Tips - How to use this home page - including how to print it

   Table of Contents (with Shortcuts to Info):

• Highlights and History

• Description of GPPS

• Visual Presentation of GPPS

• Technical Information:

  • The Minolta Menu System
  • The Minolta Setup Program
  • The Minolta / IBM Connectivity
  • The Minolta Wizards
  • The IBM Host Print Transform Process  (Using GPPS Workstation Customization Objects for Minolta)
  • The Minolta Virtual Machine
  • The Minolta Printer Manager
  • The Minolta Tool Box
  • Your Challenges without GPPS
  • IBM iSeries Technical Requirements
  • GPPS Technical Support

• Special Customization

• Minolta Products supported by GPPS

• Pricing & License Rules

• How do you order?

• Links

      Highlights and History

Table of Contents  

     Description of GPPS

Have the perfect KONICA MINOLTA Copier/Printer Solution for your IBM i5, IBM iSeries, or IBM AS/400 ...

GP PrintSuite for IBM iSeries/400 (short name: GPPS) gives you one of the most flexible and user-friendly solutions in the market for connecting digital copiers and printers to an IBM i5, an IBM iSeries, or an IBM AS/400 server. The name has the subtitle: (Minolta Edition, Version 02.03). This indicates that this edition of GPPS is designed to support equipment coming from Konica Minolta, and that this is version 02.03 of the product.

The primary function of GPPS is to establish reliable connectivity between your IBM iSeries and your Minolta equipment. The equipment is usually a digital Minolta copier with a Minolta controller (imbedded or external). Besides Minolta equipment it is also possible for GPPS to establish connectivity between your iSeries and other Minolta applications like the Minolta MicroPress Solution which is running on a Windows Server.

When connectivity has been established GPPS invisibly and automatically takes care of the transformation of print from the internal format of your iSeries to the format used by your Minolta equipment. This is technically done by a "middleware" component of GPPS called “Workstation Customization Objects” (IBM's name for this kind of software). This middleware ensures that printing from your iSeries is done perfectly on your Minolta equipment. E.g.: Automatic downsizing of traditional printouts from your iSeries so all print will fit correctly  on sheets –  whether you are using the European A4 paper format or the American Letter format. The GPPS product is targeted towards both of these markets. If you are an international company doing central computing for copiers in both markets, then you can order software for both markets to be included in the same package.

GPPS enables you to take advantage of many of the exciting features of your Minolta equipment from your iSeries. E.g. printing on both sides of the paper (“duplex-printing”). With this feature you can halve your paper consumption – just think of the journals from your bookkeeping or your monthly statistics printouts!

The many input drawer options – including the large capacity cassettes with room for several thousand sheets – enable you to control your paper feeding efficiently and automatically – for example in connection with special paper for your invoicing or your Statement of Accounts. You will usually find software included for different standard input drawer-configurations of a given Minolta model. The input drawer selection can also be combined with the iSeries standard prompting for "forms-type-changes", to give you virtually unlimited control of your paper feeding. If you have the appropriate "Finisher" (e.g. with "Mail Bins") with your Minolta copier, then your iSeries can also control the output bin/shelf for your paper.

You also find that support of the OCR-B font is standard. In some countries this font is used on printouts like invoices, where you want a special code-line at the bottom of the document that banks can read automatically. This could mean lower costs, fewer errors and possibly automating your Accounts Receivables. Please be aware, however, that the OCR-B font itself is not part of the product. A resident font, downloaded font, or a font-module must be added to your Minolta equipment for OCR-B to work. In other words:  GPPS makes sure that if your iSeries programs request OCR-B, then you get it, provided the font is available.

GPPS is based on the most commonly used iSeries printer data-stream – the SCS data-stream. This means that you do not need any special software like IBM Print Services Facility to take advantage of many of the features of your Minolta equipment. You also do not need any special boxes, print servers, or Windows Servers  to make things work. Just connect your standard Minolta equipment directly to your network and GPPS takes care of things for you.

Minolta has a wide repertoire of digital copiers and printers to help meet your needs. The features available on these vary depending on model, size, configuration, etc. To make things easy for you and your iSeries programming staff, we have designed a consistent model (an "interface") that defines how GPPS supports the Minolta equipment, and what it can do for you. We have named this concept the "Minolta Virtual Machine". 
It is called "virtual" because it defines a non-existing "machine" - a "machine", which can be thought of, as having all the collective features found in each real Minolta machine. Its primary objective is to give you a consistent view of your Minolta equipment from the perspective of your iSeries application. This will in most cases make your programming easier, since your programmer or application vendor needs to be little concerned about the physical Minolta equipment, but can instead think in terms of the Minolta Virtual Machine interface. The Minolta Virtual Machine therefore is a unique concept, which should make it very attractive for you to choose Minolta equipment as your iSeries printer strategy. You can view the Minolta Virtual Machine by clicking on the following link: Minolta Virtual Machine

However important, good connectivity and correct printouts are not the only things that GPPS gives you. We have also wanted to make the creation of Minolta-devices on your iSeries an easy matter by including the tools ("Wizards") that you need. You can therefore create Minolta-devices on your iSeries with a minimum of technical knowledge. This possibly saves you expensive consultancy charges. Are you, however, of the opinion that you do not want to do this yourself, then your normal IT-vendor should have no difficulty in assisting you with GPPS, because everything is thoroughly described in the included Installation and User's Guide. You may also contract with Konica Minolta and GP-DATA to help you. Even though technical support is not included in the price for GPPS, professional iSeries support is very much available to you, should you need it in relation to GPPS. You may want to check, if this is the case with other vendors of printers or copiers. In most cases you will find that real iSeries support is non-existing!

