Data sheet

The all-in-one OS/390 network printing solution

Features

z/OS & OS/390 printing software
JES and VTAM application printing
AFP, XML and line data input for printing
PCL, PostScript and PDF output
Outline font support
Full color support
SNA and TCP/IP printing
Output as e-mail
Full screen user interface
Upload-and-Print

Description

EPM™ is an z/OS (OS/390) software solution for network mainframe printing and print management, providing a single focal point for operation, control and administration.

EPM™ simplifies your z/OS (OS/390) printing environment providing one platform for the various applications and environments. EPM™ processes input data from the JES spool and IMS/CICS via VTAM. Using the integrated Upload-and-Print function PC/UNIX data can also be managed and printed. EPM™ prints via VTAM and TCP/IP and thus offers an easier VTAM to TCP/IP migration.

EPM™ transforms AFP and line data into PCL, PostScript, PDF or ICDS (an internal compressed format). In addition, SCS may be transformed into ASCII text for simple applications. This means that a single system, EPM™, provides support for most network printers in almost any environment.

EPM™ is furthermore the z/OS (OS/390) platform for mainframe-Internet application integration using the common standards of both environments i.e. AFP, XML and PDF, providing viewing, host based e-mailing and archiving input.

Full screen ISPF, VTAM 3270 and GUI user interfaces allow for a flexible, easy-to-use operation. User access is centrally controlled, defining user groups with different authorizations, fully integrated with RACF (or similar). A comprehensive HELP system lets new users exploit the many features of EPM™ more quickly.

Administration is simplified significantly using the user interfaces and features such as printer types (models), defining almost everything about a certain type of printer. All printers are defined only once, i.e. in EPM™. Even JES printer definitions are not required.

Highlights

AFP printing on laser printers is easily implemented. Using the same resources as IBM PSF, EPM™ converts existing line based legacy applications adding forms overlays, graphics and color images, all without changing the host legacy or batch application. EPM™ prints the host output directly on PCL, PostScript or ASCII printers using TCP/IP or SNA networks.

AFP to PDF conversion enables mainframe generated web-ready files (PDF) for Internet servers. The PDF files can be viewed and printed using Adobe Acrobat Reader. Several output options are provided. EPM™ either stores the PDF output in a mainframe data set or initiates a direct e-mail output. EPM™ enables mainframe generated web-ready files (PDF) for Internet servers. The way the output is delivered is performed independently of your existing applications, thereby providing new options for web-enabled output delivery.

XML can also be printed or converted to PDF, equivalent to IBM PSF pagedef processing.

Full color support allows you to print full color output using low cost PCL5c and PostScript printers, or create PDF output. Additionally, EPM™ enables you to enhance the appearance and quality of existing application data using full color images, combined with colored text, graphics, bar codes, boxes and rulers.

Application Programming Interface (API) provides application with features such as directly selecting the printer based on availability and features (e.g. color, duplex). The API also provides functionality for synchronous printing with end-to-end control.

EPM™ user interfaces offer support for a wide variety of platforms for user control of printers and print output. Use of standard system security interface, i.e. RACF or compatible, ensures that users have controlled access of EPM™ printer devices.

Integration of workstation environment output (PC and UNIX) can be performed using EPM™ to provide centralized management and control of all printer devices. EPM™ can be used as a print server to facilitate printing on any EPM™ printer from the traditional Windows, Linux or UNIX native printing environment. The integration of LAN and mainframe printing is enabled by an Upload-and-Print facility, which only makes use of printers already defined on the mainframe, i.e. in EPM™.

Migrate legacy host applications from SNA to TCP/IP devices with EPM™ without requiring changes to VTAM applications. Support of both SNA and TCP/IP attached printer means that a smooth migration can be performed.

Minimizing the network load by combining EPM™ with DocOut™ server software. DocOut™ operates with remote AFP resources, thus allowing fonts, overlays and page segments to be stored on the server. The final formatting, resource handling and conversion into PCL5, PostScript or PDF is done by DocOut™. EPM™ and DocOut™ perform an automatic resource checking, including versioning (time stamp). This ensures that the correct AFP resources are always used. The network off-load may be significant since only the variable data are transmitted. The EPM™ - DocOut™ combination supports SNA as well as TCP/IP.