******************************************************************* PRODUCT: Creo Advanced Print Server IPDS (IAPS IPDS) SOFTWARE RELEASE: Public Release 4.0, Revision G50-40-102 Applicable to IAPS IPDS series 200 and series 300 TEMPLATE VERSION: v167 RELEASE DATE: 2010-01-14 SUPPORT PORTAL: http://www.intermate.com/iapsipds About the Creo IAPS IPDS ********************************************************************** The Creo IAPS IPDS is a hardware based print server, powered by the "IPDS Ultra" engine. The print server redirects print from the IBM Host to a Postscript or PCL capable printer. Optionally the printer will be monitored by SNMP for full page counting and exception reporting. The IAPS IPDS is fully compliant with the WinIPDS Pro product in terms of IPDS processing, Postscript and PCL output and SNMP monitoring. Also the IAPS IPDS supports the driver templates for the WinIPDS Pro. This release G50-40-102 (2010-01-14), (Template version v167) ******************************************************************* New Features: -------------------------- - Support for the IAPS 280 hardWare platform has been added. fixes: -------------------------- - IMCU or ICMP was disabled! This resulted in ApplianceLauncher and IMCU not being able to connect to the IAPS. - Some driver configurations in combination with pagecounter late, Could result in a 1 minute printer hang. This has been fixed. Upgrade instructions: ----------------------------- - login to the web GUI of the product with the designer account (default password: designer). - Make sure there are no active jobs by checking the "Overall status". It is recommended to enter the "Inport Ports" menu and disable any active ports. - Enter the menu item "Load Firmware or License", and click "Load" to locate the firmware file you want to use. NOTE: - The suffix "..-update" to the firmware file will retain the configuration of the product. It is generally always a good idea to perform an export of your configuration before making firmware upgrades (menu "import or Export") The suffix "..-setup" will reset the product to its factory defaults and subsequently erase all configuration settings, including network settings which will default to DHCP. if the "..setup" file is the only file you have available or there are special reasons to reset the configuration, you are recommended to perform an export of the current configuration before upgrading (menu "import or Export"). - After a firmware upgrade you should reboot the product (and then import any exported configuration if needed) Known limitations: ------------------ - Approx. every 40th second the databases are comitted to non- volatile memory. After changing a value, please wait for at least 40 sec before unplugging the IAPS from main power. - RESTRICTIONS in PCL Backends only (due to shortcomings in the PCL Language): - PCL Backends do not support FIT functionality (Shrinking of logical page to fit the physical page). - PCL Backends do not support Edge to Edge printing. This is because PCL does not as standard allow expanding the logical printable area. Some printers may have native methods for overcoming this limitation, but the IAPS is not currently able to exploit these solutions. - PCL Backends do not support nested finishing for functions involving groups and where functions should start or end independently of each other (e.g. 10 sheets staple with sheet 7 and 8 Z-folded). Note: All of the "missing" features in PCL backend are implemented in the PostScript backend. - RESTRICTIONS in PostScript Backends only (due to PostScript's "per-page" handling): - In rare cases Offset Stacking (JOG) will first take effect on the next page printed. About User Documentation ------------------------- - The on-line help serves as an Options Reference Manual,so it is at hand at all times. - There is a product support portal at http://www.intermate.com/iapsipds (and a link to this site from the on-line help). The support portal includes a number of guides in these areas: - Guides to help you get the IAPS up and running, including host setup - Guides to help you configure Services, Templates and Drivers - Troubleshooting Information - Guides explaining relevant IPDS terms - Detailed specifications About templates: ----------------- - This product shares templates with the Creo WinIPDS Pro - Templates that are exported from the product, can only be imported in a G50 firmware version with the same "Template Version" (see the header of this release note). - The template version of the installed G50 version is shown on the overall status page. - Note that different G50 firmware releases can share the same template version. The template version only changes when the data base model of the product changes, and new firmware releases may include fixes and new features that does not affect the data base model. - If you need to import older templates, you must downgrade the G50 firmware to match that of the templates to import. Once imported you can upgrade the G50 firmware version again, and the templates will automatically be converted to the Template