Transmitting data for printing and archiving

A utility company produces monthly statements that it prints and mails to its customers. It archives the statements so that when customers call with questions about their bills, customer service personnel can view the archived statement and print another copy of the statement, if necessary.

Here is how this company can use PSF for z/OS® features and related products to meet its requirements:

1. The utility company uses a page definition and line data on z/OS to generate data for their monthly statements.
2. ACIF creates an AFP document file, a resource file, and an index object file from the page definition and line data; the files are optionally concatenated to make an indexed archive file.
3. The application on z/OS submits the AFP document file to the JES spool for printing. The files that are created by ACIF are submitted to the JES spool for printing, archiving, or both.
4. JES selects the document file to be printed by PSF. PSF then transmits it to the InfoPrint 4000 printer for printing and mailing to the customer.
5. JES selects the ACIF created files to be transmitted by the Download for z/OS feature of PSF. Download for z/OS then transmits the files from the JES spool across the TCP/IP LAN to Content Manager OnDemand.
6. Content Manager OnDemand on AIX® or Windows archives the files on optical media, such as a CD-ROM, or on an OnDemand server.
7. When a customer calls, customer service personnel use the AFP Web Viewer on OnDemand to view the customer’s statement, print another copy of the statement, or both.

Figure 5 shows how PSF and its features automatically transmit data for archiving or printing:

Figure 5. Automatically transmitting data for printing and archiving