bvstone

Convert Spooled files to PDF with Spooled File Tools (SPLTOOL) on your IBM i (AS/400)

Posted:

Convert Spooled files to PDF with Spooled File Tools (SPLTOOL) on your IBM i (AS/400)

If you've ever wanted an easy and native way to convert spooled files to PDF on your IBM i then SPLTOOL may be for you.

SPLTOOL has been around for over 15 years.  Over those years it's changed from a simple application to convert spooled files to text files to a full feature product that will convert *SCS and *AFPDS (with the addition of AFPTOOL) to PDF, HTML, RTF or text, thanks to the many requests of our customers.

SPLTOOL also has the ability to add an overlay to your PDF document.  This means you can digitally add pre-printed forms to your reports, invoices and Purchase Orders.

That means you can convert this:

To this:

The command would be similar to the following:

SPL2STMF FILE(FILE) JOB(123/USER/JOB) SPLNBR(1) FROM(*FIRST) TO(*LAST) TOSTMF(myfile.pdf) DIR('/tmp') OVERLAY('/tmp/overlay.pdf')                         

We specify the details of the spooled file we want to convert, a filename and directory of the PDF to be created from our spooled file, and finally the fully qualified path to the overlay we want to use.

Creating the overlay can be done with one of many tools out there.  It seems most word processing and text editing applications have a "Save to PDF" option.  And if not, you can use something like Primo PDF to convert anything you print from your PC into a PDF file.

This is just one feature of SPLTOOL that is often overlooked, but once a customer starts taking advantage of it, productivity and user satisfaction reaches a new level.

SPLTOOL also has an interface very similar to the Work With Spooled Files (WRKSPLF) command provided by IBM.  One difference, though, is that it has options for coverting the spooled files and then emailing them, or FTPing them to a remote server, all with one option.  

The SPLTOOL interface also allows you to create user options, just like in PDM, so you can run virtually any command you want with the spooled file attributes there for you to use.

Brad
www.bvstools.com


Last edited 01/19/2021 at 10:28:11



Latest Posts:

Update for Google WorkSpace Accounts (2024): Google Dropping Support for Update for Google WorkSpace Accounts (2024): Google Dropping Support for "Less Secure Apps" May 30th, 2022. What Does This Mean for Your IBM i Email?
Posted by January 19, 2024
BVSTools >> BVSTools Software Discussion >> Email Tools (MAILTOOL) Specific Discussion
Sales By State Report in QuickBooks Online Sales By State Report in QuickBooks Online
Posted by January 13, 2024
QuickBooks >> QuickBooks Online
How to Whitelist GreenTools for G Suite (G4G) For Your Organization How to Whitelist GreenTools for G Suite (G4G) For Your Organization
Posted by November 5, 2023
BVSTools >> BVSTools Software Discussion >> GreenTools for G Suite (Google Apps) (G4G) Specific Discussion
QuickBooks Online Releases QuickBooks Online Releases "New Invoices!"... and It's Terrible!
Posted by October 8, 2023
QuickBooks >> QuickBooks Online
Admin/4i - What is it? Admin/4i - What is it?
Posted by September 30, 2023
Vendor Corner >> MSD Information Technology
BVSTools Releases Send Job Log to BVSTools (SNDLOG2BVS) Command BVSTools Releases Send Job Log to BVSTools (SNDLOG2BVS) Command
Posted by August 28, 2023
BVSTools >> BVSTools Announcements
MAILTOOL Now Allows Email Redirection for Development and Testing MAILTOOL Now Allows Email Redirection for Development and Testing
Posted by May 27, 2023
BVSTools >> BVSTools Announcements >> eMail Tool (MAILTOOL) Specific Announcements
GreenTools for Microsoft Apps (G4MS) Now Supports Footers When Sending Email GreenTools for Microsoft Apps (G4MS) Now Supports Footers When Sending Email
Posted by March 29, 2023
BVSTools >> BVSTools Announcements >> GreenTools for Microsoft Apps (G4MS) Specific Announcements
QuickBooks Online - Subtotals and Discounts Frustration QuickBooks Online - Subtotals and Discounts Frustration
Posted by March 16, 2023
QuickBooks >> QuickBooks Online
Making the Switch From QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online - No Picnic Making the Switch From QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online - No Picnic
Posted by March 16, 2023
QuickBooks >> QuickBooks Online
BVSTools Software Verified on V7R5 and Power10 BVSTools Software Verified on V7R5 and Power10
Posted by December 9, 2022
BVSTools >> BVSTools Announcements
Microsoft Office 365 Servers and Random Errors Issue Microsoft Office 365 Servers and Random Errors Issue
Posted by November 14, 2022
BVSTools >> BVSTools Software Discussion >> Email Tools (MAILTOOL) Specific Discussion
Sending/Resending Emails Using a MIME File with MAILTOOL Sending/Resending Emails Using a MIME File with MAILTOOL
Posted by November 8, 2022
BVSTools >> BVSTools Software Discussion >> Email Tools (MAILTOOL) Specific Discussion
Sending an HTML Email on Your IBM i Using MAILTOOL Sending an HTML Email on Your IBM i Using MAILTOOL
Posted by November 1, 2022
BVSTools >> BVSTools Software Discussion >> Email Tools (MAILTOOL) Specific Discussion
Transferring License Keys from One System to Another Transferring License Keys from One System to Another
Posted by October 31, 2022
BVSTools >> BVSTools Software Discussion

Reply




© Copyright 1983-2020 BVSTools
GreenBoard(v3) Powered by the eRPG SDK, MAILTOOL Plus!, GreenTools for Google Apps, jQuery, jQuery UI, BlockUI, CKEditor and running on the IBM i (AKA AS/400, iSeries, System i).