RE: Outsourcing spooled file

It's common for outsourcers to deal with these.  Typically copied to a
PF with *FCFC control characters and sent to them as data.  We used to
do it all the time in the olden days (with 9-track tape) for
microfiching.

Frances.Denoncourt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 01/03/2007 3:06:08 PM >>>

Charles,

Yes, I keep wondering how the vendor would actually get our spooled
file and do something with it without an iSeries. 
The vendor who prints our tax bills from a data file says they can use
a spooled file. I'm still wondering how. I am not the primary contact
for them. This is government, you know. 

About the special print queue......well, my guess is we don't have
InfoPrint installed if it's optional. And, trust me, we won't be
spending the money for it.

I asked another programmer who says I should look into creating PDF
directly from the 400 using Acrobat. Of course, he doesn't know how....I
should ask another person. Waiting for a call back.

We are quite "frugal" here in the Treasurer's Office.
Thanks for your input.
Fran
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message: 1
date: Tue, 2 Jan 2007 13:12:21 -0500
from: "Wilt, Charles" <CWilt@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
subject: RE: Outsourcing spooled file

-----Original Message-----

PDF not an option? We do not want to add any programming 
steps here. Too bad, though because a searchable document 
would be nice. There are vendors (thanks for your assistance 
here) out there who can do what we need. I'll find them.

Frances,

Conversion to PDF wouldn't require any programming.  All the tools I
mentioned allow you to set up a special print queue that automatically
converts any spool files placed into it, although you may need an
additional component for some of them.  For that matter, with the
addional components, you could have the converted spool file
automatically emailed to the service bureau of your choice.

Heck at the very least, if you found somebody to take a saved spool
file, you'd need a CL program to save the spool file and copy it to
tape/CD or FTP it to your network somewhere.

I can not think of any way in which sending a spooled save file is
going
to be easier than sending a PDF.  When you add the fact that you'll
have
a tough time finding anyone to take the saved spool file, PDF is the
better option.

HTH,
Charles
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