ROLO & XPFC Names Explained

Some of you may have heard of a package called ROLO from Xerox in Europe - the name "ROLO" came about from the acronym Rank Xerox Online Laser Option.

This package was originally launched by Xerox in Europe and it still has a considerable user base today.

Apart from the main MVS/JES2 ROLO package, there was also a supporting cast of other utilities that were all focussed on driving, exploiting, and supporting high volume Xerox production class laser printing systems (LPS)

There was also a range of equivalent UNIX packages for those installations that were running commercial strength UNIX services who needed "mainframe class" output capability and throughput on high volume Xerox LPS's.

The various ROLO packages have a wide cross section of user installations, including major installations in government, motor trade, building & construction, finance, banking, life assurance, insurance, oil, consultancies, and computing bureaux.

During 1993, Xerox Corporation in El Segundo, California, USA took an interest in the ROLO package and the foundations of the current collaboration were discussed and agreed. In doing so, "ownership" of the programme also passed to El Segundo.

The major software initiative back in 1994 resulted in extensive changes and extensions to the original XPFC package to make it address the needs and desires of XPS users, and to satisfy most of the challenges and demands of conversion from both impact printers and non-Xerox laser printers.

In late 1994, the main MVS/JES2 package was re-launched with the Xerox "family" name of XPFC - standing for Xerox Printer Feature Controller, and made it's formal debut at Xplor in Phoenix in late 1994.

The XPFC family of products and services are now supplied and maintained by Xerox Corporation in the same manner and process as for all other Xerox products.

Normal HelpDesk procedures apply for all XPFC support and enquiries.

The ordering process for the XPFC family of products is the same as for other Xerox products - there are a range of Xerox part numbers which are available on the main database.

There is also a schedule of enhancements and extensions already planned to ensure that XPFC maintains the operating edge that is so important in today's world of IT, including transition support for installations moving from other (non-Xerox) laser printers.

Please visit the other categories on this site to learn more about the XPFC family of products and services.