BASIC CONCEPTS
2-6 XEROX DOCUPRINT 180 LASER PRINTING SYSTEM PRODUCT GUIDE
Types of data
Data is created at one of the above sources and transmitted to the
DocuPrint 180 LPS. As mentioned previously (refer to “Xerox
DocuPrint 180 LPS overview”), the system controller receives the
incoming data using one of the interfaces for processing. If the input
is print data, a stream of data is sent to the printer for imaging. If the
input is nonprint data, it is stored on the system disks.
The following types of data can be printed by an DocuPrint 180 LPS:
• Variable data
• Fixed (forms) data
• Graphic data (usually merged with variable data or form data).
Variable data Variable data changes from page to page; for example, the text in this
document or the numbers in a financial report.
Fixed data Fixed (forms) data (FRM file) remains constant from page to page
(for example, letterheads and column headings). Forms data usually
refers to information found on preprinted forms or overlays.
Note: A host-resident forms design software package, such as
HFDL, is required for form generation at a host.
Any form suitable for computer printout can be described and
entered into system storage. Once stored on the system, a form can
be activated by referencing the form’s name in the job source library
(JSL) file or job descriptor entry (JDE).
All Xerox laser printing systems have as a standard feature a line
editor utility for the creation and modification of program source files
(FSL and JSL extension files). Refer to
Xerox DocuPrint 180 LPS
Operations Reference
for more information on the DocuPrint 180
LPS Editor.
Forms are entered into the system as data using the DocuPrint 180
LPS Editor. They are described using forms description language
(FDL) commands to design the form for variable data. These
commands create what is referred to as a forms source library (FSL)
file which, when compiled, becomes an FRM file. Refer to
Xerox LPS
Forms Creation Guide
for more information on creating electronic
forms.
Graphic data Graphic data (IMG file) refers to digitized images (both line art and
continuous tone images) that are to be merged with variable or forms
data. Sources of graphic data include (but are not limited to): (1)
graphic data generated by XPPI/XDGI host-resident software, and
(2) scanned images from the Xerox 7650 Pro Imager (using XPIW).