We have a process
in place on a mainframe computer that creates documents for customers.
The raw data file is ftp'd to a Windows server and is embedded with fax
codes. The fax software faxes out each document based on the fax
codes. I am looking for a way to convert that process over to pdf files
and have them mass e-mailed.
I did some
searching on the net at some ideas and came across a few
challenges.
1. A lot of
software I came across bulk mailed the same document over and over with just
the name and address changed. The content of our document only have the
overlay and format in common.
2. The
original way this was done I had one big file and the faxing software split it
out and faxed it based on fax codes. I need a way to create individual
pdf files that can be mailed.
3. Another
idea I cam across was template based. That is ok as long as the number
of pages can very. I can't set up a one page template because it may go
into 2 or 3 pages or more.
The
I came up with the
following way to handle it and I just wondered if anyone had any better ideas
or could recommend some software.
Step1. FTP the raw data to a PC and use a
utility that can convert line by line the raw data to pdf and build and
overlay. This utility is smart enough to create multiple pdf files for
each customer that can later be e-mailed in step2..
Alternate
step1. Same as above except instead of using the raw data a database is
built from data on the mainframe. The utility runs off the DB instead of
raw data and creates multiple pdf files with an overlay..
Step2. Use a
mass e-mail program that runs of a database that contain e-mail addresses and
the corresponding pdf file. It will be sent as an
attachment.
I would need two
programs to do this It would be ideal to have one that can do it all.
Thanks,
Randy