Version of the G50 firmware. Subsequent export of the templates will enable the templates to be imported in another IAPS or WinIPDS Pro with this Template version. Important information about x509 License Certificates ----------------------------------------------------- If you import an invalid license certificate: * All services are disabled * You can see this in: Status > Overall Status and in Configuration > Services. * All configurations are restored to factory default. * If you use GateManager, in the GM GUI you sill see the following status info: - Appliance is disabled (DarkGreen Square) - Connection State: Disconnected Action: Import a valid license certificate. Follow-up: You must re-do your entire configuration and enable the service(s) again. Note: If you have a backup from your earlier configuration, you can import this instead of doing it all by hand. What makes a license certificate invalid? - wrong MAC address - wrong product or model for the particular hardware platform RELEASE HISTORY: =================================================================== G50-40-101 (2009-10-02), (Template version v165) ******************************************************************* New Features: -------------------------- - None fixes: -------------------------- - Under Configuration: Drivers or Driver Templates > Miscellaneous the following configuration options did not work as indicated by the combo box value desriptions: "Force Short Edge duplex if Staple Starting Simplex" "Force Long Edge duplex if Staple Starting Simplex" For both settings the duplex edge would be forced regardless of the duplex edge settings of the job, i.e. even if the Staple group was initiated in duplex. Now the host' choice of duplex edge will be honored if the job starts in duplex - Error highlighting in relation to input fields in the Web GUI have been fixed. Release G50-40-100 (2009-09-25), (Template version v165) ******************************************************************* New Features: -------------------------- - The export of Template Driver now has the DataBase version as prefered filename. The Template version is shown on: http->"Overall Status" and http->"Firmware Version". fixes: -------------------------- - The PPM trotthling with referenced to the licens certificate is now working as intended. - "Total Throughput :" that indicated the max throughput for the unit has been removed and replaced with "Service Max. Throughput :" that indicates the max througput per session. - Import Template failed 404 in some browsers. Fixed. - USPS4CB or IMB. Failed selecting none used font. Fixed. - AOS and Duplex could fail if split on AOS is on. Release G50-40-099b-b4-ic304-004 (2009-09-10) ******************************************************************* New Features: -------------------------- - USERNAME and USERID can now be set in job startup. fixes: -------------------------- - AOS and Duplex did split job! Release G50-40-099b-b4-ic304-b3 (2009-03-26) ******************************************************************* New features ------------------------------------------ - Line feed Control. - Input size for strings under "Configuration: Drivers or Driver Templates > Miscellaneous" has been made bigger. Fixes ----------------- - Removed PS Title in PCL - Import PaperDef not working in Template mode. Release G50-40-099b-b4-ic304-b2 (2009-03-19) ******************************************************************* New features ------------------------------------------ - Import PaperDefs generated by the utility printer_info.exe. Fixes ----------------- - Problem in PS Title. Release G50-40-099b-b4-ic304-b1 (2008-12-19) ******************************************************************* New features ------------------------------------------ - New configuration options under "Configuration: Drivers or Driver Templates > Miscellaneous" The new options has for purpose to configured chunking of PS output data, in order to allow tray chance, duplex/simplex chance and finishing operations in the IPDS, to be supported by a Creo IC-304 controller. Fixes ----------------- - Problem in PS Title. Release G50-40-099b_b5 (2008-12-08) ******************************************************************* New Features: -------------------------- - Configuration: Drivers or Driver Templates > Input Trays -------------------------------------------------------- 1.Paper Definitions is extended with 'Paper Type' option This option can take the following values from a dropdown menu: Not Specified, Plain/white, Colored, Transparent This value are Reported to the host. 2.Paper Definitions is extended with 'Leading Edge' option This option can take the following values from a dropdown menu: Extent X or Extent Y This value are Reported to the host. - Configuration: Drivers or Driver Templates > Output Bins -------------------------------------------------------- 3.Language Dropdown menu Selection text is changed from PJL to PJL/Sys Cmd - Configuration: Drivers or Driver Templates > Miscellaneous ---------------------------------------------------------- 4.New Option: PJL Supported Option This Option is valid for the PS Backend Only If this checkbox is UnTagged, PJL is UnSupported by the Printer. Default is Tagged, PJL is Supported 5. New Option: Job Separation Mode This option takes the following values from a dropdown menu: Use PJL EOJ Command Only, PJL EOJ and disconnect 'PJL EOJ and disconnect' are used to force a Disconnect, when an PJL EOJ is encountered. 