What file type does the AS400 support? Spool files native the iSeries are SCS, AFPDS, IPDS, LINE, and USERASCII. SCS are the standard text documents and there is a constant battle trying to receive SCS documents on the Windows side of the network.

Preserving the SCS formatting coming off the iSeries is a concern for many IT managers utilizing the AS400. Most print servers, especially hardware print servers, do not keep SCS codes if the No Line Formatting option is selected for 3270 print sessions. Once this happens, the print job will not render as desired, completely ignoring the SCS formatting instructions. RPM print server allows you to preserve all SCS formatting instructions, while at the same time bringing your spool file into the Windows world.

AFPDS & IPDS contain graphics, AFP Fonts, Barcodes, and text are also native to the iSeries printing arena. All can be modified and moved into the Windows world for manipulation or distribution.

LINE is FCB data and USERASCII is PC ASCII text data.

Affordable AS400 to Windows Printing

The Brooks Remote Print Manager can receive the SCS data and convert the EBCDIC characters to ASCII characters and convert “ALL” the SCS formatting instructions to the appropriate PC printer commands.

The Brooks ExcelliPrint can receive the AFPDS & IPDS data and convert to PC formats as PDF, PCL, EMF, GDI, TIFF, & GIF. These formats can be archived and sent to a Windows printer. You can get away from buying and maintaining expensive IPDS capable printers with ExcelliPrint software.