How Can I Access Certain Machine Features, Including Auto-Tray Switching, When Printing From My AS/400 Without Modifying The Original Data?
Question
I am printing from my AS/400 to many different types of printers and multifunction machines. While many of the printers and MFPs are Ricoh devices, I still have machines from other competitors (although, of course, we will eventually replace all of these with Ricoh machines!). The application that I'm running on the AS/400, and from which I'm printing, was written quite some time ago, and the print codes that are sent along with the data are print codes that are specific for the competitors' machines. When I send this data to a Ricoh device, the print codes are not "read" correctly and the job does not print from the correct paper tray, nor does the machine auto-tray switch when a tray runs out of paper. Since I can not change the data sent from the AS/400, is there some other way to access the features of the Ricoh device? And, can I implement auto-tray switching using this other method?
Answer
If you can not change the data that's coming from the AS/400, another way to access the features of a Ricoh printer or MFP is to use the Ricoh OMS solution. The OMS (Output Management Software) solution consists of software that resides on the AS/400. The OMS software would be configured so that its input came from the application you're using. From that input, the OMS software would "strip" the existing control codes, and send the remaining data (which at that time would consist of only that information that actually prints) along with the correct control codes necessary to access the features of the Ricoh printer or MFP. If you would like additional information about the OMS solution, please contact our SSG group at (949) 837-7433.
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