Mapping AFP images

When an AFP file is converted, images are identified using parameters that specify the name, the position, and the size of each image. If an AFP page contains images, AFP2PDF Plus Transform creates image information entries in an output file. The output file entries can be copied into an image map configuration file to define and map a particular image.

Mapping images lets you handle AFP images in different ways during the conversion process, such as:

• Identifying individual images in your converted files.
• Removing all or some of the images from your converted output.
• Substituting all or some of the images with previously generated images in the PDF output with JPEG images.
• Substituting all or some of the images with a solid-colored rectangle. This is especially useful for improving the look of the shaded areas, defined as images in the AFP data stream.
• Adding an image, which is not part of the AFP data, to the PDF display that models the use of a preprinted form used during printing.
• Storing frequently used images to reduce the size of a PDF file.

The configuration file handles all the image conversion processing. For example, when the transform program is run against an AFP document and an image is encountered, the program searches for a matching image entry in the configuration file. If an entry that matches the name, position, size, or a combination of the three is defined, the information from the configuration file is used to convert the image. If a matching image entry in the configuration file contains an empty entry, the image is not generated in the PDF output file.