Electronic IFS Folder Set up & Configuration

Electronic IFS Folders or "e-IFS Folders" are iSeries IFS (integrated file system) folders defined within ECS/ie that have an associated email distribution list. The primary purpose of "e-IFS Folders" is to distribute AFP Spool files in PDF format (Adobe Acrobat, Portable Document Format) in association with  "IBM InfoPrint Server for iSeries".

The conversion of AFP Spool files to PDF files is performed by IBM Infoprint Server for iSeries. This process will create PDF files and place them in the IFS Folder system. It is then the responsibility of ECS/ie to select, distribute and delete the PDF files from the IFS Folder. 

For more information on configuring Infoprint Server for iSeries to convert AFP Spool files to PDF documents and place them in an IFS Folder, please refer to the following IBM Redbook: http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/pdfs/sg246250.pdf

It is recommended that Infoprint Server for iSeries should be configured to support the following folder hierarchy to enable maximum use of Spool file attributes for distribution selection criteria within ECS/ie:

/QDLS/directory-name/job-name/job-number2/job-user-name/sequence-number/spooled-file-name/date

Notes:

• The job-name is truncated to eight characters.

• The last two characters of the job-name are added to the beginning of the job-number.

Example:

/QDLS/emails/QPADEV00/0C028555/SIMON/000003/QSYSPRT/11092001/000001.pdf

ECS/ie will extract all the files contained within the defined IFS Folders and distribute them to a predefined distribution list. Selection criteria can be defined at email address level for:

• Spool File Name

• Job Name

• User

• Job Number

• Spool File Number

Popular uses for "e-IFS Folders" include; departmental output queues for report distribution, Automated Web publishing or Spool file archiving.

• From the main "ECS/integrated email" panel click on the drop down menu "e-commerce", select "Spool Files" then select "e-IFS Folders" .
• The "e-IFS Folders Maintenance" window will now be displayed displaying any defined IFS Folders and associated email distribution lists.

       

• Click the "Add" button to add a new IFS Folder definition.

Note: ECS/ie will not create the Folder in IFS. This must already exist on the AS/400.

• The "Edit e-IFS Folders" window will now be displayed ready to add the details of the new Folder definition.

• Enter the IFS Folder name.  Maximum Length: 10 Characters.

• Enter the email subject text for all emails sent from this IFS Folder. Maximum Length: 50 Characters.

• Enter the email Body Text to be used when creating associated emails. Maximum Length: 255 Characters.

• Click the "OK" button to add the new output queue definition.

• Select the required "e-IFS Folder" with a single left hand mouse click on its name.

• Click the "Add email" button.

Tip: you can use the right hand mouse button to perform all functions performed by the buttons.

• The "Add e-IFS Folder email Address" window will now be displayed.

• Enter the email address that you wish emails from the selected IFS Folder to be sent.
• Define the required selection criteria, relevant to this recipient for the selected IFS Folder. The possible selection criteria options are:

1. Select All spool files from the specified IFS Folder for transmission to the recipient email address.

2. Select only where a specific spool File name matches the value entered in the text box.

3. Select only where the User of the spool file matches the value entered in the text box.

4. Select only where the Job Name of the spool file matches the value entered in the text box.

5. Select only where the Job Number of the spool file matches the value entered in the text box (leading zeros are required).

6. Select only where the Spool File Number of the spool file matches the value entered in the text box (leading zeros are required).

• Checking Send as ZIP file will result in the selected file being compressed to a ZIP file before sending. Compression is performed using WinZip Version 8 or higher (www.winzip.com). A fully licensed version of WinZip must be installed on the PC running the ECS/ie client. The path to the WinZip executable program will be checked and if invalid then a prompt box will be displayed. The path to the program WINZIP32.EXE must be entered. For Example: C:\Program Files\WinZip\Winzip32.exe.

Note: Previously entered emails can be selected from the drop down menu bar. This includes defined FTP Servers and SMS Service Centres.

• Click the "OK" button.

• Repeat the process until you have entered all the email addresses required for the distribution list for the selected IFS Folder.

There are five reserved email extensions used within ECS/ie that do not result in an email being generated, using the reserved email extensions causes ECS/ie to perform other functions; 

• "SMS" - GSM Mobile Phone Short Messaging Service messages or messages to compatible pagers. The address format should be xxxxx@yyyyy.SMS where xxxxx is the GSM/Pager number, yyyyy is the messaging service centre followed by ".SMS". See the specific section for more information.
• "FTP" - File Transfer Protocol. Using the extension ".FTP" causes any attached spool files to be FTP'd to a local or remote server. Each server must be defined as an FTP Server. See the specific section for more information. 
• "OUTQ" - Spool file Management. Using the extension ".OUTQ" enables the automated transfer of spool files between output queues on the AS/400. The email format for moving spool files is OUTQ@LIBRARY.OUTQ.  Note: If it is intended that spool files will be transferred between output queues using the ".outq" format email addresses then the option to "Delete after Sent" must remain unchecked. Note2: If the original User Data is required on the transferred spool file then the "email Subject source" on the initial transfer must be set to "User Data"  
• "MSGQ" - Send AS/400 Message. Using the extension ".MSGQ" causes ECS/ie to send AS/400 text messages up to 512 characters long to an AS/400 based Message queue. The email format for AS/400 messaging is MSGQ@LIBRARY.MSGQ 
•  "BRKM" - Send an AS/400 Break Message using the command SNDBRKMSG. Using the extension ".BRKM" causes ECS/ie to send AS/400 text messages up to 512 characters long to an AS/400 green screen user that will break on their screen. The email format for AS/400 break messaging is;  USER@DELTYPE.BRKM. Where "USER" is the AS/400 User profile name, "DELTYPE" is the delivery type, permissible values are "INF" and "INQ". Setting the value to "INF" will send the message as an Information break message. Setting the value to "INQ" will send the message as an Inquiry break message, forcing the user to enter a reply.

Note:  Extensions  "FTP" and "OUTQ" are reserved for "e-outq" and "e-outbox" Spool file processing only. Extensions "SMS", "MSGQ" and "BRKM" can process  the body of email text only, not attachments. 

<<<<< Back to Main Menu <<<<< 

Copyright © 1998-2003 Electronic Commerce Solutions All rights reserved.

ECS/integrated email & ECS/ie are trademarks of Electronic Commerce Solutions, Ltd. Other brand names and product names used in this document are the trademarks and trade names of their respective holders and may be registered.