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DOPE/compose - High Performance Formatter

DOPE/compose for HTML/CSS and XSL-FO:
XML Formatting for Production Printing

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DOPE/compose is a formatting system which generates final print page layout from XML input data. It can process document data prepared either in a formatting language such as HTML in connection with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) or layout elements from the W3C XSL-FO standard. Documents generated this way may be output in many different formats, most usually in datastream formats normally used in high-volume printing. The DOPE/compose formatting system was developed specifically for production printing in environments handling large document volumes with demanding control requirements.

Overview

  • Formatting of documents laid out with HTML/CSS or XSL-FO
  • Formatting for high-volume production printing
  • Support for control requirements in a production environment such as trays, simplex/duplex, overlays etc.
  • Support for NOPs and TLEs with AFP as the output format
  • Embedded finishing and barcodes incl. DataMatrix
  • Transparent font handling
  • Data-driven control of complex documents
  • Dynamic generation of business graphics
  • Integration and automatic conversion for preformatted pages
  • Embedded in the Compart meta format architecture
  • Formatting based on open standards

Overall Architecture

DOPE stands for DOcument Processing Enhanced. It has much to do with standards, is modular in design and is based not just on highly optimized but also operating system independent code. It was developed by Compart Systemhaus GmbH in collaboration with icon Systemhaus GmbH.

In batch mode, layout templates in HTML/CSS or XSL-FO (Extensible Stylesheet Language-Formatting Objects) are analyzed by an input parser and formatted by the DOPE/compose kernel into final documents, after which, format-specific output filters can be used to format AFP, PDF, PCL, or PostScript documents. The formatting process collects the required key resources such as fonts, embedded images, graphics, or overlays via a resource manager.

Formatting Languages Supported

DOPE/compose can create documents from XML input data formatted using the following formatting languages*:
  • HTML with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)
  • Extensible Stylesheet Language – Formatting Objects (XSL-FO)

The formatter in DOPE/compose can be run on a server or client, used as part of a transaction oriented application or in batch mode.

*With an optional product, DOPE/compose for DCF, it is possible to format documents laid out with IBM’s Document Composition Facility (DCF). The mixed processing of DCF and XML input data is achieved with this product, ensuring easy, incremental migration of old applications to new architecture.

Output Formats

The following output formats are supported by DOPE/compose:
  • AFP/MO:DCA
  • PCL
  • PDF
  • PostScript
  • IPDS
  • IJPDS (Kodak Versamark)
  • Metacode/DJDE
  • ASCII/EBCDIC Line mode
  • SVG
  • Raster image formats (TIFF, BMP, PCX, IOCA, JPEG, GIF, PNG, TGA)
  • SVG direct output to viewer or browser
  • PC printers (Windows only)

Supported Platforms

The following operating systems are supported by DOPE/compose:
  • Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003
  • Mac OS X
  • x86 Linux
  • FreeBSD
  • AIX
  • Sun Solaris
  • HP-UX
  • z/OS
  • zLinux
  • z/OS UNIX System Services

Features

Extensions to the formatting languages make it possible to control the output datastream to handle trays, printing mode (simplex/duplex), and overlays or to control using AFP FormDefs. The embedding of finishing and barcodes through to DataMatrix and other 2D barcodes are supported, as is the embedding of index information for storing documents in archives. This means that DOPE/compose can be used to create AFP documents with the exact same content as those produced by existing legacy applications.

Font handling is fully configurable and transparent to the user, so that inhouse TrueType fonts as well as special Codepages in AFP are supported.

A powerful XML based preprocessor can be used to process raw data in practically any form of input data. The language’s powerful features including variables, loops, expressions, and conditional statements make it possible to process complex data-driven documents such as insurance policies. The flexibility and processing speed are further enhanced by the ability to include and automatically convert pages already formatted such as Terms and Conditions available as a PDF file.

Additional functions like business graphics, generated dynamically from input data, complement the possible application of DOPE/compose to creating effective solutions in the field of document generation.

Alongside the classic document batch operation, DOPE/compose can also be used in a transaction oriented manner via a Java API in web applications. This makes it possible to include data and document templates in transactional and batch printing with little additional effort.

DOPE/compose for HTML/CSS

For HTML/CSS formatting, DOPE/compose relies on an XML document model which uses the layout concept well known in the HTML community – Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). Language extensions in the form of variables combined with logic elements, conditional statements, and references can be used where necessary. At runtime these references are replaced with content from data files. The DOPE Compliance List details all the elements and attributes supported from the HTML and CSS specifications.

The DOPE/prep Preprocessor

The preprocessor is used to process different raw data in practically any form of input data. Processing logic is put together by means of loops, statements, and expressions, for which a large number of functions are also made available. External data files including fixed record text, CSV, XML variables, or SAP RDI are supported. The preprocessor is integrated with DOPE/compose, but can be called from an external program, for example to create XML structured data from one of the data file formats mentioned above.

DOPE/compose for XSL-FO

For XSL-FO formatting, DOPE/compose uses the W3C XSL layout concept. XSL-FO files are typically created with an XSLT stylesheet to be able to translate the data and layout to the XSL-FO format language. These XSLT stylesheets can be created manually or with a graphical editor as offered by any number of third parties.

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