The XPFC/SIE2XRX Feature

The aim of the SIE2XRX transition support feature is to provide very rapid conversion from the SIEPRT regime to the Xerox production printer regime. XPFC/SIE2XRX provides extensive features and opportunities to exploit the XPS without the need to become involved in JES2 EXIT code, changes to jobs, applications, or JCL.

The Siemens laser support environment is assumed to be the SIEPRT package, and XPFC/SIE2XRX will work using similar exploitation of the CHARS and MODIFY JCL parameters as used in existing production JCL.

It's already in live use on a major bureau installation - and supported a massive transition off Siemens fanfold lasers onto a collection of 4890's at the JCI installation in New Jersey - the Case Study explains how it was achieved.

Technical discussions have been held with users of the SIEPRT package which is currently used to drive online Siemens lasers, and the SIE2XRX solution is based on the operational desires and needs of these end users.

All the standard XPFC features remain fully available when using the SIE2XRX transition support feature. This includes extensive support for exploiting Xerox printer features such as fonts, orientation, use of electronic overlays, and (colored and customized) cover sheets at both job and dataset level.

It is Xerox Corporation policy to improve and refine the SIE2XRX feature to address and satisfy any new or special user needs, so feedback is welcome. The evolving nature of the XPFC/SIE2XRX feature means that refinements and enhancements are relatively easy and quick to implement.

Also ..... both online and offline (tape/cartridge) versions are available. Whilst most users will focus on the online version, all the features and functionality remain equally applicable to the offline mode of operation. This compatibility will be attractive for those installations where they may wish to offload large print jobs to tape for printing at some later time, or maybe just so that the print files can be secured/archived.

SIE2XRX automatically creates a parameter value that will be used as a look-up key for **PREFILE entrants in the central XPFC Configurator File.

**PREFILE entrants are used to define a "packet" of DJDE commands to dictate to the Xerox printer all the various attributes for the following print dataset. The XPFC Configurator File is a simple format file, and is maintained using the standard editor.