AFP

The AFP driver is used to send output to an AFP printing environment. The AFP driver creates an AFP data stream file for each job or document produced by the StreamServer.

Figure 1

AFP data stream file structure (simplified)

AFP resources

Fonts, code pages, overlays, images, color profiles and form definitions, can be represented in different ways in an AFP data stream file.

•	Wrapped into a resource group

A resource group is similar to a zip file containing uniquely named resources. The resources are either generated by the StreamServer, or retrieved from an external storage, and then wrapped into the resource group.

•	As a reference in a page definition

The page definitions in the AFP data stream file (Page below Page group in Figure 1) include references to resources. When the Print Server reads the AFP data stream file and finds a reference, it searches for the resource in the resource group. If the Print Server finds the resource in the resource group, it uses that resource.

If the resource is not included in the resource group, the Print Server searches for the resource in the local resource storage. If the Print Server finds the resource in the local storage, it uses that resource. If the Print Server cannot find the resource, it issues an error message.

•	As a bitmap in a page definition (only images and overlays)

Images and overlays can be merged as bitmaps directly on a page definition.

How the StreamServer determines the resource options to use

Resource names, resource storage location, and resource modes (include, embed, reference, etc.) can be specified in different ways. In the GUI settings for the AFP driver you can specify default options that apply to all resource types, and options that apply per resource type. You can also specify resource options in map files. The flow chart below illustrates how the StreamServer determines the options to use when adding a resource to the AFP data stream file.

 

Required knowledge

You must be familiar with basic AFP terminology.