But "the good stuff" doesn’t end here! 

Included in the PrintSuite you also find a unique little Printer Management Program for your iSeries (also called the "Minolta Printer Manager"). You and your users can take advantage of this in the daily handling of all your iSeries printers (not just your Minolta copiers and printers). The Printer Manager allows you to do a number of printer operations, like starting and stopping printers, selecting your current printer, and giving reply to printer-related messages. A unique feature of the Printer Manager lets you can handle normal printers and printers, which use the Remote Output Queue principle, in the same way - thus concealing the operational differences from the users. The Printer Manager comes in the shape of a neat “pop-up” facility that you operate with your mouse like any Windows-program. You can even use the Printer Manager from a Twinax-terminal! The native printer commands, which you may have used before, are also available to you through the Printer Manager - so you won’t be missing anything you had before, you will just be doing things in a smarter and more consistent way! You can call the Printer Manager just by pressing the Esc-key on you PC-keyboard. We call this a "hotkey". If you had IBM Operational Assistant behind the Esc-key before - don't worry - there is a button in the Printer Manager that you can click to get to Operational Assistant, if you still need it. 

Included you will also find a small "Tool Box" for your Printer Administrator. The tool set is intended for advanced printer management and for troubleshooting printer-problems on your iSeries. It is not intended for your users, like the Printer Manager is. A special tool, called the GPPS Deletion Tool, lets you delete any iSeries printer in a jiffy, without any expertise - even active printers (you get appropriate warnings).

Everything in GPPS is arranged for you in logical menus with imbedded help-text to make setup and operation easy for you and your staff. And things are indeed easy with GPPS! We have documented that installation and set-up of the product, creation of the first copier as a printer on the iSeries, and printing of the first document was done in only 6 minutes!

If you also want to use your PCs with your Minolta equipment – go right ahead! GPPS co-exists. In other words – you can have the best from the iSeries world and the PC world at the same time. Your Minolta equipment can also be shared between several iSeries should that be your situation.

When using Minolta copiers as high-speed “super-printers” with your iSeries, you “kill more birds with one stone” giving you an excellent return on investment. Moreover, you only have to invest in the software once per Minolta model, per iSeries - not per individual copier!  (Please see Pricing and License Rules section below on this page).
The program license is not restricted by the number of users on your iSeries either.

Backed by Konica Minolta’s large world wide organization and GP-DATA - one of the oldest suppliers of IBM i5, iSeries, and AS/400 servers in the market - you can be confident that things will work and that your printing needs will be understood. GP-DATA is an IBM iSeries Certified Danish company with more than 24 years of experience in regard to these IBM servers and their predecessors – including the printing products of that world.

GPPS is only delivered in English language. However, the most important part of the product - the "middleware", which is used to transform from the internal iSeries format to Minolta's format - is completely language independent. The Setup Program, the Wizards, and the Tool Box are normally used by a central Printer Administrator, who will usually have the skills to run such functions.

Below you will first find a visual presentation of the main functions of GPPS. Following that you will find a slightly more technical and detailed description of each element of the GP PrintSuite for IBM iSeries/400. You will want to read that to get a more keen understanding of the product and what it can do for you.

PS!  Please do not confuse this product with Forms Design Programs, Print Overlay Solutions or Print Archiving Solutions available in the market. GPPS is primarily a low-priced Connectivity- and Printer Management Solution, which takes care of everyday printer operations - based on advanced digital print-equipment from Konica Minolta. Co-existence with the aforementioned solutions should not be a problem, if these solutions work with traditional printers in the iSeries world.

Table of Contents  

Visual Presentation of GP PrintSuite for IBM iSeries/400.

If you want to see a visual presentation of GPPS, please click on the link below. The presentation shows you how the individual parts of GPPS relate to which areas of the iSeries.

 Visual Presentation of GPPS

Table of Contents  

     Technical Information

The GP PrintSuite for IBM iSeries/400.

GP-DATA's PrintSuite for IBM iSeries, IBM AS/400, and the new IBM i5, consists of several elements - therefore the name PrintSuite. These elements will be discussed in detail below.

Table of Contents  

The Minolta Menu System.

The Minolta Menu System makes it easy to manage all aspects of the product. The Menu System is comprised of a Main Menu, which gives you access to the Minolta Setup Program, the Minolta Wizards Menu, the Minolta Printer Manager and the Minolta Tool Box Menu. The Minolta Printer Manager is easily added to your own menus, should you want to make it generally available to your users.

