The XPSM Connection Explained

Introduction
The original XPFC collaboration with Xerox Corporation was focused on providing tools and support software for the MVS/JES2 user base.

The "European Flavor" also brought the UNIX equivalents of the MVS/JES2 packages onto the table ........ albeit not too many folk in the USA were interested in commercial strength UNIX systems at that time.

Anyway ........ once the MVS/JES2 version of XPFC was launched, and the dust had settled, some interest arose in the UNIX variants for a variety of reasons ......... such as some blue chip companies were downsizing, and they still needed "mainframe class" support software for their Xerox LPS's !

So ....... the UNIX family of XPFC products was ready and waiting to support this rapidly growing IT community.

And whilst all this was going on, the boys and girls in El Segundo were working long hours on the XPSM system and were under immense pressure to deliver a fully functional system to satisfy increasingly complex user demands.

Then there was FUSION ............. and someone suggested that XPFC was already providing some of the "building blocks" that these hard working guys would need to deliver !

Talks took place, and all sorts of synergy issues were identified .......

And out of the mists were born two products from the XPFC camp - XPREP and TTP.

These products are maintained and supported just like all the other component parts of XPSM and benefit from the "mainframe mentality" that comes with the XPFC experience and pedigree.

XPREP - DJDE Insertor & Customized Cover Support ........... And now VIPP Support too !

Note:

It's was only in August 1996 that the name XPREP was finally OK'ed by the legal boys and girls at El Segundo !

XPREP ...... as all of us must now call it ....... stands for Xerox Print Readiness Execution Program ............ Gosh !

However ....... some you may remember it under some of it's previous "aliases" ... such as XPFC and XPDI ...... it was even called XPFC/XPSM for about 6 weeks ...... Don't Panic .... it's the same product !

XPREP is now an integral part of XPSM.

It is effectively a closely coupled version of the stand-alone UNIX XPFC system that operates INSIDE the XPSM regime ...... and some of the recent software changes ensure a really tight ... and almost invisible ...... interface to end users.

Integration and testing of V2R2 of XPREP was completed in the El Segundo labs in July 1996, and it was OK'ed for launch ...... it made it's debut in the field around 3rd Quarter of 1996 !

Since then ..... there's been a V2R3 ...... and since April 1997 ..... there's a V3R1 which is a really sophisticated solution ..... it's even got VIPP support !

TTP - Tape To Print
This package doesn't have an equivalent outside of the world of XPSM.

TTP is a general purpose import utility that reads a variety of different tape/cartridge formats and which delivers the reformatted contents directly into the main XPSM framework.

The design aims and service objectives of TTP are very simple;

	To provide flexible XPSM import capabilities
	To provide automatic support for a wide variety of industry standard tape formats and structures
	To provide a closely coupled interface to the main XPSM system so that user could service a variety of users without the need to write or purchase special import utilities/processes

TTP was released as part of the XPSM "toolkit" during the 3rd Quarter of 1996.

Future plans for TTP include support for POWER format tapes/cartridges .... and whatever else is expected of it ..... the design is such that new tape/cartridge file formats can be easily and quickly added without de-stabilising the product.