'Use PJL EOJ Command Only' is the Default 6.New Option: Highlight Color ID to RGB Mappings The Palette is generated after the first printjob has been submitted. For Now 6 different SpotColors can be defined. Next Release will include an ADD button, to add additional color definitions. The Palette can be regenerated by deleting all the defined colors and submit a printjob. Default is: # R G B 1 255 0 0 Red 2 0 0 255 Blue 3 255 0 255 Magenta 4 0 255 0 Green 5 0 255 255 Cyan 6 255 255 0 Yellow fixes: -------------------------- - Release G50-40-092 (2007-03-22) ******************************************************************* New Features: -------------------------- - fixes: -------------------------- - Minor bug fixes Release G50-40-090 (2007-03-22) ******************************************************************* New features ------------------------------------------ - IPDS The primary purpose of this release is to bring this product up-to-date with the IPDS Ultra core. Important new features include - DBCS (Double Byte Character Set) Support - Object container for graphical objects (GIF, JPEG and FS45 IOCA Tiles) - Object container support for font objects (TrueType, OpenType) - IOCA Image resource support (downloadable as a resource) - Added Infoprint 70 (2770) to emulator list - Restored the IPDS Emulation for the 3812 Printer to emulator list. - Resident font support updated including new resident code pages - IPDS trace files (.irp) now contain the configuration of the device - Added option to suppress PJL support when using PostScript drivers (release 3.5) - GateManager This release supports the new dynamic connection feature in GateManager. Requires GateManager minimum level 3.3. Fixes ----------------- - Inverse video output when receiving YCrCb/YCbCr in monochrome mode - STM did not send back 6101 (Explicit Page Placement) - Parameter read sign-error in processing of GOCA Partial Arc objects - Rounding error when receiving non-standard resolutions on data object output area - Reverse video font printing black space. In IPDS spaces are never printed - Medium overlay printed on blank back pages on a duplex sheet - Page descriptor changes (LPD) between front and back page on a duplex sheet was not handled properly - Forced print of undefined character was using a wrong increment value - 240dpi font capture did not work - Bolding of text did not occur - Empty char outside VPA reported. When no bits are outside the VPA no exception should be reported. - Undefined character spacing resulted in no spacing at all! - When different LPDs was used on a the front and the back page of a duplex sheet, the last LPD was used on both pages. - Rounding error caused character increment to be slightly wrong. Release G50-30-080 (2005-12-05) ******************************************************************* New features ----------------- - None Fixes --------------- - An error in the Userinterface has been fixed. When changing certain fileds, the change was - faultly - propagated to all the other items in the list. E.g. when changing the rotation in the Paper Definition to 90 degrees, upon pressing 'Save Changes' all Paper Definitions had changed to 90 degree rotation. Release G50-30-076 (2006-11-05) ******************************************************************** New Features ------------------------------------- - Color and Greytone Printing is now supported: - Full support for IPDS IOCA FS45 function set ("AFP Full Image Color"). Color printing requires purchase of a color license. If the IAPS is licensed for black/white (b/w - monochrome) only, FS45 print will be converted to greytones and printed as such. - All backends utilize Greyscale Brightness Level adjustment in 10 steps - 10 being the brightest. - Drivers based on PostScript back-ends can use LZW compression for FS45 color printing. - Target Caching Configuration: Drivers or Driver Templates > Miscellaneous): (This is a new feature allowing you to specify the maximum size of printer RAM that you want the printer to use for caching.) Font Caching is available for drivers using PCL & Postscript backends. Depending on the printer's available memory, the IAPS supports font caching up to 512 MB. Overlay Caching is available for drivers using Postscript backends. Depending on the printer's available memory, the IAPS supports overlay caching up to 512 MB. Note: caching is limited by the printer's available physical memory - not the amount of installed memory. - "Target Service Type" has been added to Service configuration. You can now choose between Raw Socket and LPR. Previously, only Raw Socket was supported. - Each IPDS Service can be now configured to target either or both b/w printers and Color Printers. A Color License covers both types of printers, while a b/w license only covers b/w. - Emulator Setup: Emulation. The IPDS Emulation for the 3812 Printer has been removed. It can be simulated by selecting 4322 emulation and setting the IPDS Resolution to 240 dpi. (this is not in the online help) - If the printer is powered off, thereby losing the pages in the printer's buffer, the IAPS will end the host writer after approx. 