The Minolta Wizards Menus contain all the printer creation Wizards. The Minolta Tool Box Menu contains tools ready to be used for print- and printer-related tasks and troubleshooting. Please find additional information below.

This is the Minolta Main Menu:

Table of Contents  

The Minolta Setup Program.

Once the GPPS CD is read in, the Minolta Setup Program can be used to prepare GPPS for operation. The Minolta Setup Program shows unchangeable information about the license - e.g.: License No., Licensee, Licensed Minolta Controllers ("Workstation Customization Objects"), IBM iSeries Model, Processor Feature and Serial No., Version of GPPS, and Copyright information.

For GPPS to be operational you need to key in a Software License Key, which is included in the GPPS delivery on the Proof of Entitlement (a document describing your license). The Software License Key links your license to a specific iSeries using the unchangeable data described above. A new Software License Key is required if GPPS is to be installed on a different iSeries. There is a small fee of 95 Euro to be paid in advance to cover administration cost if a Licensee requires a new Software License Key. The procedure is documented in the section Pricing- and License Rules below and in the End User License Agreement, which is signed by the Licensee prior to delivery of GPPS. A 30 days "Grace Period" will be granted from the day GPPS discovers that it is no longer running on the iSeries for which the Software License Key was issued. If a valid Software License Key is not entered before the Grace Period expires, then GPPS will become unusable and need reinstallation along with a valid key, before normal operation can be resumed.

Table of Contents  

The Minolta / IBM Connectivity.

With the software package - GP PrintSuite for IBM iSeries/400 (GPPS) - you have the perfect solution for connecting your Minolta copier/printer to your IBM i5, IBM iSeries, or IBM AS/400. No matter, which way you choose to make the connection, you can easily be operational using either of the following methods:

• Directly to your network (LAN) using a network card (Ethernet or Token Ring) in your Minolta controller or printer. The TCP/IP protocol is used. Software ("Wizards") for easy printer configuration on your iSeries is included (se below). Direct connectivity over a LAN is the preferred connectivity solution.
   

• Indirectly. In most cases connection can also be achieved through the Parallel Port of a PC using IBM Client Access 5250 Printer Emulation. Other kinds of printer connectivity that use the IBM Host Print Transform process of the iSeries, may also work with the Workstation Customization Objects for Minolta included in GPPS. Indirect connectivity via a PC could be used in SNA/Twinax environments where a LAN (or the TCP/IP protocol) is not available. 

PS! Please, see which kind of connectivity is supported for specific Minolta models by looking at the Minolta Virtual Machine overview (found elsewhere on this page).

Table of Contents  

The Minolta "Wizards" - Easy Configuration of Minolta Copiers and Printers on IBM i5, IBM iSeries, and IBM AS/400.

You use the Minolta Wizards to easily create Minolta copiers and printers on an IBM iSeries. There is one Wizard per model of Minolta copier and printer. All the Wizards are gathered on special Minolta Wizards Menus, which are available from the Minolta Main Menu. 

You, or a technician from Konica Minolta, must prepare (configure) the Minolta copier and controller before connectivity can be obtained via the Minolta Wizards. Some of the required pre-configuration can be found in the help-text of each Wizard. Most of this configuration work is identical to the work, which must also be done to prepare for connectiion of PCs to Minolta equipment.

A special Wizard is also available for creating a link from your iSeries to the Minolta MicroPress Solution, which runs on a Windows Server, should you need that.

The Wizards support creation of Minolta copiers and printers as printers on your iSeries using either of 2 different LAN connectivity principles:

• iSeries "Printer Device Descriptions" (normal printers)

• iSeries "Remote Output Queues" (LPR/LPD printers)

iSeries Printer Device Descriptions are usually the preferred connection principle. This gives you complete control of your printing (e.g. hold, release, delete, repeat), and it can be managed through all the standard interfaces found in the iSeries Operating System - including Operational Assistant and Operations Navigator. 

The iSeries "Remote Output Queue" principle is always available in Minolta equipment. It is the same as the "LPR" protocol known from the Unix world. Although this principle gives you a little less control over your printing process, it is well suited, if print is to travel across large routed networks or if LPR/LPD is your preferred printing protocol.

When you create a Minolta copier as a printer on your iSeries using a Wizard, you select and enter the name of the GPPS Workstation Customization Object that matches the drawer-configuration of your copier. You find these names on the Minolta Virtual Machine overview, which is included in your GPPS delivery.

A Minolta copier or printer appears as a normal network printer on your iSeries.

The Minolta Wizards are so easy to use that you can create a Minolta copier/printer on your iSeries without being an expert, or without lengthy studying. A few minutes and your first copier is operational, once your GPPS CD is read in, and your Minolta equipment is set up.

This is an example of a Wizard:

Table of Contents  

The IBM Host Print Transform Process - using GPPS Workstation Customization Objects for Minolta.

