IBM Mainframe Forum

Hi Everyone,

I am having a PDF file which is stored in an external server. I need to bring this file to Mainframe and get that printed. I am planning to use the IBM Infoprint server which convert the PDF file to AFP format. This AFP will then be converted to PCL format and will be sent to the printer. I am not sure on how to bring the PDF file to MF. Can we directly FTP this PDF to MF or need to convert this PDF to binary format during upload to Mainframe. Please advice.

Thanks

a file ( even a text one ) is always in binary format
a text file might have to be translated between different platforms
a binary file should be left untouched when moved between systems

just transfer the PDF file to the mainframe and proceed from there

the BINARY option of FTP does NOT convert anythings, it transfers the data ASIS

These users thanked the author enrico-sorichetti for the post:

varunsree (Wed Sep 20, 2017 12:35 pm)

Thanks for the quick reply , So I believe we need to use the Binary mode in FTP job and get this to MF.

Hello , We did try the binary option for FTP during our testing and we are getting file truncation issue.It would be very helpful if we get some sample script to do this FTP process.
Again , we would like to confirm that the PDF to PCL conversion is also required even after FTP ing the file in Binary format to Mainframe.

Thanks

Hi Team, It would be great if we get some updates. Thanks in advance

Hi Team, It would be great if we get some updates. Thanks in advance

remember ...
we reply on our own time and free of charge
( if we have something useful to say - if we know about the topic )

on Your side there should not be any expectation to get an answer

if You/Your organisation have time constraint - lack of skills a paid consultant would be the best route

varunsree wrote:... I am having a PDF file which is stored in an external server. I need to bring this file to Mainframe and get that printed. I am planning to use the IBM Infoprint server which convert the PDF file to AFP format. This AFP will then be converted to PCL format and will be sent to the printer.

Wouldn't it be much simpler to use the PDF application on a work station to print the file rather than ship it to a mainframe, convert it to AFP, then in essence, convert it to a printer format, whether it be PCL or Post script to print? One conversion rather the two, so when a conversion screws up you don't go through a finger pointing exercise.

varunsree,
Please refrain from asking the same question in multiple topics.

You probably will need to FTP the PDF file on the external server to a Unix System Services (USS) file on the mainframe -- USS files do not have the 32,767 byte restriction on record lengths that z/OS data sets have. Once it is on the mainframe, you can have Info Print run against the USS file; if you have the optional IBM Print Transforms from AFP for Infoprint Server product then you can convert into PCL / Postscript to send directly to a printer.

As far as I can see this has nowt to do witth COBOL - topic moved.