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ASF Replacement                                                                                   

Overview

icon has long had the capability to replace IBM's ASF (and DCF) with a binary compatible next generation solution - evidenced by many successful client migrations. IBM have now announced a global partnership that packages icon's DOPiX as part of an IBM solution offering. A summary of the November 2014 announcement follows: 

icon DOPiX/ARK V4.0 provides next-generation capability for document creation, formatting, and processing, and leverages the investment made in applications that use IBM Application Support Facility for z/OS and IBM Document Composition Facility.

DOPiX is a family of products that can be used to create and format many types of documents that include business letters, invoices, insurance policies, quotations and contracts. DOPiX is application-independent and platform-independent. It can be called by any business application through defined interfaces and communication protocols. DOPiX/ARK is a z/OS-based solution that is specifically designed with current Application Support Facility customers in mind.

At a glance

icon DOPiX/ARK V4.0 delivers next-generation capability for document creation, formatting and processing. Version 4.0 provides:

• Interactive, process-integrated, or automated document creation and formatting

• Several output channels

• Easy integration into existing environments

• One system for all types of business correspondence

• Cost savings through postage optimization and batch printing

• Increased productivity through a flexible and sophisticated editor

Customers who currently use Application Support Facility for z/OS® should consider icon DOPiX/ARK.

The DOPiX ARK (ASF Replacement Kit)

The DOPiX ARK replaces the batch and online document creation and output functions of IBM's software 'Application Support Facility for z/OS' (program number 5655-002), a.k.a. “ASF”. The DOPiX ARK also completely replaces the ASF template development, but allows the customer to retain their investments in the ASF databases. The ARK Package is an immediate modernization tool for ASF installations. It will provide not only a future proofed, robust, binary compatible platform, but enable much more state-of-art features and functionality with a full DOPiX CCM implementation.

This evolutionary pathway allows IT personnel to inform the organization's many stakeholders of the possibilities and position the availability of a stream of increasing document and content capabilities at the organisations use within a planned natural pace of adoption.

For existing ASF users, there is no need to replace ASF databases (ASF, GIL, SLL/CLL, UPL) because these can be used directly by DOPiX ARK. The DOPiX server components run on z/OS. This configuration allows optimum performance, as all data is kept on one system close to existing business applications and high volume output environments. The DOPiX/Server connects via the well-known ASF SIB interface to the client's business applications. Thus, no changes to calling programs will be required. DOPiX/ARK also supports all ASF callbacks of user programs, such as PDP, PVP and DCP, using the SIB interface. Therefore no modification of these programs is required.

As DOPiX may operate on the ASF databases, a 'big bang' migration is not necessary. If needed, templates and content can be modernized step by step according to the business needs and business applications.

The administration of document templates by DOPiX/Admin is done using a fat client written in Java and running on Windows and Linux. The ASF administration and document maintenance teams can utilize their existing knowledge as it is a similar methodology, but implemented in a state-of-the-art tool.

The DOPiX/Dialog thin client is an easy-to-use GUI. Users can use the keyboard and/or mouse to efficiently create online documents with syntax highlighting and spell checking to ensure technically and textually correct documents. An immediate online WYSIWYG preview of the output document is available for all users, thus minimizing the practice of proof printing.

DOPiX ARK also contains the DOPiX/Compose rendering engine, that replaces IBM's Document Composition Facility (program number 5748-XX9, further called “DCF”). DOPiX/Compose is a highly IBM DCF compatible formatter and at the same time delivers a much broader functionality. Direct generation of data streams like AFP, PDF, PDF/A, PCL, PostScript, and all common image formats is supported out of the box.