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  • 1.  Add overlay to an existing spool file

    Posted Tue December 06, 2022 03:04 AM
    Hi,

    is it possibile to add an overlay to an existing SCS spool file?

    I try with a cpysplf with no result, anyone have a solution?

    Many thanks.

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    Paolo Salvatore
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  • 2.  RE: Add overlay to an existing spool file

    Posted Tue December 06, 2022 07:30 PM
    Edited by Satid Singkorapoom Tue December 06, 2022 08:08 PM
    Dear Paolo

    AFAIK, you need to convert *SCS spooled file to type *AFPDS first. I only know that IBM SW product Content Manager OnDemand for i can do this conversion.  

    You may try asking these vendors :
    https://www.bvstools.com/
    https://coolspools.com/

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    Right action is better than knowledge; but in order to do what is right, we must know what is right.
    -- Charlemagne

    Satid Singkorapoom
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  • 3.  RE: Add overlay to an existing spool file

    Posted Wed December 07, 2022 08:42 AM
    Paolo,

    You may also find this link helpful:

    https://wiki.midrange.com/index.php/Creating_Overlays_and_Page_Segments

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    Mark Soulje
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  • 4.  RE: Add overlay to an existing spool file

    Posted Thu December 08, 2022 06:09 AM
    I believe the overlay needs to be applied when the spool file is created.  The cpysplf doesn't have an option to use the overlay.   I use overlays often, but always with the AFPDS.  I seem to remember they were not supported directly on SCS and a 3rd party application was needed to perform the merge. 

    I have used this link in the past as it hits a variety of parts to the process.

    https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/creating-afp-resources-using-ibm-afp-printer-drivers

    There was also an IBM redbook which is probably not current that provided some good information.  The good news is overlays can be created in Word or PDF whereas previously a design tool was needed.

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    Michael Garczynski
    Director - SAP Architecture
    DAP Products
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  • 5.  RE: Add overlay to an existing spool file

    Posted Thu December 08, 2022 10:24 AM
    https://www.fortra.com/resources/datasheets/iforms  This is our Iforms product from Fortra (formerly HelpSystems).  It is a very popular and easy to use product for forms overlay on IBM i.

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    tom huntington
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  • 6.  RE: Add overlay to an existing spool file

    Posted Mon April 29, 2024 12:01 PM

    Hey Paolo,

    Yeah, adding an overlay to an existing SCS spool file is totally doable. I ran into the same snag before, but this thread helped me out big time.

    What you can do is:

    1. First, make sure you have the overlay file ready to go.
    2. Then, you'll want to create a new spool file with your overlay using the OVRPRTF command. That's where the magic happens.
    3. Finally, you can copy your existing spool file content into the new one with the overlay using CPYSPLF.

    Give it a shot, and hopefully, it works out for you too! Let me know if you need more details.

    Cheers



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    Justin Gonzalez
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  • 7.  RE: Add overlay to an existing spool file

    Posted 18 hours ago

    Hello Justin,

    Do you know if there is a way to print the newly generated spool, with the overlay on a printer? Without converting it to pdf.

    All my attempts fail, it prints the SCS data, but not the overlay. If I convert it to pdf and then print, it's okay.

    But for my workflow, it would be of great help to be able to apply the overlay and send it to a outq as a regular spool file.

    Regards.



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    Vais Oliviu
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