Today the TIFF file format is widely used to generate portable documents.

By converting the PCL - Printer Command Language  data stream (5 and 6, color and mono)  into the TIFF  format, ELP is able to archive any document in PDF format, as well to send it by eMail or Fax.

The Rule assistant offers an easy to use archive menu .

The used TIFF converter ist already installed in a demo version, printing in unlicensed mode generates just a watermark on every page. The converter is licensed  once per server, and ELP usually needs the SND module license.

There is one key to configure, how ELP has to convert the data stream, and the default settings are

TIFF_Arguments=-p1 -*s3 -!e -!m

The full documentations are available at "<W-ELP-Installation-Path>\pdfgen\Tiff\Documents\EPFaxCL\EPFaxCL.doc" here just a list of the most important ones:

 

Basic options

-a#llx lly urx ury input is an EPS file with the given bounding box This feature is not currently implemented, and will create an error if specified. 
-b sets output type to template This option selects Template format for the format of the output file.  The option is equivalent to specifying the advanced option -*t9.  This option forces EPFaxCL to produce template files that can later be used as overlays. (See also: advanced option -*z#   template multi-page specifier.)
-c# document timeout in seconds This argument sets a time limit for execution of the PostScript job. This feature is not currently implemented but will not create an error if specified. (0 is infinity)
-d$ source file name This argument must be present on the command line unless the -*i option is specified. (See advanced options.) The string specifies the filename of the PostScript or PCL file that EPFaxCL will convert. (required option)
-e$ output file name

The output file name argument is optional, and may be omitted. If present then the output file will be created in the current directory unless the file name string includes the directory path.
If the source file contains multiple pages and the -!m option for multi-page output file has not been set, then the output file name will be modified for the subsequent pages after page one, and a separate file will be created for each page image. The file extension will not be modified.  The file name will be modified in the following manner: If the output file name does not end in digits, then the page number will be appended on the end of the file name, starting with ‘2’.  If the file name ends in digits, then the page numbers will begin with that number and appended as above keeping leading zeros. 
If this argument is omitted, see manual

-f$ template file name This argument supplies the name of the template file to use as an overlay when creating the output bitmap. (See also: advanced option -*z#  template multi-page specifier.)
-g$ pagemap file name This argument is currently not implemented and will create an error if set.
-h# horizontal resolution Use this parameter to specify the horizontal resolution in pixels per inch.  It can include fractional units as in “204.0”. If the binary option -!u is also set on the command line, the horizontal resolution will be interpreted in units of pixels per millimeter instead of pixels per inch. (pixels/inch) [204.0]
-j# CCITT G3/G4 Encoding parameters

This number represents a 32 bit unsigned integer, with the individual bits setting various encoding parameters:

See manual for meaning of the bits

As examples, -j840 specifies the unsigned integer that has bits 3, 6, 8 and 9 on.  That would then set up TIFF-F output files with Group 3 1-dimensional encoding, uncompressed scans not allowed, 1’s representing black, little Endian byte order, normal fill, force byte alignment, new output file per page, EOL, and EOB.

-l# set output message to verbose It true, “Interpreting” and “Rasterizing” messages are displayed. (default is false) (a binary option)
-m# page timeout in seconds This parameter sets the time limit on how many seconds to allow per page for each page in the job. This feature is not implemented, and if specified, it will be ignored.
-n# do not set prelude and postlude for EPS files This parameter is currently not implemented, and will create an error if specified.
-p# paper size code

This parameter selects the default page size used by the PostScript or PCL5e interpreter. This default page size is used if the PostScript file does not specify a page size. The possible choices are:

  #   size in points   name
  0   612x792    letter
  1   595x842   a4
  2   516x729   b5
  3   612x1008   legal
  4   522x756   executivepage
  5   540x279   monarcenvelope
  6   684x297   com10envelope
  7   649x460   c5envelope
  8   624x312   dlenvelope
  9   792x1224   11x17
10   842x1191   a3
11   user specified   custom

If the user specifies paper size code = 11, then the custom paper size should be specified with the -*h and  *w advanced options. If both -*h and -*w are specified, then EPFaxCL automatically selects paper size code 11. Caddy output allows only A4 and Letter paper.

-s# output bitmap width in pixels This parameter can be used to force the output bitmap width to be set.  If this command is used then the bitmap width will remain constant despite any page size changes in the PostScript file. A typical usage would be to specify -s1728 to force the output images to always contain 1728 columns for fax images. Using this parameter is equivalent to setting the default bitmap width with the -*c# advanced option plus forcing fixed bitmap width with the -!w binary option.
-t# output bitmap length in pixels This parameter can be used to force the output bitmap height to be set. If this command is used then the bitmap height will remain constant despite any page size changes in the PostScript file. Using this parameter is equivalent to setting the default bitmap height with the -*r# advanced option plus forcing fixed bitmap height with the -!h binary option.
-u# page policy

This parameter can be used to instruct the PostScript interpreter how to handle page sizes that are not in the list of page sizes known by the LincPage interpreter. The following policy values are possible:

   #  Action
   0  ConfigurationError
   1  ignore change
   2  operator
   3  select nearest size and scale to fit
   4  select next larger size and scale
   5  select nearest size
   6  select next larger

-v# vertical resolution in pixels/inch Use this parameter to specify the vertical resolution in pixels per inch.  It can include fractional units as in “196.0”, or “98.0”.  Note that fax normal resolution [204.0 x 98.0] can be set by using the -!n binary option. If the binary option -!u is also set on the command line, the vertical resolution will be interpreted in units of pixels per millimeter instead of pixels per inch. [196.0]
-w# file descriptor for writing messages This parameter is not currently implemented and specifying it will cause an error.
-x# horizontal offset This parameter sets the horizontal offset in pixels from the left edge of the paper to the left edge of the bitmap.
-y# vertical offset This parameter sets the vertical offset in pixels from the top edge of the paper to the top edge of the bitmap.
-z$ log file name If this parameter is present, EPFaxCL will create/open the file specified, and place all console messages from the PostScript interpreter\PCL converter in this log file. If this parameter is omitted, then those messages will be directed to the console.

 

 

Binary Options

-!a apply anti-aliasing for color output image (COLOR) Apply a very simple anti-aliasing algorithm for color image. Once again, this option is valid for the color conversion.
-!b Source file contains binary data Use this option when the PostScript file contains binary image data. Do not use this protocol if the PostScript file has been created as an ASCII file. ASCII files commonly have EOJ characters (^D), and the interpreter will parse these characters and treat them as end of job characters unless the -!b option has been set.
-!c make continuous tone bitmap (8 bits per pixel). This option specifies that the rasterized image should contain 8 bits per pixel per color. EPFaxCL currently supports both single bit per pixel per color (RGB) and 8-bit per pixel and per color (RGB and CMYK).
-!d force printer resolution from 300 to 600 dpi (for PCL only). This option emulates the switch on some printers which allows it to be set to 300 or 600 dpi. With the minus sign in front, the printer will be set to 300 dpi.  Without the minus sign the printer will be set to 600 dpi.
-!e prevent Form Feed on invalid escape sequences (for PCL only). This option emulates the newer Laser Jet printers which do not do a Form Feed when an invalid escape sequence has been found in the document.  With a minus sign in front, a Form Feed will be executed on such commands.
-!f replace all fonts (if installing fonts) This option only applies if the -*i$ option is also specified on the command line. When -!f is specified, then all fonts already installed will be unregistered, and only the fonts in the directory specified in the -*i$ argument will be registered. The LincPage interpreter maintains a registry of available font resources in the FontRes.dat file found in the <W-ELP-Installation-Path>\pdfgen\Tiff\LincPage directory.
-!g force scaling at the band level for PCL files This parameter is meaningful only for the LincJet interpreter.  This parameter forces the scaling to be done after the file has been converted and the bitmap has been generated. For some files this will result in a higher quality output file. For most purposes this option is not needed.
-!h force bitmap height to be constant This parameter forces the bitmap height to be constant, even if the PostScript program selects a different page size. This option is automatically set by the -t# set bitmap height in pixels parameter.
-!i force edge to edge printing This parameter forces the output from PCL files to print to the edge of the paper.  This is not standard PCL5e but emulates the behavior of certain IBM printers.
-!j unload LincPage DLL after each job This parameter causes EPFaxCL to unload the LincPage PostScript interpreter after each job.  Since only one job is processed by EPFaxCL, this only has effect when both the -*i$ (font install) and -d$ (source file) arguments are present. In this case, EPFaxCL will first install fonts, then unload LincPage, then execute the source file before completing execution.
-!k auto scan direction (PCL only) This parameter causes EPFaxCL to set the scan direction of the resulting TIFF to the same direction as the PCL page orientation.
-!l scan along long edge of paper This argument changes the default paper orientation so that the bitmap is formed in landscape orientation, and only applies to Postscript conversions. This parameter is ignored by the LincJet PCL5e converter.
-!m force multi-page output files This option forces all output images into a single output file. If the output type is TIFF, then this option causes EPFaxCL to produce a multi-page TIFF file. If the output type is set to PCX/DCX, then this option forces DCX as the output type. This action can also be specified within the basic option, -j#.
-!n use fax normal resolution [204.0 x 98.0 pixels per inch] This options sets fax normal resolution of 204.0 pixels per inch horizontally and 98.0 pixels per inch vertically. If this option is specified as -! -n, then the resolution will be set to fax fine resolution of 204.0 by 196.0 pixels per inch.
-!o enable OPI image substitution If this option is set, then the LincPage PostScript interpreter will parse the OPI (Open Prepress Interface) comments in the source PostScript file, and try to locate higher resolution images files to replace lower resolution image data found in the PostScript file. The LincJet PCL5e converter ignores this option.
-!p disable progress statements on the console. This option disables interpreter progress statements on the console. If this option is omitted, then EPFaxCL will display progress messages while converting the file.
-!q start the parser in HPGL mode. This option instructs the LincJet PCL5e converter to convert the PCL file in HPGL mode. This option is ignored for PostScript.
-!r use RLE bitmap compression for continuous tone bitmaps If this option is set and the make continuous tone bitmap option (-!c) is set, then the LincPage interpreter will form run length compressed bitmaps. This option is not supported by EPFaxCL.
-!s force single strip per image in TIFF file output. If the -!s option is set, then the output TIFF file will contain a single strip per page regardless of the band size setting in the advanced options (-*b#). If this option is not set, then the TIFF file will contain multiple strips if the band size is less than the bitmap height. Note if the band size is 0, then the band size is set to the height of the bitmap and there will be only one band and one strip per page.
-!u use mm for resolution units If this option is set, then EPFaxCL will interpret the resolution parameters (-h# and -v#) in pixels per millimeter instead of pixels per inch, and use centimeters instead of inches for the resolution and offset fields in the output files.
-!v PCL scaling method for bitmap fonts The default scaling method (0 = Ritex) is the preferred one for most files. This option allows you to set the method to 1 = Smooth if you think the fonts are coming out too light. This option only applies to PCL files.
-!w force bitmap width to be constant This parameter forces the bitmap width to be constant, even if the PostScript file or PCL5e file selects a different page size. This option is automatically set by the -s# set bitmap width in pixels parameter.
-!x PCL scaling method for raster graphics The default scaling method (1 = Smooth) is the preferred one for most files. This option allows you to set the method to 0 = Ritex if you think the raster graphics are coming out too dark. This option only applies to PCL files.
-!y Set the default text path for PCL The default text path value is ‘horizontal’. Choose this option if you would like ‘vertical’ as the default text path. You will also need to change the default orientation.

