ACIF utility benefits

The major benefits of the ACIF utility are

• converting line mode output to page mode output

  ACIF can convert line mode output to full AFP Category 5 data stream (AFPDS) page mode output. AFPDS output can be displayed under Control‑D/WebAccess with the AFP Viewing component (technology from the IBM Printing Systems Company).

• indexing reports

  ACIF can optionally index reports according to character strings at specified locations in a report. For example, ACIF can produce an index according to account number and client name data contained in a customer statement. The index enables direct access to specific report pages when displayed with Control‑D/WebAccess Server.

• saving and archiving external resources

  ACIF can create encapsulated AFPDS files that contain all the resources required for AFP printing and presentation. These resources include FORMDEFs, electronic overlays, page segments and fonts. The resources can be combined with the report and index data and saved as a new report file (CDAM file). This file can be printed or viewed at a later date in its original format, without regard to resource availability or subsequent changes to the resource definitions. The file can also be transferred to other sites or platforms for viewing and printing. If transferred to the PC environment or by using Control‑D/WebAccess Server, the output can be viewed online.

  Control‑D supports two utilities to create AFPDS files:

  • ACIF of IBM (module APKACIF)
  • CIS, from Océ Printing Systems (module SPSPCIS)

  For more detailed information, see the ACIF Application Programming Guide or any subsequent IBM documentation, or PRISMAproduction/MVS CIS-Module User’s Guide or any subsequent Océ documentation.

  The UTIL=value parameter statement determines whether Control‑D will use the ACIF (the default value) or CIS utility to create the AFPDS files.

The UTIL parameter should be defined as the first parameter in ACIFPARM library members.