10 minutes. - When changing settings, the IAPS will effectuate these as soon as the current host session is timed out - no need to end the host writer. - The Overall Status now has information about the size of installed Flash Memory and the available amount of Flash Memory. - As long as a trace is active, a notice is displayed on the left menu bar. - Configuration > Drivers or Driver Templates: Miscellaneous Presentation of Support Resolutions has been improved. Fixes ------------------ - A crash could occur when an outline font was reused. - When using 240 dpi fonts IAPS could sometimes crash. - IM-Image unpadded RIDIC bug. Image was sometines not padded correctly. - Barcode HRI SMO rotate problem. If an SMO rotation was used. the HRI (text) of the barcode was not correctly rotated. - IPDS codepage list (RRL reply) was empty. Could result in wrong codepage beeing used. Release G50-21-065-3 (2005-10-03) ******************************************************************** New Features: ------------------ - A suffix is added to the last cifer group, to aid programmers to identify which branch the code was generated from. E.g. G50-21-065-3 is build from Build #065, Branch #3. The Build # only changes if new functionality has been added. Bug Fix: -------- - When Duplex jobs got interrupted, an extra image was injected, causing the images to print on the wrong side of the page. - PPR/PPD Issue solved. Occasionally a PPR/PPD record was broken up into two TCP packages. The PPR/PPD handler is now able to handle this situation. Release G50-21-065 (2005-09.05) ******************************************************************* New features: ---------------- - IPDS "Services: Emulator Setup:" VPA option "Fit" is now fully implemented in all backends - GOCA clipping is finished and completely implemented - Partial Arc and Box Drawing with rounded corners now supported - PostScript backend optimized for speed improvements (pretty fast) - Configuration option for added to PCL Edge-To-Edge in order to exploit the availability of Edge-To-Edge printing on PCL targets. Special instructions for implementing this on Kyocera Mita printers are posted on the support web-site. - Job begin/end strings option added ("Configuration: Drivers or Templates > Miscellaneous). Special instructions on using this option in connection with edge-to-edge printing with a PCL backend on Kycoera Mita printers are posted on the support web-site. - Job timeout IPDS option removed from "Services: Emulator Setup". User configuration of this parameter is no longer necessary because of the implementation of an IPDS Triplet Group ID which indicates job boundaries. - Ethernet link options manually ajustable ("Print Server: Network Settings") Fixes: ----------- - VPA exceptions not always correcly reported - now fixed - IPDS codepage list (RRL reply) was empty, now fixed - A KPDL print speed issue solved - "Session Control" problem blocking login to IAPS: Sometimes the menu didn't change after a log-in attempt, so it would appear as if you weren't logged in and you could not access all menu items. This problem is described in the Q&As on www.intermate.com. The problem is now fixed. - Mozilla browsers: Lists in the on-line help are now presented properly. Release G50-20-048 (2005-03-01) ******************************************************************* New Features: ---------------- - The entire concept for distinguishing models has been changed. Series 200: IPDS single and multiple session, rated at 100 ppm total throughput. Number of sessions available: 1, 2, or 4. All models include finishing support. Series 300: IPDS multi-session, with ratings starting from 200 ppm, to and including 500 ppm, total throughput. Number of sessions available: 8, 16, 32, 64. All models include finishing support. - Multisession. The IAPS is now able to run multiple concurrent services. - Further optimization of the code has enabled support for higher speeds and finishing support for all IPDS types of finishing. - Additional functionality for each Service (standard): - A Service can be deactivated/activated, thus allowing you to keep extra configurations at hand. - There is no limit *per service* on ppm. - Finishing (MFP) is included as standard for all services. - Additional IPDS features - N-Up support - 2D Barcode Support (Datamatrix, Maxicode, Pdf417 and QR) - Fleet Control option. The IAPS can be enabled for GateManager Monitoring & Update. This allows you to manage hundreds of devices using secure connections over the Internet.No need to go through tedious reconfiguration of firewalls etc. For further information please visit http://www.gatemanager.dk