The Host Print Transform Process is a process that automatically takes care of the transformation from the EBCDIC-SCS print format used on the iSeries (the "Host") to the ASCII-PCL format used by Minolta equipment (or Minolta Applications). The Host Print Transform Process is a standard process in the Operating System of you iSeries. You don't have to worry about it.

Definitions:

• EBCDIC is the character-representation used on your iSeries.

• SCS (="SNA Character String") is the format of the print-datastream used on you iSeries.

• ASCII is the character-representation used on PCs and on your Minolta equipment.

• PCL is the print-datastream used on your Minolta equipment. Hewlett Packard originally defined PCL.

For the Host Print Transform Process to take place, Workstation Customization Objects are needed. They define how the transform process must take place for the copiers or printers ("Workstations") they represent. The concept of Workstation Customization Objects is also an IBM standard definition. Workstation Customization Objects are invisible - but extremely important - "middleware". They are in fact the most important part of the PrintSuite. Workstation Customization Objects are also independent of country and language. E.g. - you use the same objects in France and in Poland.

For every model of Minolta copier/controller, which you want to connect to your iSeries, you need a GPPS Workstation Customization Object that takes care of the transformation of your standard iSeries spool-files (in SCS format) into this particular model and configuration of Minolta equipment (in ASCII-PCL format).

The current version of GPPS has no less than 88 Workstation Customization Objects available to support the various models of Minolta copiers/controllers and printers in different standard drawer configurations. You enter the name of the Workstation Customization Object that matches your Minolta configuration, when you create your Minolta copier as a printer on your iSeries (using the appropriate Wizard). You can find the appropriate Workstation Customization Object on the Minolta Virtual Machine overview.

The following is a list of features found in most of the GPPS Workstation Customization Objects for Minolta:

• Correct downscaling of traditional wide iSeries Fanfold printouts having a width of up to 132 characters (using 10 Char. Per Inch), so that these will fit on standard cut sheets (European A4 or American Letter  formats). Without the GPPS objects, downscaling is often done far too much.
   

• Correct downscaling of traditional wide iSeries Fanfold printouts having a width of up to 158 characters (using 12 Char. Per Inch).
   

• Correct downscaling of traditional wide iSeries Fanfold printouts having a width of up to 198 characters (using 15 Char. Per Inch), so that these will fit on standard cut sheets without loosing data. With other printer vendors 2 – 3 characters are often lost in the right side of the paper when downscaling - and who needs a Financial Statement with the totals truncated?
   

• Correct selection of Input Drawers, so that drawer requests from the iSeries are executed correctly on the Minolta copier/controller. More than one standard configuration is usually available in GPPS for each Minolta copier/controller to match typical drawer-configurations. Drawer requests are standardized through the Minolta Virtual Machine concept (see section below on this page).
   

• Correct selection of Output Bins/trays, so that requests for Output Bins from the iSeries are executed correctly on the Minolta copier/controller or printer. The Output Bin options (e.g. Mail Bins) depend on the Minolta Output Unit / Finisher available for a given model, and the PCL-support available from Minolta for that model. Requests for Output Bins are standardized through the Minolta Virtual Machine concept (see separate section below). The Minolta Virtual Machine also shows you what you can expect to work on a given model. Finisher functions like stapling and punching are not supported as standard in the current version of GPPS, but they can be ordered as Special Customization for a fee. You request Special Customization on the Information Collection Form (ICF), which you supply with your order (the ICF is explained in a separate section below).
   

• Correct handling of Duplex, so that requests for duplex-printing from your iSeries are handled correctly on the Minolta copier/controller by printing on both sides of the paper, also with correct margin for easy filing. In most cases Long-edged-duplex as well as Short-edged-duplex are supported. (Documented on the Minolta Virtual Machine overview).
   

• Support for OCR-B (Optical Character Recognition - B). The font must be present in the Minolta controller/printer. The OCR-B font itself is not part of GPPS. The OCR-B font is "triggered" from the iSeries programs by requesting Global Font ID. (GFID) 03. The font must be made available either through being resident, or through downloading, or through a "dongle". Not all controllers support a way to supply the font (documented on the Minolta Virtual Machine overview).
   

• Support for International Enterprises with Departments or Subsidiaries abroad, who either run a centralized or decentralized IT-infrastructure. GPPS Workstation Customization Objects are available for the European as well as the American market. Character-sets as well as paper formats differ. For example: The A4 format is used in Europe, and the Letter format is used in the USA and Canada. The GPPS Workstation Customization Objects are created to automatically adjust to locales like character-set, code page, etc. on the iSeries on which they are installed.
   

• A number of other things that ensure the iSeries SCS-print requests are correctly matched to those of the ASCII-PCL data stream of the Minolta equipment.

SCS / IPDS host print datastream considerations.

The iSeries IPDS/AFP print data stream is not supported in the current version of GPPS. Only the most widely used SCS print data stream is supported. 

