IPDS Print Server - Turn any Windows printer into an AFP/IPDS printer

IT managers and system administrators have long struggled to make IBM AS400-based data and Mainframe spooled files available in Windows environments. With IPDS Print Server software, AS400 host data and Mainframe spooled files can be sent to Windows-based printers or accessed on Windows-based systems.

IPDS Print Server allows PC users to emulate their existing Laserjet, Inkjet printers, or MFP devices into IPDS capable printers that fully supports the IPDS protocol.

Using this software emulation solution for IPDS printing, users can print reports of IBM IPDS data streams produced from a wide range of systems such as AS400, i series, IBM power, and mainframe systems with a resolution up to 600 dpi, plus seamless emulation switching. Users also get tray and bin mapping and integrated-solution support features.



IPDS Print Server, as its name indicates, is a pure software emulation solution for IPDS printing, which translates Intelligent Printer Data Stream directly into common printer languages eliminating the need for expensive investment on specialized hardware, extra software, and major reprogramming on the host side.

The IPDS Print Server software assigns a hot folder as a virtual tray to each of your non-IPDS printers, and it enables fast and flexible printing from mainframe, midrange and other non-Windows host systems - such as UNIX, AIX, AS400, IBM pSeries, iSeries, zSeries, xSeries, and Linux - to any Windows-based printers.

Easy to install and integrate, IPDS Print Server simplifies cross-platform printing and central management of print jobs. With the help of IPDS to PDF (Portable Document Format) converter plug-in, users can print AFP / IPDS to PDF files without difficulty, thereby conserving bandwidth, and promoting fast transmission of print documents for previewing, printing and archiving.

Being an affordable IPDS to Windows printing and emulation solution, IPDS Print Server emulates multiple IPDS printers to the host and uses the Windows AFP/IPDS drivers for IPDS printing. In the past users can print from IBM AS/400 and Mainframes to an Virtual IPDS Printer to get the output on a Windows printer, and now users can drop AFP files, IPDS print jobs, or IPDS spooled files into a hot folder, and get the output on the target printer.

Organizations using IPDS Print Server will gain the benefits of increased efficiency, productivity and reduced cost.


Version 2.0 is now available!

IPDS Print Server Features:

Spool IBM iSeries/zSeries IPDS data to your Windows environment replacing IPDS printers
Bring the power of IBM AFP (Advanced Function Presentation) to your Windows environment
Convert your IPDS, AFPDS (AFP data stream) and SCS into PDF for easy viewing, archiving and distribution
Support IBM host printing from iSeries, zSeries systems with print data such as SCS, DCA, ICDS and IPDS/AFP
Support emulation of common IBM IPDS and SCS printers
Emulate IPDS printing for up to 255 non-IPDS printers on a host computer
Associate one hot folder with each non-IPDS printer as a virtual tray
Support for all IPDS data including overlays, colors, graphics, bar codes, page segments, font handling etc
Supports all AFP/IPDS Towers
Support for AFP/IPDS printing over the LAN using TCP/IP
Support for black-and-white printing and full color printing
Conversion of the IPDS data stream done by host resources and increases print speeds.
Enable IPDS host printing and standard network printing in an Ethernet environment
Eliminate the expense of a dedicated host AFP/IPDS printer
Supports Advanced Function Printing (AFP) using native IPDS protocol
Support for barcode, images, electronic forms, overlays, resource management, error recovery
Host controlled printing and page range printing
Flexible page positioning is provided without modifying the applications
Device tray mapping
Printer Activities Logging
Support for IPDS printing network
No need for IPDS printer drivers for IPDS printing
No changes to host applications or printers
Auto Launch on System Startup
Configuration Wizard for quicker and easier setup
Configuration via software control panel
Support for traditional coax or twinax printing
Capture fonts to storage resulting in reduced network traffic over LAN, coax or twinax connections
Support for multiple output destinations
Archive IPDS print jobs and spooled files as AFP document, page segment, medium overlay, and overlay from any Windows application that supports printing (Print-To-File)
Multiple Simultaneous Connections
Support a complete set of paper sizes
Define custom paper size
Paper type includes White, Colored, Transparent
Flexible page orientation such as Portrait, Landscape, Portrait 180, Landscape 270
Automatic installation and configuration on Windows x86 and Windows x64
Live update for new versions and plug-in on Windows 32-bit and Windows 64-bit
Free upgrades in the future for registered users

System Requirements:

Intel or AMD processor 1.8GHz or better
300MB free disk space
1024x768 or higher resolution for display
Microsoft Windows Server 2022/2019/2016/2012/2008/2003/2000 [x86 or x64], Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8/8.1, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP [32bit and 64bit]

How to use IPDS Print Server? - Only 3 Steps

1. Install and launch IPDS Print Server on your computer, and create a hot folder.
2. Create sub folders, and map a sub folder to each of your printers.
3. Select Start button, and any AFP file or IPDS spooled job dropped into the hot sub folder will be printed out via the associated printer.

Software User Interface

Configuration Manager:

Folder-to-Printer Mapping Wizard:

NOTE: IPDS Print Server software supports maximum 255 printers for IPDS emulation per server.

User Manual:

You can download the user manual in PDF format or read online the web version.

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