Creating hidden areas, bar codes, and text masks in production AFP files

The EditAFP command hides areas, creates bar codes, and masks text in production AFP files. It uses the AFP Visual Environment control file that contains definitions for the hidden areas, bar codes, and text masks.

EditAFP applies the definitions for hidden areas, bar code, and text masks to an AFP file and writes the result to another AFP file. You can run EditAFP directly, or you can use the PluginMgr command to run EditAFP. If the control file also contains definitions to create page groups and index tags, it is more efficient to run PluginMgr because it can run IndexAFP and EditAFP at the same time.

You can configure InfoPrint Manager to automatically run EditAFP or PluginMgr before printing.

To create hidden areas and bar codes in production AFP files:
  1. Optional: If the production system is different from the preparation system, use the File Transfer Program (ftp) to send the control file, font-mapping files (if any), and IMB serial number file (if any) to the production system.
    Use the ftpbinary option.
  2. Do one of these:
    • Run the EditAFP command. For example:
      • AIX: 
        java -jar /install_directory/plugins/EditAFP/EditAFP.jar 
-i /directory/infile.afp -o /directory/outfile.afp 
-c /directory/infile.ctl
      • Windows: 
        java -jar \install_directory\plugins\EditAFP\EditAFP.jar 
-i \directory\infile.afp -o \directory\outfile.afp 
-c \directory\infile.ctl
      • z/OS UNIX: 
        java -jar /install_directory/plugins/EditAFP/EditAFP.jar 
-i /directory/infile.afp -o /directory/outfile.afp 
-c /directory/infile.ctl
    • Run the PluginMgr command. For example:
      • AIX: 
        java -jar /install_directory/PluginMgr.jar 
-i /directory/infile.afp -o /directory/outfile.afp 
-c /directory/infile.ctl
      • Windows: 
        java -jar \install_directory\PluginMgr.jar 
-i \directory\infile.afp -o \directory\outfile.afp 
-c \directory\infile.ctl
      • z/OS UNIX: 
        java -jar /install_directory/PluginMgr.jar 
-i /directory/infile.afp -o /directory/outfile.afp 
-c /directory/infile.ctl
    For install_directory, use the directory where you installed AFP Visual Environment.

    For directory, use the directory where the file is located.

  3. If the return code from EditAFP or PluginMgr is <0, look in stderr or the log for error messages.
  4. Run the command again for each production AFP file.
Parent topic: Enhancing production AFP files