However, please be aware that even if you think you need IPDS, maybe because you already have some other (old) printer with this feature, you will often find that your applications don't actually need IPDS. In other words: You would be just as well (or better) served by using SCS printing! You can easily find this out. If you can print from your iSeries on some small HP printer, maybe connected via a PC using Client Access for iSeries, then you don't need IPDS!

Also, be aware that even if you do in fact need IPDS/AFP for say, 5% of your application, you may not need it for the remaining 95% of your printing. In other words: You would be just as well (or better) served by using SCS printing for the 95% of your print load! Thus GPPS is still a good choice to complement your IPDS/AFP printing.

Table of Contents  

"Minolta Virtual Machine" - Uniformity and Consistency.

Minolta has a wide repertoire of digital copiers and printers to help meet your needs. The features available on these vary depending on model, size, configuration etc. To make it easy for you and for your iSeries programming staff, we have designed a consistent model (an "interface") that describes how GPPS supports the Minolta equipment, and what it can do for you.

We have named this concept the "Minolta Virtual Machine". It is called "virtual" because it defines a non-existing "machine", which has all the features found in the individual real Minolta machines. Its primary objective is to give you a consistent view of your Minolta equipment from the perspective of your iSeries application. This will in many cases make your programming easier, since your programmers or application vendors need to know very little about the physical Minolta equipment, but can think in terms of the Minolta Virtual Machine interface. 

Where physical features (e.g. input drawers) are not present in a given Minolta machine, they are redirected or substituted with similar features without you needing to do anything to make this happen. 

The Minolta Virtual Machine also shields your applications from the different ways that various Minolta machines could request the same feature (e.g. the same drawer requiring different PCL-codes on different physical machines). With the Minolta Virtual Machine concept you do not have to worry about this at all. GPPS does that for you!

The Minolta Virtual Machine defines the following 1 - 3 standard Configurations for each model of Minolta copier/controller or printer:

• Configuration 0 - The Base Configuration, used for a copier or printer with no extra drawers, or with all drawers being standard drawers (no LCC - Large Capacity Cassette - at the bottom).
   

• Configuration 1 - Used for a copier with an LCC at the bottom.
   

• Configuration 2 - Used for a copier with an LCC at the bottom that can be addressed as Input Drawer 1 (default) from the iSeries. Physical drawer 1 can still be addressed as Drawer 9 on the iSeries.

The Minolta Virtual Machine is a unique concept, which you find with no other vendor of copiers or printers. The concept ought to make it very attractive for you to choose Minolta equipment as the printer strategy for your iSeries.

You can view or download the Minolta Virtual Machine Overview in Microsoft Excel by clicking on the following link:

View or download the Minolta Virtual Machine

Please, cancel the Logon Prompt that emerges, if you left-click. You may alternatively right-click on the link and download the Microsoft Excel file before viewing or printing it.

If you want to print the MVM, we recommend the following settings:  A4-Landscape with Long-edged Duplex. Print on a colour printer or colour copier when possible.

Table of Contents  

The Minolta Printer Management Program - Your little "Pop-up".

GPPS makes it easy to be an End User of iSeries printers! 

The Minolta Printer Management Program (also called the "Minolta Printer Manager") is a small pop-up facility of GPPS. The Printer Manager is operated the same way a Windows program is operated, including with the mouse. It runs in your normal 5250-sessions (e.g. IBM Client Access for iSeries) - and yes - it even works on a Twinax-terminal or on an IBM Network Station!

Your users can take advantage of the Printer Manager to start and stop any printer (spool-writer) on your iSeries - including your Minolta copiers and printers. The Printer Manager can also be used to change the default printer of a user’s 5250-session temporarily or permanently. Messages relating to printers can be viewed and answered from the Printer Manager. The Printer Manager also gives you easy access to central and often used print- and printer-related commands from the iSeries Operating System (OS/400): WRKWTR, WRKSPLF, WRKOUTQ. You and your users have it all where you need it - and in a manner you will soon appreciate.

A unique feature of the Printer Manager is its ability to conceal the operational differences between normal printers with a Device Description and printers using the Remote Output Queue (LPR) principle for printing. Unlike any standard function of the iSeries Operating System, users will have the same interface - the same "look and feel" - with both principles through the Printer Manager.

You can insert the Printer Manager into your own menu system for easy access, but the easiest and most elegant way to invoke the Printer Manager is by the use of a "hotkey" (the Esc-key on your PC-keyboard). Just press it - and the Printer Manager is at your disposal. When you close it again, you are right back where you came from. 

If you used to have IBM Operational Assistant appear, when you pressed the Esc-key - don't worry. There is a button in the Printer Manager, which by a click will take you right into Operational Assistant - if you still need it, now that the Printer Manager supplies the print and printer-related functions, which was often the reason for using Operational Assistant. 

This is what the Minolta Printer Manager looks like (the center window, which in this case, overlays the Minolta Main Menu):

Table of Contents  

The Minolta Tool Box.

The Minolta Tool Box Menu gives you easy access to a number of carefully selected "tools" (native commands from the iSeries Operating System), which have been tailored for print- and printer-related tasks. You can get to the Tool Box Menu from the Minolta Main Menu.