Model control is now managed through license certificates rather than through different firmware variants. - The Rotation option (Paper Definitions) now includes two duplex rotation settings that auto-rotate when combining Simplex and Duplex from same tray. This is especilly useful when you use pre-punched paper or pre-printed stationary and forms. - Set System time on the Print Server configuration page. Log entries will now show a time-stamp according to system time. - Optional Finishing Execute Command (for proprietary commands). - The IAPS has been made even more tolerant to common host and printer problems. - Added print queueing system to enable more printer models to successfully handle multiple host sessions per printer. The queueing system pauses the service if the printer is momentarily unavailable, but keeps the host session alive. - The Host connection has been made more resistant to network- and printer errors. - The Printer connection and timeout handling have been signifi- cantly improved and automated. - Back-ends have been optimized to make them even faster and more robust. - Status > Overall Status - Overall status now shows more information. - You no longer have to use autorefresh of the Overall Status, and if you use it, you can freely define an interval. - You can suppress status for de-activated services, services with printer ready, and services with no host connection - The status display for models allowing 32 or more services is broken into 16 services per page with navigation. - Easier navigation within multi-page configurations See the menus Configuration > Services and Configuration > Drivers - The concept "configuration file" has been replaced with the concept "configuration profile" in order to better provide GateManager support. The configuration profile has the same content as the configuration file did: all settings except print server and GateManager settings. - "Organization" has been added as an identification field to the existing fields (Device Name Device Location; Administrator Contact). - Various improvements in layout. Release G50-12-010 (2004-08-27) ******************************************************************* New Features: ---------------- - Online Help is now complete! - Enhanced Host status indicator (Status > Overall Status) is now visible to users without the need to login. - Drivers can now be copied like Templates - Export of selected Templates/Drivers is now possible, and a "Select All" function has been introduced for templates and drivers. - Simple AFP\OCA Color is now supported for PCL output - Printer connection and timeout handling have been significantly improved and automated. - At first boot time the IAPS now defaults to IP address 10.0.0.1 if no DHCP Server is available. This way you will always be able to get hold of the IAPS by configuring the PC for the same subnet (e.g. 10.0.0.2) and connecting it directly to the IAPS with a crossed drop cable and enter http://10.0.0.1 in a browser. If the IAPS loses its IP address at a later time, you can use the IMCU Utility (available free from our website) to reassign an IP address to the IAPS. - Intelligent handling of printer connection timeout in relation to host connections has been implemented. The IAPS now automatically reconnects to the printer as needed while maintaining the host connection intact. To ensure that other print jobs can be served by the printer, the timeout can be set on the IAPS that will terminate connection to the printer when no host print has been received within the defined period, but without terminating the connection to the host(Please see: Configuration > Services > Emulator Setup: IPDS Job Timeout) - Firmware, Configuration and Templates are now imported/exported through the GUI (the browser-based "Web" GUI),thus eliminating the need for using FTP. FTP can still be used, but is primarily intended for OEM accessing of the Web GUI documents. Please note the following with regard to file revisions and contents: * FirmWare upgrade! (Actions > Upgrade) Please Note: Firmware is locked to a specific model (201, 202, 212 etc.) Using the wrong Firmware will prevent the print services to be started. It can be revived by upgrading it with the correct restore firmware: (g50-01-008-restore-2xx)- restoring it to the factory default. * Template import/export! (Configuration > Templates) Please Note: Templates are Firmware Version Specific - leave the templates in the IAPS when its firmware is upgraded, this will upgrade the templates. If you are a Template designer, it is recommended to export and store your template collection for each firmware version you decide to support. Templates typically have the extension .tpl * Configuration import/export! (Configuration > Import/Export) This is used for Backup and distribution of customized Configurations. Configuration files are not Firmware specific. Configurations typically have the extension .cfg. Configurations contain All information, including Templates, but excluding IP network settings. - When editing the Selection Strings, errors in Binary