Form definitions

A form definition is an Advanced Function Presentation™ (AFP™) resource object that defines the characteristics of the physical form to be printed on, including these:

• Overlays to be used
• Position of page data on the form
• Rotation
• Duplexing
• Input drawer
• Formfeed type
• Print quality
• Number of copies of each page and the modifications that apply to each set of copies

Whenever you are printing to a printer configured as AFP(*YES), a form definition is required. If you do not specify a form definition on the printer file, an inline form definition is built from the printer file parameters. If you specify a form definition, no inline form definition is built from the printer file parameters. In this case, if you send the data to an AFP printer, Print Services Facility™ (PSF) ignores some printer file parameters.

This list details the origin of AFP-related form definitions:

• Provided with the iSeries server
• Created with the IBM® Infoprint® Designer for iSeries licensed program
• Downloaded from zSeries®
• Inline from zSeries
• Created automatically from printer file parameters

Related concepts

How page definitions, form definitions, and printer files interact

Related tasks

Obtain AFP resources

Specify a form definition

Related reference

Form definitions included with the server