The GPPS Deletion Tool is a special tool, which is not part of the Operating System. You can use this tool to delete any iSeries Printer or Output Queue, whether it is active or not. (You get appropriate warnings, if you are in jeopardy!) The tool makes it possible to delete any printer without having any technical skills at all, making it valuable to customers without such in-house skills. The GPPS Deletion Tool can be seen as a counterpart to the GPPS Wizards, which are used to do the opposite - easily create printers.

The Tool Box Menu is intended for advanced print- and printer management and for troubleshooting. You find GPPS help-text in English with every tool. Once you have started a tool you have IBM help-text in your own language. The Minolta Tool Box is intended for your Printer Administrator and Minolta Support Personnel.

Table of Contents  

Your Challenges WITHOUT GPPS.

We have received the following question a number of times and would like to answer it up front:  

    "Is it possible to make connections similar to GPPS between an iSeries (or AS/400) and copiers from Konica Minolta without GPPS?"

Yes, if you are a skilled iSeries printer professional, you may be able to establish a very basic connection, which may at first seem to work. However, you are soon bound for some of the troubles mentioned below !!!

Here is the "tip of the iceberg", which we have disclosed during our thorough testing of Konica Minolta equipment in connection with our developments for GPPS:

• Without GPPS:  Wrong down-scaling of print. You get too compressed output, or you loose information due to insufficient down-scaling!

• Without GPPS:  Wrong or inconsistent drawer-selections - sometimes with print vanishing into thin air, as a result of wrong internal PCL-requests!

• Without GPPS:  Output-bin selection doesn't always work. Imagine, you are a large company that wants to print 1500 invoices over-night, but can't get them to the large capacity output-bin!

• Without GPPS:  Lost print-jobs, when printing 2 or more jobs right after each other. It could be your invoices or your payrolls, which got lost!

• Without GPPS:  The print-controller "freezes" or "reboots", loosing all the jobs stored in controller memory!

• Without GPPS:  Duplex hang-over between jobs. You don't get duplex, every time you want it - or - you get duplex, when you asked for normal printing!

• Without GPPS:  Loss of additional copies, when you request 2 or more copies of the same print-job!

• Without GPPS:  Wrong sorting of multiple copies! Print sometimes appear in a random mix!

• Without GPPS:  OCR-B is not possible!

• Without GPPS:  You want 80 characters across an A4-portrait, but can't achieve this because special customization is required. GPPS has this non-standard option available to you!

• Without GPPS:  Your programmers need to get to know each new Konica Minolta model technically, so they can change your programs for each new Konica Minolta model you install in your organization! It requires that your programmers get non-public technical specifications from Konica Minolta, and that you spend time understanding these, before you start adjusting your iSeries programs. The complexity of your iSeries programs will grow with each new Konica Minolta model you buy. With GPPS and its Minolta Virtual Machine Concept, you don't have to change your programs, and you are ensured consistency across old models, new models, black/white models, colour models, and environments where copiers are intermixed with printers. If you are a large organization - please, believe us - the Minolta Virtual Machine is what you want!

After this - unfortunately - very real list of challenges, we also have to mention that such problems are indeed not isolated to Konica Minolta equipment, but are likely to be seen with any vendor of copiers and print-controllers. We have, ourselves, experienced some of the problems that other vendors have. Konica Minolta, however, seem to be the only vendor, who through a 5-year old, close, and formal cooperation with GP-DATA has such an extensive preventive test-program, and a low-price solution like GPPS. The cooperation ensures that the best possible technical information is available during our testing of new Konica Minolta equipment against IBM iSeries, and during development of the GPPS software, which takes care of connectivity and correct printing - so you won't be a victim of the above problems + the ones not mentioned!

Besides a solution to the abovementioned problems, please also remember that with GPPS you get a lot of added value on top of the "core-connectivity/printing product". Examples of added value:  The Minolta Wizards, the Minolta Virtual Machine concept, the Minolta Printer Manager, Minolta Tool Box, and your access to real iSeries Technical Support in case you unexpectedly run into trouble.

Play it safe, and save your resources! Get GPPS for the Konica Minolta copiers and printers that you already have, and the ones you plan to acquire! GPPS is inexpensive, and it saves you a lot of work, money, and headaches!

Table of Contents  

IBM iSeries Technical Requirements.

Your IBM iSeries or IBM AS/400 must be running IBM Operating System OS/400 Version 4 Release 5 or later. (IBM i5 must be running IBM Operating System i5/OS Version 5 Release 3 or later). It is strongly recommended that you also have a recent cumulative PTF ("Program Temporary Fixes") Package for the Operating System installed.

To connect Minolta equipment via a LAN you need Ethernet or Token Ring in your iSeries. You also need to have the TCP/IP protocol configured and activated on your iSeries, before you can get connected. PS! Most iSeries are already set up this way.

