ScriptServer PDF Broker Integration

An important feature in ScriptServer for OpenVMS V6 is the new level of compatibility with the ScriptServer PDF Broker. This product allows you to automate the process of converting documents tp PDF format and delivering them electronically.

The ability to masquerade as a network printer allows the Broker to be used with any TCP/IP PostScript printer driver. However, there are a number of advantages to using the PDF Broker in conjunction with ScriptServer for OpenVMS.

PRINT to an E-mail In-Box

Using the PRINT/PARAMETER=ROUTING parameter on a ScriptServer queue allows you to direct your converted PDF file to an e-mail address directly from the DCL command line. (To work properly, the ScriptServer queue must be feeding a "special-case router" on the PDF Broker). You can use a command such as: 

  $ PRINT/QUE=PDFSPEC/PARAM=ROUTING="maryjo@xyzcorp.com" -
  $_ /FORM=PO PO8281.TXT

to merge your text file with a purchase order form, convert it to PDF format, and deliver the results to the e-mail address "maryjo@xyzcorp.com".

Pass Information to the PDF Broker

The new USERDATA parameter allows you to pass arbitrary information to the PDF Broker. The PDF Broker accesses the information passed as the $userdata placeholder. This can be used for a wide variety of purposes, such as:

• providing a location for PDF file archival, using a directory name passed to a batch script, e.g.:
  
    $ PRINT/QUE=PDFA/PARAM=USERDATA="\pdfs\maryspos"/ MYPO.TXT
  
  
• passing a text string to be used as the subject line of an e-mail, e.g.:
  
    $ PRINT/PARAM=(USERDATA="Call me ASAP at (205)555-1212!", -
    $_ ROUTING="bsmith@xyzcorp.com")/QUEUE=PDFMAILER MYFILE.TXT
  

Let ScriptServer Do the Work

Version 6.0 now generates fully-compliant DSC (Adobe's standard Document Structuring Convention specification) comments, which the Broker makes available to routers by way of placeholders. These comments automatically provide the following information whenever a text file is converted to PostScript:

• username
• file modification date and time
• OpenVMS filename
• creator (ScriptServer for OpenVMS)

This information can be used as textual field values or passed to a batch script as parametersto be used for processing either the PostScript file transmitted (which may then be printed) or the PDF file resulting from the conversion.