ligatures.

Form definitions

Form definitions provide instructions on how output devices position data on the page. Form definitions can specify overlays, a paper source for cut-sheet printer devices, duplexed printing, text suppression, data position, and the number and modifications of pages.

Page definitions

Page definitions contain the formatting controls for line data. Page definitions can include controls for the number of lines per logical page, font selection, print direction, and the mapping of individual fields to positions on the logical page.

Page segments

Page segments contain text and images that you can include at any addressable point on a page or an electronic overlay.

Overlays

Overlays are collections of predefined data such as lines, shading, text boxes, or logos, that can merge with variable data on a page or a form during printing or transmission.

You use the pdcreate command to identify the directory or directories where the AFP resources reside and provide a name for the resource-context object. You use the AFP Resources tab of the actual destination and default document attributes notebooks in the InfoPrint Manager Administration GUI, or the Command Prompt window from an InfoPrint Manager for Windows server, to identify the resource-context object name or which paths you want to associate with that object. Jobs can also reference resource-context objects through their contained documents. See The search order for AFP resources for the search order InfoPrint uses to locate resource-context objects for a job. Both the actual destination and the resource-context objects that are referenced must reside in the same InfoPrint server.

You can also purchase additional resources or even create your own custom resources. To create page definitions and form definitions, you can purchase the Page Printer Formatting Aid (PPFA) for Windows, which is an optional feature of InfoPrint Manager for Windows.