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The Windows Support Server is a no-charge companion product that can be installed on any Windows 2003 or higher computer on the network where the UnForm server runs. If the UnForm server is running on Windows, then the Support Server is already installed and can be enabled through server configuration. If the UnForm server is not running on Windows, you can install the Support Server separately and configure these lines in the [defaults] section of uf90d.ini:
sshost=hostname or IP address of Support Server
ssport=listening port number
In addition, the sshost() code block command can be used to set the support server machine and port during job processing.
The following features are supported:
| • | Image scaling and conversion
The UnForm server can utilize a local copy of Image Magick or Image Alchemy to perform image scaling and conversion, but these products are not always readily available for some Unix operating systems. In addition, the image command supports two options, gamma n and rotate n, which the Support Server honors. This feature is used automatically by UnForm whenever an image conversion or scale is required, if Magick or Alchemy is not configured for use at the server. |
| • | GhostScript-based Image Output
The UnForm server can utilize a local copy of Ghostscript to produce image output and to convert PDF files to other formats. However, the latest versions of Ghostscript are not readily available on all operating systems. By installing a Windows version of Ghostscript on the support server, the UnForm server can rely on it to perform the conversions. This feature is used automatically by UnForm whenever a PDF-to-image conversion required, if GhostScript is not configured for use at the server. |
| • | Database Access
The support server can be configured to access data base sources via ODBC or more recent database access technologies. UnForm rule files can connect to these data sources and retrieve data for use in UnForm jobs.
Data sources are configured using the Support Server configuration window. UnForm jobs can then use the dbconnect() and dbexecute() code block commands. |
| • | Microsoft Fax
The Microsoft fax server, a free product available for Windows 2000 and up (and pre-installed on Windows XP and up), can be easily set up on the support server or another Windows server on the network. The support server can then use the Microsoft fax client to send faxes on behalf of UnForm jobs.
UnForm jobs can use the msfax() code block command as soon as Microsoft Faxing is configured.
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The following table describes the various code block functions that are supported when the Support Server is available.
sshost(SERVER$,PORT)
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Sets the support server hostname and port. Default values are defined in the uf90d.ini file in the sshost and ssport settings. This command allows for dynamic changing to a different server.
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dbconnect(NAME$, TIMEOUT, EMSG$)
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Connects to the database source identified by name$. The support server configuration is used to define the names and associate them with data source connection strings. Typically done in a prejob code block.
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dbexecute(NAME$, CMD$, TIMEOUT, FDELIM$, RDELIM$, RESPONSE$, EMSG$)
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Executes the SQL command cmd$ and returns zero or more result rows in response$. Columns are delimited by fdelim$ (tab - chr(9) - by default). Rows are delimited by rdelim$ (CR-LF - chr(13)+chr(10) - by default).
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msfax(FILENAME$, FAXNUM$, TAGS$ [, EMSG$])
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Faxes filename$, normally an UnForm-generated PDF file, to the fax number specified in faxnum$. Numerous supported tags can be specified in tags$, in the format tag1=value;tag2=value,...
The format of faxnum$ can be a simple phone number, or multiple numbers separated by semicolons, or tags in the format:
name1=fax1; name2=fax2, ...
Quote the entire tag if it contains semicolons: "Smith; Cline; Robert=9,1-555-555-5555". This will involve use of quote characters in the expression, using chr(34) or $22$. For example:
Faxnum$=chr(34) + name$ + "=" + faxno$+chr(34)
Note that fax numbers may need to be complete, using for example "9,1" as a prefix for an outside line, a pause, and a leading 1 before the area code, depending on fax server use of dialing rules.
Tags supported are:
Cover
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Standard coversheet name based on the fax server, such as cover=generic.
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Localcover personalcover
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Personal or fax client-side cover sheet.
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Subject
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Subject for cover sheet.
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Note or Notes
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Notes for cover sheet. Use \n for hard line breaks.
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Time
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A human-readable date and time to send the fax, if not immediately.
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Receipt
Attachfax
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An email address to send fax result reporting to. Note that you must be using a Server version of Microsoft Fax with Microsoft Exchange and enable SMTP receipt delivery for this to work.
If a receipt is specified, you can additionally use the attachfax option to have the receipt email include the fax image.
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Alert
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This tag’s presence requests that the fax client issue a message box regarding the fax disposition.
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Server
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Set the Microsoft Fax Server computer name, if the server is not running on the same system as the UnForm support server.
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ToName
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If a single fax number is supplied, this tag is an alternate way to specify the recipient name.
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FromName
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Alternative tag to set the sender name.
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FromCompany
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Alternative tag to set the sender company name.
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Other sender tag names that may be used by a cover page:
name
title
company
department
title
homephone
officephone
faxnumber
email
streetaddress
city
state
zipcode
country
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Configuring Microsoft Fax
If faxing is not already configured, use Control Panel Add/Remove Programs to install the Microsoft Faxing service. First, click the Add/Remove Windows Components button, then enable the Fax Services checkbox. You may need your Windows installation media to install Fax Services.
There are a few common pitfalls to working with Microsoft Fax. Things to be aware of:
| • | Since the Support Server typically runs as a service, it is important to ensure that the user it runs under has permission to use Microsoft Fax. To test this, login as the same user as the service and try manually faxing. Adjust security for the Fax device in printer configuration.
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| • | The typical document type faxed from UnForm is a PDF file. PDF files must be converted to TIFF images before faxing, so Ghostscript must be installed and configured.
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| • | Further, the system must be able to fax a TIFF image, which requires a TIFF viewer program be active and that it supports the Windows "printto" shell operation. Some systems do not have a TIFF viewer installed by default. One some versions of Windows servers, this is part of a package called the "Desktop Experience", which can be downloaded and installed from Microsoft. This article describes this product:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc772567.aspx
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| • | Cover pages are user-specific, so if you choose to configure cover pages for use the the Support Server faxes, be sure to login as the same user the service is configured to run under before editing covers.
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