22
Sun, Dec
3 New Articles
  1. You are here:  
  2. Home
  3. Analytics & Cognitive
  4. Document Management
  5. TechTip: Spooled Files and PDF, Part Three

TechTip: Spooled Files and PDF, Part Three

Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times
In Part Two of this series, I presented SCS2PDF, a utility that gives you a fast way to easily convert spooled files into PDF documents. Now, I will show you how to make your text spooled file look better by adding graphic images, using fonts other than standard Courier, and putting in a background color. Furthermore, you will be able to protect the PDF document with encryption: You can specify the "user" password required to open the document and the "owner" password that allows other operations, like printing, copying, and changing the document.

The iText Library

Before presenting this utility, I'd like to introduce iText, an open-source, 100% Pure Java class library for creating and manipulating PDF documents. The first version of iText, called rugPDF, which made only very simple PDFs, was originally published by Bruno Lowagie in 1999 with the purpose of encouraging people to widely use it for any purpose, including commercial/closed source/propriety software. The latest release, V1.2, is very stable and delivers a rich set of features, and it's constantly updated by Bruno Lowagie, Paulo Soares, and some co-workers. iText requires JDK 1.2 and is completely free--no purchase price and no license fee, provided that you agree with either the MPL or the LGPL license.

At present, as far as know, there is only one free open-source implementation based on iText that runs on iSeries; it was developed by Manolis Mariakakis a couple of years ago. Because open-source products often face similar challenges, in this article, you'll see again the iText API in action with my version of SCS2ITEXT, a spooled files converter.

Getting Started

First, you will need to download the iText .jar file from the iText Web site, where you can find documentation, a comprehensive tutorial, and hundreds of examples. The current iText release is V1.2, and my utility is expected to run at this level. Move the itext-1.2.jar into your iSeries directory pdf that you created from my previous article. Now, download the code that accompanies this article; copy the SCS2ITEXT.class into the pdf directory; copy all the CLP, CMD, and RPG programs into a source file; and compile as usual.

To get the spooled file data, this utility employs the same technique used with SCS2PDF: The CPYSPOOL records and the PF are accessed sequentially using the record-level access classes included in the jt400native.jar. Make sure that this .jar file is located in your iSeries directory in /QIBM/ProdData/OS400/jt400/lib. You can optionally download the latest version of this .jar file (4.6) directly from the IBM site.

Note: In order to achieve better performance, the PF/CPYSPOOL has been defined internally in the Java class. If you want to experiment, take a look at the code for the external format; you can enable this feature and see that performance is slower.

Finally, remember to optimize the SCS2ITEXT class to run using OS/400 native processor instructions by submitting this command:

CRTJVAPGM  CLSF('/pdf/SCS2ITEXT.class') OPTIMIZE(40) 

Try It

Now, you're ready to run SCS2ITEXT. The default parameters produce a PDF document similar to the document generated by the RPG version. The page options parameters are unchanged, while the new parameters LOGO, LOGONAME, and LOGOSCALE allow you to position and size a company logo on each page. The parameter PASSWORD allows you to encrypt the document and protect it from being opened. For BASEFONT, you can leave the default Courier or use any other .ttf font (which must be placed in an iSeries directory defined in the classpath, like pdf). Fonts other than standard ones are usually copyrighted, so make sure you are using them legally. The last parameter, JDEBUG, displays the Java console and can help you in resolving any errors.

This is an example of the command that produces the sample PDF document enclosed (output produced by DSPPTF with a graphic and a custom font):

SCS2ITEXT 
  FILE(QSYSPRT) 
  LOGO(*TOP) LOGONAME('/pdf/MCtips.gif') LOGOSCALE(75)
  BASEFONT('Lucida Console')

What's Next?

SCS2PDF and SCS2ITEXT allow you to convert SCS spooled files into PDF. In the next TechTip, I will present a utility you can use to convert AFP spooled files. Don't miss it!
Giuseppe Costagliola is a programmer in Turin, Italy. You can reach him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: