Welcome to the interform technical tips page.

The topics covered in this episode of technical tips are:

Designer problem after upgrade
Improve PCL printing
Solve journaling problems
Preceding currency symbol

1.Designer problem after upgrade

A few customers commented over the fact that the designer stopped working after an upgrade of InterForm400. The problem only is, that you also need to upgrade the graphical designer after an upgrade of InterForm400 on the IBM i. If you are lucky the designer can even upgrade itself! If you want to avoid a similar problem, then you should check out this video as it shows all the ways in which you can upgrade the designer:

InterForm400: Designer problem after upgrade

See the video here - 2:51 min

2.Improve PCL printing

It is a very good idea to consider to use one of the colour printer types in InterForm400, when you merge into PCL. The colour print data stream even looks better on most black and white printers (not all black/white printers understand the colour print data stream). You can also get a better result if you avoid using shading/raster for your filled frame elements. This is all covered in details in this video:

InterForm400: Improved PCL printing

See the video here - 2:16 min

3.Solve journaling problems

InterForm400 refuses to import and save changes in the graphical designer unless you have started journaling of the important files in the APF3812 library. If you have implemented a mirroring solution, then you might get a journaling error message, when you try to execute either of these functions. It is quite easy to fix the problem as the video below shows:

InterForm400: Solve journaling problems

See the video here - 02:54 min

4.Preceding currency symbol

It is very easy in InterFormNG2 to insert a preceding currency symbol in a right aligned amount (it is just a concat inside a text element), but in InterForm400 it is a bit more work. This is covered in this video:

InterForm400: Preceding currency symbol

See the video here - 02:25 min

when did you last upgrade?

interform400 latest Version

LAST TIME

The topics covered in previous episode of technical tips are:

InterForm400 and V7R4
Code39 barcodes
Splitting up input files
Multi-Codepage conversion in 5250 sessions
Watermarks and multiple versions of the same design
SQL lookup to add more information
How to import resources
PJL commands in PCL print out
How to install a TTF for label print
2D Barcode special
Datamatrix barcodes
PDF417 barcodes
QR barcodes
Page Selection Criteria
EAN and UPC barcodes
Printer settings for black/white printing
Code128 and GS1-128 barcodes

1.InterForm400 and V7R4

Customers are asking about InterForm400/InterExcel400 and upgrade to OS400 version V7R4, so the question is what to consider before an upgrade?

A potential problem with OS400 V7R4 is, that Java 1.6 and Java 1.7 are no longer supported with this new version (currently only Java 1.8 is supported on V7R4). If you want to run the software, that requires Java, then you need to ensure, that the software can run on Java 1.8 prior to an upgrade of OS400.

The general recommendation is to upgrade our software to the latest official version prior to the OS400 upgrade.

InterForm400

If you run a 2019 or future version of InterForm400, then you can upgrade to V7R4 (With Java 1.8 installed).

InterExcel400

To run InterExcel400 on V7R4 (or Java 1.8 only) you need to upgrade to version 001190 or higher.

2.Code39 barcodes

InterForm400 supports a lot of barcode types. One example is the Code39 barcode. The videos below describe how to define and use this barcode type:

InterForm400: Code39 Barcodes

See video here - 04:31 min

3.Splitting up input files

The input files that arrive in InterForm400 can be split up. This can be required if the input files contains multiple documents. If you want to split up a spooled file into multiple emails or PDF files, then you should look to the Email- and PDF-finishing definitions, but if you e.g. want to split up the spooled files depending on unique values found in a specific place in the spooled file (e.g. to process the new spooled files in various manners), then you should check out this video:

InterForm400: Split per unique value

See video here - 05:51 min

4.Multi-Codepage conversion in 5250 sessions

This section is interesting only for those, that are running with a multi-codepage environment: If you sometimes see a reverse block in the green screen, then this section is for you. This indicates, that some characters cannot be displayed correctly in the codepage, that your 5250 (Green screen) session is running. Things have changed in Access Client Solutions compared to iSeries Navigator, and InterForm400 is changing accordingly to display a “?” instead. Check the details in the video below.

InterForm400: Multi-Codepage conversion in 5250

See video here - 03:26 min

5.Watermarks and multiple versions of the same design

A classic question is: I have made a design, but now I want multiple versions of the output e.g. two different watermarks: One for the original and another for the copy. How can I do that without duplicating my single design?

In InterForm400 you have two options:

1. You can use copy management and do either a primary or secondary merge.

2. You can introduce an extra layer of templates, and refer to the common template as un unconditioned suboverlay.

Both options are explained in the video below:

InterForm400: Multiple versions of the same overlay

See video here - 04:49 min

6.SQL lookup to add more information

It is possible to add additional information (found via SQL) into the output of InterForm400.

The new temporary spool file is created with the added data, which can then be used as input for a merge with the form.

You can use a page builder program or a split exit program, but the most simple way is to use the SQL option on a split definition as shown in the video below. The output spooled file should then be merged with your overlay:

See video here - 02:32 min

7. How to import resources

The feature to export and import resources in InterForm400 and InterFormNG is a very important feature. This is not only used for support cases, but is also used for copying a setup from one machine to another e.g. from a test machine onto a production machine after a successful test. The sections below covers the import procedure for both products. Older videos covering the export are also available. InterForm400 For InterForm400 you can distribute an export either as a save file or as a stream file. Stream files are used the most, so that is covered in the video below.

The video covers 3 options:

A fast way to copy (and overwrite) the complete import file into production.
A partial import.
An option to rename resources found in the export file before copying them into production:.
See video here - 02:38 min

8. PJL commands in PCL print out

You can add PJL commands in the printed output, when you print in PCL in InterForm400. The PJL commands can be used for many things including:

• Enabling color on printers that require a special PJL command for that

• Stapling

• Select a specific output bin (although a PCL command can also do that)

• Insert a special user defined, variable PJL sequence e.g. to include a user and password, if the print out is to be sent to a printers ‘mailbox’

In InterForm400 more possibilities has been added in the 2019 Versions. This was covered in the introduction to the 2019 versions, but I have cut out this section below to highlight this new feature, that makes it possible to add dynamic PJL commands:

(To verify and view the contents of the merged spooled file you can use the hidden option ‘A’ for a merged spooled file on the APF3812/APFWRKSPLF and APF3812/APFWRKOUTQ commands.)

See video here - 06:12 min

9.How to install a TTF for label print in InterForm400

When you do label print in InterForm400 (Zebra print or direct protocol), then you are in InterForm400 (like InterFormNG) not limited to the fonts known to the printer, but you can install any True Type Font (TTF) in InterForm400 (and InterFormNG) and use that. The procedure in InterForm400 is a bit different, so it is covered in the video below. The video also references the universal fonts, which is a more efficient way to install a font in multiple sizes for all symbol sets and all output formats. But if you just want to install a font for label print only, then you should check out this video:

See video here - 04:31 min

10. 2D Barcode special

The 2D barcodes supported by the InterForm products are: Datamatrix, PDF417 and QR. Once in a while we get support questions about barcodes in the InterForm products, so here are the FAQ:

• What does it cost? Answer: All barcodes are included for free.

• StaplingWhat True Type fonts should I install? Answer: No True Type Fonts are needed.

• How do I define a barcode and how do I use it? The answer for the 2D barcodes are found below.

• What does the specifications of the 2D barcodes mean? The answers are also found in the linked videos.

11. Datamatrix barcodes

If you want to define and use Datamatrix barcodes in either InterForm400 or InterFormNG, then you should check out the relevant video below:

See video here - 04:18 min

12. PDF417 barcodes

If you want to define and use PDF417 barcodes in InterForm400, then you should check out the relevant video below:

See video here - 03:38 min

13. QR barcodes

If you want to define and use QR barcodes in InterForm400, then its old news, that even the very large QR barcodes (as needed for Tesla suppliers) are supported for ZPLII output, but also the QR barcodes required for Swiss invoices can be generated as shown in the video:

See video here - 03:12 min

14. Page Selection Criteria

The Page Selection Criteria in InterForm400 has been misunderstood by a few over the time, so now I have finally made a video to explain what it is, how it works and what you can use it for. It is used by several finishing definitions, Split-definitions, Output Schedule Control and Sort-definitions, so it is a good idea to get familiar with this:

See video here - 07:38 min

15. EAN and UPC barcodes

If you want to define and use EAN8, EAN13 or UPC barcodes in either InterForm400 or InterFormNG, then you should check out the relevant video below:

See video here - 04:29 min

16.Printer settings for black/white printing

If you want to print in black/white from InterForm400, then there are a few tricks, that you should consider. InterForm400 new printer types was added in the 2019 Versions. Not only are the old printer types relabelled (old printer types are still supported), but new functionality (printer types *GREY and *GREYD) was also added to provide the absolutely best quality, when you print on black/white printers. This is covered in the video below:

See video here - 02:20 min

17. Code128 and GS1-128 barcodes

InterForm400 supports a lot of barcode types. One example is the Code128 and GS1-128 barcodes. A question regarding the GS1-128 barcode is often: How do I add the FNC1 field into the barcode? That, and more is described in the videos below:

See video here - 04:57 min

The Modules

Embedded PDF
Embedded any file format into PDF files

Digital Signature / PDF Security
PDF encryption, password protection and digital signatures

InterExcel400
Easy spool file conversion to Excel for IBM i

InterWord400
Simple and easy mail merge for IBM i (OfficeVision replacement)

InterXML

XML generates synergy between you and your clients

WinPrint
Connect any printer to InterForm400

InterArchive400
Intelligent spool archiving for InterForm400

InterFax400 LIGHT
Distributes documents directly via fax (Batch)

InterFax400 PRO
Distributes documents directly via fax (Batch, Interactive & multiple fax lines)

A blast from the past

Some older topics from previous episode of technical tips are:

InterForm400: The Toolshed jobs
InterForm400: New behaviour
InterForm400: The universal font wizard
InterForm400: Interface with any archive solution with MRGTPLVAR
InterForm400: Print/PDF in special code pages
InterForm400: How to install
InterForm400: Important PTF for 2018 versions
InterForm400: How to save a spooled file
InterForm400: How to export
InterForm400: How to handle the license code on a mirrored machine (HA)
InterForm400: How to optimize your label print
InterForm400: Multi-Up – also called N-Up
InterForm400: How to export resources
InterForm400: How to save a spooled file
Automotive Solution
Upgrade on mirrored machines
DB2 SQL Replicator problem
Conditioned overlay is not triggered
QR barcodes for Swiss invoices
Watermarks
Automatic merges.
Dynamic images.
Variables in HTML emails.
Overlay selector test
Low hex codes in 2D barcodes
ZPL preview from the designer
How to install a font.
Chinese Support.
Spooled File Actions.
RFID Support
Drawer support

1. InterForm400 version 2018 – The Toolshed jobs

Something new in the 2018 versions of InterForm400 is the toolshed jobs inside the Auto Forms Control subsystem. You need to run the subsystem (and the toolshed jobs) for the PDF concat option (Advanced PDF module is also required), and for the color image install in the designer.

See video here - 01:00 min

2. InterForm400 version 2018 - New behaviour

With the 2018 versions of InterForm400, the New behaviour has been implemented for all overlay types. This is the default behaviour for a new overlay, and the way to use InterForm400 going forward. It makes rotations and reuse of suboverlays a lot easier. New behaviour is however not supported for IPL output (Intermec Printer Language), which you should avoid and use Intermec Direct Protocol instead.

See video here - 01:31 min

3. InterForm400 version 2018 - The universal font wizard

A new feature of the 2018 version of InterForm400 is what I like to call the universal font wizard. Support for as good as any codepage has been included in InterForm400 for many years, but now we have made it much more simple to setup the required fonts. This new wizard will setup everything you need, and still give a lot of flexibility. After using this wizard you just need to select the right codepage, when you do the merge in InterForm400.

See video here - 03:18 min

4. InterForm400 version 2018 - Interface with any archive solution with MRGTPLVAR

A new command, APF3812/MRGTPLVAT (Merge template with variables) is included in the 2018 versions of InterForm400. On the surface the small command may not look like much, but it can really make your life easier e.g. if you want to interface with an archive solution. A typical challenge for archiving is not only to produce a PDF file, but also to provide an index file for the archive. The requirements of the index file are set by the archive solution and it can be necessary to create it e.g. as an xml file or a text file in some special encoding, and the file need to be formatted in a particular way. But this is very each with the MRGTPLVAR command: It does a search and replace of variables in a pre-formatted template input file – hence the name of the command.

See video here - 02:16 min

5. InterForm400 - Print/PDF in special code pages

InterForm400 can print in any code page. If you want to print in special code page pages outside latin1 e.g. Cyrillic, Greek or even Chinese, then you need to install a soft font in InterForm400 (for that code page), and link it with the specific font number used. The easiest way is to use the Font wizard as described in the No3. above (The universal font wizard), but it is also possible to use the same font number for all the code pages, and just add an additional soft font for the specific code page and link it to the existing font number in Auto-download specifications. So in short: Do not create additional font numbers for each new code page, that is not necessary. Below a video shows how to add support for Cyrillic printing.

See video here - 03:59 min

6. InterForm400 - How to install

It’s probably no secret how to install InterForm400. One way to restore the library from the SAVF3812 library is the RSTLIBPC.EXE file. But do you also know, that you can upload and restore any library from a save file (SAVLIB) with the same RSTLIBPC file? This video describes the complete install of InterForm400, that can be referenced to for new customers, but it also shows how the RSTLIPC function works.

See video here - 04:54 min

7. InterForm400 - Important PTF for 2018 versions

We have found an issue in the 2018 versions of InterForm400 concerning PDF file creation with PDF file naming definitions. In some very unusual setups, the PDF files are not created or given a wrong name. You can prevent this if you install this PTF:

http://download.interform400.com/shares/PTFs/APF5419.ZIP

The PTF file should be placed in the IFS inside /APF3812Home/PTFs and installed via the service menu in InterForm400.

You can also upgrade to the latest 2018 version (Version 2018M04 has been released, and it includes the PTF).

8. InterForm400 - How to save a spooled file

For support cases, we are often asked how a spooled file can be saved. From V5R4 that can be done via OS400, but it is much easier to save it in InterForm400. This video shows how that is done.

See video here - 01:23 min

9. InterForm400 - How to export

You can copy InterForm400 resources to another machine e.g. for support cases with the export/import facility. The procedure to export is described in the video below. Please notice, that you do not need to export all your resources, but it is easy to export only the referenced resources for e.g. an overlay or overlay selector.

See video here - 04:28 min

10. InterForm400: How to handle the license code on a mirrored machine (HA)

A question we are often asked : We are running InterForm400 on a mirrored (HA – High Availability) machine, so we need to know: Which object should we exclude from the mirroring, so that the two installations of InterForm400 can run with different license codes?
So the problem is: There are two machines, and they have different serial numbers, so they cannot share the same license key.

The answer is: You should not exclude any object in the APF3812 library from the mirroring. Instead you should insert both licenses on the source machine.

InterForm400: High Availability Mirroring license code

This video shows how easy it is to maintain license codes in a HA (High Availability) or Mirroring setup.
See video here - 03:56 min

11. How to optimize your label print

Learn or refresh your knowledge of how to ensure the best quality of your label print output.
In collaboration with Zebra Technologies, we have previously published three short videos to help ensure you the best label print quality. The videos cover some of the most important considerations for setting up and optimizing your print output.

Videos:
1. How to improve label print quality - See video here - 02:21 min

2. Selecting the right label printer - See video here - 03:45 min

3. Increasing label printer performance - See video here - 02:47 min

12. InterForm400: Multi-Up – also called N-Up

In InterForm400, it is possible to place multiple input pages on a single output page. You can e.g. use Multi-Up=2 to place two input pages on each output page. That can e.g. be used, if you want to create a booklet with two A5 pages on each A4 output page. This video shows how easy it is to set up.

In this example we place 2 input pages on each output page. See video here - 02:10 min

13. InterForm400: How to export resources

The export/import feature of InterForm400 is a great tool, when you want to include resources e.g. in a support ticket.

It can however be a problem for our support, either when some resources are missing, or if someone decides to export all resources in a huge export file for a simple support question. The export/Import feature is very flexible (you can e.g. rename resources in the export/import), and there a many options, so for some it might seem confusing. To help those I have created a video, that shows what to do, if you want to export an overlay with referenced images, font, soft fonts and auto download information – i.e. all that is needed to replicate an issue with an overlay.

How to export resources. See video here - 04:28 min

14. InterForm400: How to save a spooled file

For support issues, we will often ask for a copy of the input spooled file. A text file or a screen shot will normally not be enough. It is possible to save a whole output queue, but the fastest way is normally to save the spooled file in InterForm400 as an .if1 stream file.

This video shows how to save a spooled file. See video here - 01:23 min.

15. Automotive Solution

MUST WATCH if you are in the automotive industry!

A video highlighting how we can help automotive customers.

16. Upgrade on mirrored machines

HA/mirroring solutions are normally using journaling to replicate changes to the destination machine. If you are using the InterForm400 journal, APF3812/APFJRN, then you need to ensure, that journaling has stopped prior to an upgrade of InterForm400.

This video show how to ensure that: Click here to see the video here - 02:52 min

17. DB2 SQL Replicator problem

During the upgrade of InterForm400 you might see an error message, CPF70ED with reference to a user exit program QDP4/QZSNDREP, when InterForm400 tries to delete the journal receivers. The exit program has been added to the DLTJRNRCV command by IBM DB2 SQL Replicator/Data propagator, but this video shows how to ignore the user exit program Click here to see the video here - 00:54 min

18. Conditioned overlay is not triggered

It has been mentioned that a conditioned overlay in InterForm400 is never called despite that the condition is true. The video below describes the reasons why a conditioned overlay may not be called even though the condition is true: Click here to see the video here - 03:37 min

19. QR barcodes for Swiss invoices

In Switzerland it is required to include a special QR barcode that is exactly 46 mm wide/high with the Swiss flag in the middle. It is now possible to create such barcodes with the later official versions of InterForm400. The video below shows how easy it is: Click here to see the video here - 02:12 min

20. Watermarks

In InterForm400 you can use both texts and black/white images as watermarks e.g. to mark a document as either an original or a copy. Check out the link for the full description in the video: Click here to see the video here - 01:42 min

21. Automatic merges

Most InterForm400 customers know all about Auto Forms Control and how it works, but still I have created a very simple video for those that do not know the ‘magic’ behind the scenes: How Auto Forms Control is configured to merge incoming spooled files automatically:

InterForm400 - Automatic merges See video here - 03:23 min

22. Dynamic images

If you want to include dynamic images in InterForm400 i.e. select a specific image among hundreds or even thousands of images, then you can insert &&IMG commands in the input spooled file prior to a merge. You can use any of the &&IMG *PATH commands to include an image in black/white output and &&IMG *COLOR to include images in color output. This video can help you get started:

InterForm400 -Dynamic images See video here - 02:27 min

23. Variables in HTML emails

It is not that hard to make your html emails quite dynamic. You can refer to up to 99 variables in the html file (that describes the email contents) to include e.g. the invoice number, customer number and customer name. You can even refer to a dynamic image, if you use a variable as a part of the image path/name in the html file. The video below describes how easy it is – both with the email finish definition and with a simple email command:

InterForm400 - Variables in HTML emails See video here - 02:06 min

24. Overlay selector test

If you have ever been in the situation, where you are puzzled, when you use the overlay selector in InterForm400, and you are unsure which overlays, that are actually included? If so, then I have some good news for you: The green screen designer can actually tell you, which overlay the selector is taking – for each page in the spooled file. Check out the video below:

InterForm400 - Overlay selector test See video here - 01:43 min

25. Low hex codes in 2D barcodes

Some of our customer are using InterForm400 to produce 2D barcodes (Datamatrix, PDF417, and QR) with special low hex delimiters e.g. Hex 04. Such characters cannot be typed in with your keyboard. In InterForm400 you can do this with the hex code prefix character in the barcode font number. This video shows how to do it in InterForm400:

InterForm400 - Low hex codes in 2D barcodes See video here - 03:08 min

26. ZPL preview from the designer

In InterForm you can preview a ZPL label print out on a physical printer without printing out anything.

The advantages compared to a normal test print are:

You save time.
You do not need to go to a physical printer and pick up the label
You save labels
You can test/preview a remote printer, that is placed in a different location – without asking a colleague to pick up the label, scan the result and send it to you
And still you know exactly how the printed result will look.

If you want to use ZPL preview in InterForm, then you should check out this video:

InterForm400 – ZPL preview via printer See video here - 03:44 min

27. How to install a font

Your company probably have a corporate identity specification which e.g. includes a specification of which fonts, that can be used. So you might need to install a True Type Font to fit such a specification. This is covered below:

InterForm400 2018 version - Universal soft font wizard See video here - 03:18 min

You can also install for a specific symbol set in any old versions of InterForm400. This video covers the procedure for western codepages:

InterForm400 - Font install for western codepages See video here - 05:39 min

28. Chinese Support

Support for Chinese is not a new thing for InterForm, but we see an increased interest for Chinese support. The video below is focused on support for the chinese DBCS codepages – not unicode support, but for unicode the procedure is almost the same. For unicode you just need to remember to enable unicode on the merge. The video below takes you through the steps to set this up:

InterForm400 – Chinese support See video here - 06:13 min

29. Spooled file actions

It is possible to add actions for spooled files on the WRKOUTQ and WRKSPLF commands. You can do that in several ways:

One way is to use the InterForm400 commands, APFWRKOUTQ and APFWRKSPLF and here use option 1 to email the selected spooled file as an attached PDF.

Another way is to start an attention job setup via the command, APF3812/WRKSCNDFN in InterForm400, but this requires that you first press F11 to display the full spooled file identification – and a lot of setup.

A third way is to set up a program for the QIBM_QSP_SPLF_LSTACT exit point of the operating system (possible on V6R1 and higher). With this, you can add new, hidden options on the WRKSPLF and WRKOUTQ commands. As an example, I have added an option E, which emails the selected spooled file as an email – after prompting for various values of the email.

The source for the program and the display file can be downloaded here: http://download.spacetec.com/Software/email_exit.zip

A video covering the third option is here:

InterForm400 – User options on WRKOUTQ/WRKSPLF
See video here - 03:13 min

30. RFID Support

There is a lot of focus on RFID support right now from one client. They have announced, that some labels should include an RFID tag. Because of this added support for this in both InterForm400 and InterFormNG has been invested into the product.

InterForm400
For InterForm400 relevant resources, that can help you to implement this can be downloaded via this link: http://download.spacetec.com/Software/RFID_IF400.zip

A video covering this topic for InterForm400 is available here:

InterForm400 – RFID support
See video here - 01:59 min

31. Drawer support

There are several ways to select the drawer on the printer, when you print from either InterForm400 or InterFormNG. You can e.g. select the drawer via the paper type, a PCL drawer number or a combination of the two. The PCL drawer number differs from the physical drawer number, but here is some help to find the link between the physical drawer number and the PCL drawer number:

There are hints in the cookbook: http://download.spacetec.com/PDFs/cookbook.zip

A video covering the options for selecting the drawer (including conversion of the drawer number of the input spooled file) in InterForm400 is available here:

InterForm400 – Drawer selection
See video here - 04:10 min

Previous InterForm400 Technical Tips