IBM Network Print Facility is still available. Starting with z/OS 1.4 it became part of base z/OS (part of Communications Server) and no longer required a separate order. You can find the z/OS 1.13 documentation for NPF here:
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/zos/v1r13/topic/com.ibm.zos.r13.halp001/toc.htm At least as far back as 1997 IBM declared that IP PrintWay would be the strategic replacement for NPF, and NPF was functionally stabilized. IP PrintWay became part of IBM Infoprint Server, an optional, orderable feature of z/OS (and an excellent, actively developed solution with more features). However, I have seen no statement or indication that NPF would be withdrawn. NPF is still supported on supported z/OS releases as far as I know. Among commercial options Infoprint Server is excellent, and some others have been mentioned like those from LRS and MacKinney. To attempt a complete response there are a couple others I know about but have no experience with: Macro 4's Columbus Z and CA Spool. On the printing front, IBM has indicated that it will be including a large selection of fonts in base z/OS starting with Version 2 Release 1 (z/OS 2.1). That may be a relevant enhancement depending on what you're trying to do. Whenever the topic of printing (to paper) comes up, I always mention that it's worth examining whether it makes sense to print or whether a content repository with Web/mobile support -- and user-driven optional/ad hoc printing -- makes more sense for both convenience and overall cost savings. If often does, and you can look at my previous comments about that idea. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Timothy Sipples GMU VCT Architect Executive (Based in Singapore) E-Mail: [email protected] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
