InfoPrint Solutions Launches AFP Resource Installer

Published: September 18, 2007

by Alex Woodie

Having trouble getting Advanced Function Presentation (AFP) installed correctly on your i5/OS, z/OS, Unix, Linux, or Windows system? Then you might want to give the new AFP Resource Installer, announced last week by IBM, a shot at managing the files needed to print high-quality AFP documents.

The new AFP Resource Installer manages the files that you need for color and monochrome printing, and also allows you to install AFP resources in folders and directories on your local and remote servers. It includes three types of installers, including a color management resources (CMR) installer, a data object installer, and a font installer.

The CMR installer handles various tasks, and in the end is responsible for making sure that all the critical color definitions, as defined in IBM's Color Management Object Content Architecture (CMOCA), are in their proper form and make it to the right places for a given job. The Data Object Installer handles the graphics, whether they're composed of text or raster or vector images in GIF, JPEG, TIFF, PDF, or PCL formats. The font installer, meanwhile, handles WorldType fonts for AFP print servers, WorldType fonts for AFP clients, and other OpenType and TrueType fonts in Microsoft Unicode format.

The AFP Resource Installer will support i5/OS V5R3 and V5R4, but for the font installer only. Fully supported platforms include all other current IBM or IBM-sanctioned operating systems, including z/OS 1.7, AIX 5.2 and 5.3, SLES 9 SP3, Windows XP SP1 and SP2, Vista Business and Enterprise, and Windows Server 2003. IBM's suggested "retail" prices begin at $9,999 for a bundle that includes the CMR Installer and the Data Object Installer, and $999 for the Font Installer.

AFP Resource Installer is slated to become available on November 16 from InfoPrint Solutions Company, IBM's former printing division, which is now operated as a joint venture with Ricoh.

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