LCDS
Line Conditioned Data Stream
LCDS (Line Conditioned Data Stream) is a print data stream with a page description language (PDL) relating to individual lines for communication between mainframe computers and printers. The format, which was developed by Xerox, uses referenced (saved on the system) and datastream-embedded commands to control the processing of print jobs.
LCDS is particularly suitable for large batch processing, such as for generating insurance policies, invoices and mailings. LCDS printers are therefore very fast. Another benefit: Within files, the overlay can be changed as required, such as on invoices where "Original" needs to be printed on the first page and "Copy" on the following pages. The LCDS format is particularly popular in the USA and Canada, while the AFP (Advanced Function Presentation) format is preferred in Europe.
LCDS requires a significantly lower bandwidth, as the individual elements of the documents are not assembled until they reach the printer where the resources are saved. Complex elements, such as forms, do not need to be repeatedly re-sent as part of the data stream from the host to the printer. The system has to send only the truly variable data to the printer. The consequence: lower data transfer.
LCDS is closely related to metacode, another format developed by Xerox. In contrast to LCDS, metacode is fully formatted, i.e., data such as the text position and orientation, font, overlay, images and highlight color are predefined through corresponding commands. In contrast, LCDS files do not contain any information about the position, formatting, etc. and need to be defined using JSL (Job Source Library) configuration files and DJDE (dynamic job descriptor entry) commands.
However, LCDS and metacode do use the same resources: fonts, color (black, white, highlight color), logos, graphics and images.
Important: In practice, both formats are used in the same file. To process such files, a filter is required that can recognize, process, and convert both LCDS and metacode. Compart AG provides just such a solution in the form of the LCDS filter (see "Technological support" section).
Compart AG’s LCDS filter is able to recognize and process both LCDS and metacode data. If an LCDS file also contains metacode, it will automatically change to the respective processing mode.
And: The LCDS filter supports the "Change overlay” function within multiple copies.
Compart’s MFF filters (mixed format filter) are the basis of the MFF architecture for DocBridge products. Some MFF filters read files in different formats (input filters) while others are used to write files in the respective output format (output filters). In many cases, a format is supported for both input and output.
The strength of the Compart MFF architecture is its ability to quickly and effectively convert documents in various formats into others, or integrate them into a document using a specific format. For example, documents in AFP, SAPGOF or PCL can be converted to PDF and can also be merged into a single PDF document.
When converting one format into another, Compart uses the shared object format, the so-called presentation area (PA), which is able to represent the visual data and metadata of all supported formats. An MFF input filter converts an input file into the PA format in main memory and an MFF output filter then converts the PA format saved in main memory into an output file.