That’s tricky to answer. It takes a little experience to see what DanTheDane is really asking for.

What DanTheDane wants to do is use a program on Linux like maybe OpenOffice Draw to print his company logo into a file using an AFP printer driver. Then upload that file into his AS/400 so that the AS/400 can print that image on invoices. Or he wants to do the same thing with images of signatures or of products or of any number of things. The AS/400 will do the actual AFPDS output.

He actually wants to create ‘objects’ for his AS/400 to use. These ‘objects’ will be graphical elements that will be inserted into printer data streams for AS/400 printers. Because the AS/400 line of systems is a server system line, it doesn’t have a native GUI interface for graphical manipulation of those ‘objects’.

A Windows PC has been the standard GUI for AS/400 access for quite a few years. Only recently has IBM been supplying more and more Linux GUI support.

So far, one necessary item for some sites is the AFP printer driver that can be installed on Windows. It isn’t used to send output to AFP printers — it’s only used for an intermediate step of preparing some ‘objects’ for the AS/400 to use in the future by sending its output to a file that can be uploaded to the AS/400.

IBM hasn’t made the same AFP driver for Linux that’s available from IBM for free for Windows.

IMO, it’s past time for IBM to make such a driver available, and it shouldn’t require $5000 or more to get it for every Linux PC that needs it.

The AS/400 does the document printing, not Windows and not Linux. This printer driver is only for preparation of some basic graphical elements into a format that can be imported into the AS/400 for later use.

Tom

Having investigated all recommandations I have not been able to find, nor put together a feasible solution. I simply need same solution as known with Windows.

I wil get back to this thread as situation progresses.

DanF

I don’t think InfoPrint Transform Manager does what he is looking for at all. It looks like–among other things–it is a means of converting PCL/PS/etc to a common AFP-type format so that they can be transferred/printed on any AFP-capable printer.

The OP is wanting a way to build a document or graphic in a standard program such as Word/Wordpad/whatever and generate an overlay or page segment AFP object which can be used on the System i. That’s the job that the AFP printer drivers perform in Windows, much the same as a PDF printer would take normal output and craft it into a document. I know that because I *do* that. Often. So I am well aware of the Windows side of this.

So, from at least everything that I’ve seen so far and researched (including years of personal experience in making use of the AFP printer driver), the method he is currently using is the only method that will get him from point A to B at all…at this time.

Thankfully, IBM seems to be turning their attention towards Linux a bit nowadays, so perhaps if we submit a request for this driver functionality to them (through our IBM Business Partners), they may see it has some traction and work on it. That would be the ultimate solution.

I agree this is not a actual solution, but it can provide some clue for the Q asker. And for Windows, I think, the Q Asker is more aware than us !

True…but we are not offering him that as a solution…just acknowledging this as a valid workaround that he is currently using. So, if he wants to print to AFP, he *has* to use Windows…at this time.

Look and observe his comments….. “I hope that they (IBM) someday will make an AFP driver for Linux available.”

It’s not clear if either of those provides an AFP print driver, especially one that can be used to capture the output in a form for the next steps back on the AS/400.

However, if prices in the first link are indicative of both products, it might be cheaper to buy a second used AS/400 and code the solution natively. It’s definitely cheaper just to keep a Windows PC around and use the free AFP driver there.

If sites pay that much, it’s odd that there isn’t also enough demand for a migrated driver to replace Windows.

Tom

And InfoPrint Transform Manager

I am not sure, but most probably, ZLM may help u to solve this….

Do you have support with IBM where you could ask them if this is something they have or are working on?