print RTF file from z/OS

Pedro · Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 11:20 pm

I want to create an RTF file on z/OS then magically send it to a network printer. Someone told me that it goes through an Inforprint server and that there might be a way to send the file so that it prints correctly with bold / italics / etc...

Currently, the file prints but it shows the RTF tags as well, and no highlighting.

dbzTHEdinosauer · Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 11:53 pm

there is probably and easier way,
but back in the late 80's,
i figured out all the necessary ascii hex necessary to cause the printer to work correctly,

then uploaded the ascii char to the mainframe,
then built a table of necessary ebcdic chars to 'paste around my test'
so when i downloaded the MF text file to the server as an *.RTF
it worked.
only took about a week.
spent 4 days gathering/making tools that would let me see the hex on the server.

Pedro · Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 2:22 am

I could do that in the good'ol days... I do not mind hacking it when necessary. But I now I do not have access the print server. I do not think I can do it in this instance.

Bill Woodger · Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 4:29 am

The printer won't understand the RTF. The printer MAY understand PostScript.

IF it does understand PostScript, you could think of converting the RTF to PostScript. Or just generating the PostScript instead of the RTF.

Problem with the RTF is that it has to go through something which knows how to convert it for printing. PostScript can be understood by (some) printers.

dbzTHEdinosauer · Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 4:38 am

there are mainframe applications that create excel sheets that can be downloaded as *.xls

so, finding something that will create a 'script/font' enhanced txt document
that can be downloaded as *.rtf or better yet the *.prt type files,
would only be depressing when you find out the cost.

shop I work at now has a server based application called doc1,
takes a datastream of variables (downloaded from mainframe to *.txt)
and merges with pre-formated document templates
The output is a professional letter, graphics and all.
but cost 50k to 100k.
don't imagine you are in the market for that.

Pedro · Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 6:23 am

Bill Woodger · Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 1:04 pm

OK. But when I google there's lots of stuff out there for Infoprint Server, print format translation etc. I know you know that. Are you looking for someone who has used the thing knowingly?

dick scherrer · Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 10:07 am

Hello,

Does the printer support PCL (HP printer control language).

Once upon a time we embedded "escape sequences" with the data to be printed and printed forms with graphics and multiple fonda with bold and italics etc.

This required no access to the "print server". It was a bunch of initial setup. . . We didn't route the printout to a print server - we sent the output directly to the person's "printer" which was most often attached to their desktop (defined as a network printer).

I suspect that you would need to do something similar but use the Infoprint controls. . .