Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

Spool File to Acrobat PDF Document

2 views
Skip to first unread message

Steve Smith

unread,
May 30, 2001, 2:52:34 PM5/30/01
to
We want to reduce report distribution cost.
Any one know about inexpensive (< $100 )software
that runs on PC (print client?) and generates Acrobat PDF documents
of spool files..

Please respond...

Mark Townsend

unread,
May 30, 2001, 3:29:33 PM5/30/01
to
Hey Steve,

The July 2000 issue of NEWS/400 contains utility CVTSPLSTMF, which converts
spool files to PDF. Also Spool-A-Matic by Gumbo Software is inexpensive yet
robust for this and other functions.

As an alternative you can install the Adobe PDF Writter into your Windows
enviromemnt and use it as the "Selected Printer" for your client access
device ?

If you have any troubles with the pdf files then consider the comp.text.pdf
newsgroup.

But by far the best idea I can suggest would be to hire me to write
inexpensive scripts to convert your spool files into spreadsheet and
database tables. The scripts can parse ANY irregular (i.e. non-delimited
nor fixed-width) report data into a flat-record table format. Your end
users can then not only receive the reports via email, they can also analyze
the report data within their desktop applications.

HTH,

Mark Townsend, CPA, CIA, CDRM
Ma...@EZDataAccess.com
http://www.EZDataAccess.com

Developer of customized programs that convert complex
text or print files into spreadsheets and database tables.
======================================

"Steve Smith" <as400...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:6bf036a5.01053...@posting.google.com...

Chuck Ackerman

unread,
May 30, 2001, 4:33:07 PM5/30/01
to
Steve,

I used the one that was published in News/400 last year and it works, abeit
verrrrry slow. A one page report often took over 5 minutes on our model
620. I have since purchased the product from BCD called Catapult. While
this cost around $3500, it converts one page reports in less than a second.
It can email and/or archive spool files into PDF, text, HTML and RTF. While
this isn't the "cheap" solution you were asking for, you can certainly
justify the cost if you sharpen your pencil. I was actually able to save
$4k in less than 10 months.

chuck
Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of my employer.

"Steve Smith" <as400...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:6bf036a5.01053...@posting.google.com...

elb...@cmfurniture.com

unread,
May 30, 2001, 4:37:08 PM5/30/01
to
The two AS400 software solutions that we use are.

SPLTOOL from www.bvstools.com $175.00

Will create PDF documents from spoolfiles and store them in an AS400
directory or folder, or automatically FTP them to an in-house or
external FTP server.

You could then use the SNDDST command to email them.

They also have a product to automatically convert spoolfiles to PDF
documents and email them.

We also use www.gumbo.com (SPOOLMAIL $675)

SPLTOOL along with SNDDST command does the same thing as SPOOLMAIL for
less money.

On 30 May 2001 11:52:34 -0700, as400...@yahoo.com (Steve Smith)
wrote:

Steve

unread,
May 30, 2001, 5:36:59 PM5/30/01
to
In article <7OcR6.1335$J23.2...@paloalto-snr1.gtei.net>, Chuck
Ackerman <so...@no.spam> writes

>Steve,
>
>I used the one that was published in News/400 last year and it works, abeit
>verrrrry slow. A one page report often took over 5 minutes on our model
>620.

Odd - on my 620 it's fast enough to produce a 27 page report, from a
submitted batch programme to a website in about 15 seconds (using
net.data to pass the parameters). And this is a proof-of-concept
internal e-commerce setup - so it's not tuned for the webserver. (It's
running a trading desk and JDE financials for 70 users with sub-second
response - and Quickplace. But Quickplace is sloow on the 620 until the
login is complete.

--
Steve
-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version: 3.1
GCM/B$ d++(-) s+:+ a+ C++ UL++ L+ P+ W++ N+++ K w--- O V
PS+++ PE- t+ 5++ X- R* tv+ b+++ DI++ G e h---- r+++ z++++
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------

Martin Rowe

unread,
May 31, 2001, 3:15:54 AM5/31/01
to
In article <6bf036a5.01053...@posting.google.com>, "Steve
Smith" <as400...@yahoo.com> wrote:

Hi Steve

We use the 'grown up' version of CVTSPLSTMF (mentioned elsewhere on this
thread) called CoolSpools400, but it's a bit more than your $100 - see
their website http://www.ariadnesoftware.co.uk The advantage is that it
handles *AFPDS spooled files too. Prior to that we used a free solution
for *SCS only to .pdf - some front end stuff on the AS/400 that I wrote[1]
linked to my Linux box which converted the file to postscript, thence to
pdf. It worked very nicely for dropping monthly & weekly reports onto our
intranet. If you've an old PC kicking around it could make a good Linux
server.

Regards, Martin

[1] WRKUSROUTQ - a WRKSPLF/WRKOUTQ hybrid. See my site (see .sig below) or
go direct: http://www.dbg400.net/usroutq.html

--
mar...@dbg400.net / jam...@firstlinux.net
http://www.dbg400.net DBG/400 - DataBase Generation utilities
Open Source test environment tools for the AS/400 / iSeries and
miscellaneous database & spooled file management commands.

Susan Gore

unread,
May 31, 2001, 2:32:34 PM5/31/01
to
as400...@yahoo.com (Steve Smith) wrote in message news:<6bf036a5.01053...@posting.google.com>...

Hi Steve,

There is free software that converts AS/400 spool files to
Adobe Acrobat PDF documents.

It is available at www.B2BeDocuments.com

It is called SBTN3812-SCS2PDF-SPMD.

Unfortunately it adds an advertising message at the end of
each report.

Still because it is free you cann't go wrong.

It is extremly fast... one million characters per minute
of processing.

I was lucky to get hold of beta copy early on. Saves lot of paper.

Hope this helps.

Susan

Lauren Bigelow

unread,
May 31, 2001, 2:55:35 PM5/31/01
to
as400...@yahoo.com (Steve Smith) wrote in message news:<6bf036a5.01053...@posting.google.com>...

Steve,

Have been using eSmartClient from B2BeDocuments.

What a fantastic software! It is free. But with adv.

According to their website a $25 version without adv
will be available shortly.

Check it out at http://www.B2BeDocuments.com
Go for free software. It is a workhorse for us.

Lauren

David Fowle

unread,
Jun 5, 2001, 8:53:23 AM6/5/01
to
Dear Steve,

For $399.00 you can get PDFingMailer from http://www.pdfing.com This
installs entirely on the Windows PC and no AS400 software is required.
Converts *SCS and *AFPDS spooled-files to PDF and can email them as
well. You can test out trial version for free.

Regards

Dave Fowle

On 30 May 2001 11:52:34 -0700, as400...@yahoo.com (Steve Smith)
wrote:

>We want to reduce report distribution cost.

Bradley V. Stone

unread,
Jun 5, 2001, 11:44:09 PM6/5/01
to
Elbert,

SPLTOOL comes with SPL2EMAIL which can email PDF spooled files. It's
free with registration of SPLTOOL. No need for SNDDST!

Brad

0 new messages