GPPS is only intended for operation within the traditional part of the IBM Operating System. Besides the "Native Environment", the IBM System/36 Environment is also fully supported (e.g. Native as well as S/36E printer names can be used in the Printer Manager). GPPS has not been tested with Logical Partitions (LPAR), but it should work. Since iSeries Model, Processor Feature and Serial No. are the same in all partitions, you only need one GPPS license for all partitions!

Printing from iSeries-managed Windows Servers, or Unix/Linux environments running on the iSeries are not supported through GPPS.

GPPS supports the 256 single-byte characters in the EBCDIC character-set used on iSeries. GPPS does not support the "Double-Byte-Character-Set" (DBCS) used by IBM to support Asian (and other) character/symbol representations. 

IBM limitations regarding the SCS print datastream are the same with GPPS and Minolta equipment as they would be with print equipment from other vendors (e.g. IBM SCS printers). If you are an iSeries programmer, please refer to relevant IBM printer-related manuals for such limitations (e.g. DDS limitations).

You do not need to have IBM Print Services Facility (PSF) installed to run GPPS.

Table of Contents  

GPPS Technical Support.

GPPS Technical Support from IBM iSeries Certified Experts is available to you. It is, however, not included in the price of the product. This means, you must expect to be charged for GPPS support, if you request it. If you have access to "normal" iSeries knowledge within you organization, you are not likely to have the need for support at all. GPPS is easy to install, easy to set up,   and easy to use. 20 minutes after the Minolta technician has finished setting up your Minolta hardware and configured your Minolta controller, you can have your first Minolta copier/controller connected and working on your iSeries! Connecting the second copier or printer only takes a few more minutes.

Support regarding Minolta's products (copier, controller, printer, etc.) is not part of GPPS Technical Support. Support regarding Minolta's products is available from Minolta. This means that collectively you have access to all the co-ordinated support you could need no matter what might be the cause of your iSeries connectivity- or printing problem.

Support inside Europe (EMEA + Eastern Europe Domain):

Al support requests - whether to do with GPPS or Minolta's products - must be submitted through Konica Minolta. GP-DATA does not accept direct support requests from End-users.

Support outside Europe (EMEA + Eastern Europe Domain):

Support requests regarding GPPS can be submitted directly to GP-DATA. However, questions and support requests regarding Minolta equipment must be submitted to your local Konica Minolta-representation. GP-DATA reserves the right to request advance payment.

Table of Contents  

Special Customisation.

If, for some reason, you have needs that go beyond the standard GPPS product, you may put these forward to your Konica Minolta contact, who will then forward your request to GP-DATA for evaluation. If you are located outside Europe (outside the EMEA + Eastern Europe Domain), then you may forward your request directly to GP-DATA for evaluation.

Special customisation, if accepted, will be charged separately.

Table of Contents  

Minolta Products Supported by GPPS.

Minolta Digital Copiers and Print Controllers - Colour:

• Minolta bizhub C350 Copier (using the embedded Standard Controller)

• Minolta bizhub C350 Copier (using the optional Fiery IC-401 Controller)

• Minolta CF2002 Copier (using the Minolta CN3101e Controller)

• Minolta CF3102 Copier (using the Minolta CN3101e Controller)

Minolta Digital Copiers and Print Controllers - Black/White:

• Minolta Di151   Copier (using the Minolta Pi1501   Controller)

• Minolta Di152   Copier (using the Minolta Pi1802e Controller)

• Minolta Di183   Copier (using the Minolta Pi1802e Controller)

• Minolta Di200   Copier (using the Minolta Pi3502   Controller)

• Minolta Di250   Copier (using the Minolta Pi3500   Controller)

• Minolta Di251   Copier (using the Minolta Pi3502   Controller)

• Minolta Di2510 Copier (using the Minolta Pi3505e Controller)

• Minolta Di3010 Copier (using the Minolta Pi3505e Controller)

• Minolta Di350   Copier (using the Minolta Pi3500   Controller)

• Minolta Di351   Copier (using the Minolta Pi3502   Controller)

• Minolta Di3510 Copier (using the Minolta Pi3505e Controller)

• Minolta Di450   Copier (using the Minolta Pi5500   Controller)

• Minolta Di450   Copier (using the Minolta Pi5501   Controller)

• Minolta Di470   Copier (using the Minolta Pi4700e Controller)

• Minolta Di520   Copier (using the Minolta Pi6200   Controller)

• Minolta Di550   Copier (using the Minolta Pi5500   Controller)

• Minolta Di550   Copier (using the Minolta Pi5501   Controller)

• Minolta Di620   Copier (using the Minolta Pi6200   Controller)

• Minolta Di551   Copier (using the Minolta Pi6500e Controller)

• Minolta Di650   Copier (using the Minolta Pi6500e Controller)

• Minolta Di650   Copier (using the Minolta Pi6500Pro Controller)

• Minolta Di5510 Copier (using the Minolta Pi7200e  Controller)

• Minolta Di7210 Copier (using the Minolta Pi7200e  Controller)

• Minolta Di750   Copier (using the Minolta Pi7500   Controller)

• Minolta Di850   Copier (using the Minolta Pi8500Pro Controller)

Minolta Printers:

• Minolta PagePro 9100

Minolta Applications (other Minolta Solutions):

• Minolta MicroPress Solution (Link directly from a printer-definition on your iSeries to a Minolta MicroPress Windows Server)

Table of Contents  

Pricing and License Rules.

