Print Stream Reports Using Transformation

When print stream reports are decollated using transformation, Control-V can perform the same decollation functions for print stream reports that it does for text reports.

Transformation is the process used in decollation to extract the text from print stream reports (as illustrated in Figure 466) as it appears in print reports (as illustrated in Figure 467).

Figure 466 Print Stream Displayed in Raw Format

Figure 467 Print Stream Displayed in Print Format

As Figure 466 illustrates, it is not simple nor practical to locate the text directly from a raw formatted print stream report. To accommodate this, the transformation process performs the following three actions on a print stream report:

• Creates a text version of the page—This page includes all the data for the current page of the report in text format. The decollation definition uses this page to locate specific text on the current page of the report.    
• Creates a Normalized page—This page includes all references to resources for the current page. The Normalized page allows you to view a single page of a report, or part of the report, without having to view the entire report. Print stream report pages may use resources from previous pages of the report to display the page, while the Normalized page references all resources for each individual page.

  Specifically, the Normalization process does the following

  • for AFP reports:

    Normalized AFP reports have additional 2 NOP (comment) records for each page. These records include the IMM that is active for the page, and indicate whether the page is a front page or back page for duplex reports.

    All Group information and TLE records are removed from the Normalized report.

  • for Xerox reports:

    Normalized Xerox reports are always Metacode, with DJDE lines in EBCDIC for each page.

    All reports use the same JSL (PROMETA) and the same JDE. During the creation of the Normalized report STARTON is used, and for viewing the Normalized report NMOJOB is used.

    If the original report was an LCDS report, after Normalization it becomes a Metacode report.

• Provides Resource Management—During the transformation process, all of the resources used for decollating the report are stored by the Control-D Resource Manager. This manager maintains the resources for each report in a resource library and in the Permanent User File, including the following information about the resource:
  • format (AFP or Xerox)
  • name
  • type (font, logo, and so on)
  • unique checksum

  This information enables you to view a report using the same resources that the report used during decollation.

  If a report resource changes, a new version of that resource is stored in the resource library. After the changed resource is stored, all subsequent versions of the report use the new version of the resource when you view the report. Earlier versions of the report continue to use the previous resource as defined for them. This enables you to view or print a report with its own original resource, even after the original resource is no longer in use.

  During the report decollation process, a special Resource Set record associated with the report is created in the Permanent User File, whose key is stored in an associated SYSDATA record. The Resource Set record references all resources used by the decollated report. Duplicate Resource Set records are not created, so that the SYSDATA record points to the existing Resource Set record if the current decollation uses the same set of resources as one of the previous decollations. Record Set records can be accessed through the Resource Sets (DO.2) screen. For more information on the DO screen as related to Resource Sets, see Resource Sets.