string syntax were not reported, and changes were just ignored. Now errors in the Binary string syntax is highlighted and you can edit the string without having to type it all over again. The error(s) are indicated with a red arrow and an explanatory text. Also a notification at the top of the web page is shown in red. If you encounter error(s), correct the error(s) and save the changes. - Add and Delete buttons will not throw other changed data away! This means that you can do changes in several rows before pressing the save button. When you click on the Add button all changes not yet saved will be saved, - Optimization of the IASP GUI document format to get better performance when working in the GUI. - Visual Indicator to the right of the menu item "Status > Error Log" will show up, when new error messages are logged. - Enhanced Host status indicator (Status > Overall Status) is now visible to users without the need to login. - Select "Links > Help" to show a complete, table-of-contents- navigable On-line help file including everything available on the individual help topics. - General optimizations and improvements are made in back ends for both speed and robustness. Fixes: ------------------ - File caching problem has been fixed. Configuration changes will be saved in Flash RAM within 1 minute after the change. Saving is still forced by login out of the IAPS, or by activating Reboot or Restart in the menus. Release G50-01-007 (2004-05-10) ******************************************************************* New features: ----------------- - Embedded trace of print sessions added. This new feature can be enabled from the Configuration->Services->Emulator Setup menu, where an IP Address, to a remote capture server, can be specified. - Possibility to select trays/bins and paper formats in PJL, or another proprietary language, instead of current Language. - Simulation of a job boundary, by using a job-timeout functionality. This timeout value can be specified in the Configuration >Services > Emulator Setup Menu - Box identification strings added. It is now possible to specify strings for the IAPS box name, location and administrator contact in the Configuration >Print Server Menu. The name will be shown on the IMCU utility when the IAPS is found. - Notes field added to the two screens: Configuration > Drivers > Miscellaneous and Configuration > Driver Templates > Miscellaneous The Configuration Notes will automatically be copied to any new Driver. Fixes: -------- - A problem with missing job-boundary info, that could result in a dead-lock situation, is prevented by the new job-boundary simulation feature.The problem arose with some copier related printers that spooled the jobs before they were printed. Release G50-01-006a (2004-04-01) ******************************************************************* New features: ---- - Fixes: -------- - Various minor bugs found in test corrected. - Copy/delete problem in template list, When using the browser Back Button - Template upload problem, when uploadning by FTP. - Blank pages and Finishing Problem in PS. Release G50-01-005 (2004-03-17) ******************************************************************* New features: ------------- - Configuration menu group: Services. Status information expanded and re-grouped to show both Service Status and (new) Host Connection Status. - Actions menu group: Flush Captured Fonts. - Status menu group: Error log. GUI re-design for showing/updating and Clearing log. - Configuration menu group: Driver Templates (only for User = Designer). - Added arrows for re-ordering the template list; this order determines how templates are listed in the pull-down template field for the individual driver configuration. - Added "Copy Selected" function. It is best to only choose one at a time. The Copy command for the selected template adds a new template line which you rename and save. Then you can edit it for use in driver configurations. - Added "Delete Selected" function. - Explanations of string before/string after added to on-line help Release G50-01-004a (2004-03-15) ******************************************************************* New feature: --------------------------- - Support for full configuration of IPDS finishing control in PCL & PS drivers. - New Driver Template System - Driver template system, delivered with 6 generic and 3 basis driver templates. - User level "Designer" (replaces OEM) can create own templates. - Extracting / merging of driver templates through FTP - Beta 3 features such as 'Starter Config' and 'ready made drivers' are replaced by the template system. - Additional parameters paper format definitions (in connection with Input Tray configuration): - selection string for paper format - envelope checkbox on. - On-line help with link to help on web-site. - Major changes to browser-based configuration interface in order to include full support for driver templates, creation of drivers based on a driver template and service definition. ******************************************************************* File last edited: 2009-10-02. 14:20 CEST