The Pricing- and License Rules of the GP PrintSuite for IBM iSeries (Minolta Edition) are described in a separate MS Word document. You may view or download this document by taking the link below.

View or Download:  Pricing and License Rules

Please, cancel the Logon Prompt that emerges, if you left-click. You may alternatively right-click on the link and download the document before viewing or printing it.

PS!  Prices and License Rules are subject to change without notice.

Table of Contents  

How do you order?

You can order GP PrintSuite for IBM iSeries (Minolta Edition) in the following way:

• Inside Europe (EMEA + Eastern Europe)   :  Through the local Konica Minolta-representation and its Dealers in your country.

• Outside Europe (EMEA + Eastern Europe):  Directly from GP-DATA. Contact: gpdata&gpdata.dk  (& must be substituted with an @)

We recommend that you send us an e-mail on the above address, if you have any presale questions regarding GPPS.

Two important documents need to be in place before delivery can take place. The documents are:

1. The Information Collection Form (ICF).  
   
   The Information Collection Form, called the "ICF", must be correctly filled in with the following information for GP-DATA to be able to process your order and to make delivery possible:
    

   • Licensee's Name, Address etc.

   • Delivery Address (if different from Licensee's Name and Address).

   • Certain information about your IBM iSeries, IBM i5, or IBM AS/400.

   • A list of the Minolta equipment (or applications) for which you want GPPS software.

   • Special customisation requests.

   The information is used for quality assurance, for generating your Software License Key, for issuing your Proof of Entitlement  (which is included in your GPPS package), and for shipment.
   
   NB!  It is very important that the ICF is filled in correctly or you will receive a package that cannot install on your iSeries! In such a case there will be an additional charge for a new Software License Key or for a replacement delivery. You may want to fill in the ICF using Microsoft Word on your PC for optimal readability, and so it can be forwarded by e-mail. Please get in contact if you are in doubt how to fill in the ICF.
   
   Download:  Information Collection Form   (Revision 02.03)

                     (Right-click on link and select "Save Target as ...")
   (The downloaded file is an MS Word 2000 document.  Please be aware that you need a password from Konica Minolta or GP-DATA to open the document)
    

2. End User License Agreement (EULA).  
   
   The EULA is an agreement between you (the Licensee) and GP-DATA. Some headlines from the EULA:
    

   • The contents of the GPPS package.

   • A description of the main functions of GPPS.

   • Ownership and Copyright.

   • License- and Price Rules (including your rights). Pricing- and License Rules can also be viewed above on this page.

   • Shipment.

   • Supported iSeries and Operating System versions etc.

   • Supported Minolta equipment and applications.

   • Limited Product Warranty and Limited Liability.

   • Governing Law.

   • Licensee's Name, Address, and Signature.

Download:  End User License Agreement  (Revision 02.03)

                         (Right-click on link and select "Save Target as ...")
(The downloaded file is an MS Word 2000 document.  Please be aware that you need a password from Konica Minolta or GP-DATA to open the document)

Both the ICF and the signed EULA must be given to Konica Minolta (or sent directly to GP-DATA) along with your order, before delivery can take place. In some situations where fast delivery is wanted the ICF can be sent by e-mail and the signed EULA can be sent by fax. Even if the EULA is sent by fax, the original EULA must still be forwarded by ordinary mail also.

Delivery / Shipment:

Inside Europe:  You can normally expect shipment from GP-DATA  within 10 workdays from the time when GP-DATA receives your order from Konica Minolta, the signed EULA, and the ICF - whichever comes last. Requests for special customisation work, periods of holidays etc. could result in a longer time of delivery.

Outside Europe:  You send your order directly to GP-DATA along with the signed EULA and the ICF. You should allow for some extra time for us to do the necessary credit checking. GP-DATA reserves the right to decline your order, or request advance payment.

Table of Contents  

Links.

Link to GP-DATA A/S: 

• GP-DATA A/S's homepage (in case you have arrived by a web-search or by a link from somewhere else)

Links to the Konica Minolta Organization:

• Konica Minolta Europe  (Central European Konica Minolta Organization (EMEA + Eastern Europe Domain))

Guide (after you have taken the above link):

1. Click on Business Products

2. Click on Solutions

3. Click on Host Connectivity

4. Click on GPPS

5. Use the Menu in the left side to view different aspects of GPPS

• Konica Minolta Denmark 

Guide (efter du har klikket på ovenstående link):

1. Klik på Minolta-logoet (i højre side)

2. Klik på Løsninger (i menu-linien foroven)

3. Klik på AS/400 Print (i menuen, der dukker op)

Links to IBM:

• IBM Global Solutions Directory

• IBM iSeries Home page

Table of Contents