A few years ago, we replaced our Xerox Channel-attached printers with the Xerox IP Printers and the SNA connected printers. This was done locally and remotely with the remote sites choosing their model. Previously, we had installed VPS from Levi, Ray & Shoup to handle the remote printing. Now we were going to use VPS TCP/IP to handle the local printing. Gradually, the remote printers would become IP Printers. This was successful, but, not without its share of complications.
Each model of Xerox printer has its own eccentricity. I had to trial and error my way through to determine what sequence of ASCII commands to insert to the printer before and after the data stream. Xerox knows their printers. They don't know JES, VPS or TCP/IP. They just know the data doesn't look right when they get it at the printer server. Further, they don't really know what it is suppose to look like. Or, the command sequence. Or, the specific commands. Not to disparage LRS, but they only know about transmitting and translating the data stream. They have no knowledge of the Xerox printers. So, basically, you are the focal point trying to coordinate these disconnected pieces of information from VPS & Xerox. Fingerpointing. The Xerox workstation has a scripting language called VIPP. VIPP can replace/interpret/translate the DJDEs & JDEs. No, it is not transparent to the user despite what the salesman states (Been there. Done that. Got the battle scars). VIPP may handle all of your DJDEs & JDEs. It may not. Review all your DJDEs & JDEs and test them with the Xerox CE not salesman on site. However, we did get it working eventually. But, whenever a new printer is added, local or remote, we have to go through the same fact finding procedures. The greatest caveat I can give you: If the phrase 'transparent to the user' comes up, double your development time and quadruple your test time. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