 

 

Advanced Binary Options

-$a emit annotated forms This parameter causes the PDF converter to emit annotations that contain an Xobject form. Default is true.
-$b set page size Set the page size on each page for PDF conversions. Use the media box for outputting to PostScript files. Default is false.
-$c emit raw data If true, add no unnecessary filters when emitting image data. This parameter is always true for PDF to TIFF conversions and defaults to false for PDF to PostScript conversions.
-$d create separate PCL resource file If true, create a separate resource file when splitting a PCL file. The resource file will be given the same name as the original file but will have an extension of PRF, for PCL Resource File. (This option has not been implemented yet.)
-$e split PCL file by search string If true, the string specified by the -^l$ command option will be used as the indicator of when to start a new PCL output file.
-$f split PCL file at Start of page with search string If true, the PCL file will be split at the start of the page with the search string. The default is to start a new file at the end of the page with the search string.
-$g set Emulating Duplex flag This flag should be set if we want to add an extra page when switching from simplex to duplex but do not want to actually rotate pages as they would be on the back of the sheet in a duplex engine. Therefore this variable should only be set if emulating a duplex engine in a converter environment. The "duplex_engine" variable should continue to be used when actually running in an embedded duplex printer.
-$h set Old Font Substitution flag If this flag is set and a requested typeface is not found, then the typeface selection is random, i.e. only dependent on the order in which fonts were entered into the system. If this flag is NOT set and the Helvetica typeface is requested but not found, then Univers will be substituted. Any other typeface that is not found still has a random substitution.
-$i implement PCL offsets the same as PS Set this flag will force LincJet to render image with offset defines the same as LincPage: positive values will move image left and upward relative the page, negative values will go to right and downward direction.
-$j set Change CMYK to CMY flag Set this flag if transforming 32-bit CMYK to CMY output by eliminating K value.
-$k set uncompressed color TIFF output flag Set this flag will enable the color TIFF image output in uncompressed mode.
-$l set PCL old Vertical Position flag Set this flag if want to use the older Vertical position for positioning, PCX files with ‘T’ option, i.e. top of paper.
-$m convert valid input only Set this flag to convert valid input only, otherwise, return with error. Please note, for PCL conversion, any file is kind of valid PCL file.  By setting this flag, EpFax will convert the input file that it can recognize as the valid input.
-$n use color PCL converter for monochrome Set this flag to use LincJet6.DLL for monochrome output. Default is original LincJet.DLL.
-$o use more separation space Set this flag to use more separation space. Use this option if more separation space in bitmap is needed, such like bar codes. Default is 0.

 

 

Advanced options

-*a# font number This parameter sets the font number for PCL files with ASCII text.
-*b# band size in scan lines (also rows per strip) This parameter sets the band size in scan lines that the LincPage interpreter uses when forming the raster image of each page. It also sets the rows per strip for images in the TIFF output files. If the parameter value is 0, then the band size will equal the bitmap height and there will be only one strip per image in the TIFF output file. The rows per strip can be overridden by the -!s binary option which forces all TIFF images to have only one strip per image.
-*c# default bitmap width in pixels This option sets the default bitmap width in pixels. The bitmap width can be changed by the PostScript program if the program selects a different paper size. The bitmap width can be fixed by using either the !w binary option or the -s# basic option.
-*d# maximum display list size This parameter gives the user the ability to limit how much memory in bytes the LincPage PostScript interpreter can use for the internal representation of glyphs on a page contained in the display list. A value of 0 uses the default value for the Interpreter. If the value is too small, the interpreter will make many passes through the rasterizer for each page.
-*e# number of input file objects executed at a time EPFaxCL uses this parameter to control how often the Interpreter status is displayed in the console window. The parameter is the number of PostScript or PCL5e objects executed between status display updates. The status display is also updated when the LincPage PostScript interpreter reads data from the source file, and when the interpreter rasterizes each band.
-*f# default font name (if installing fonts) This string parameter is the name of the default font that the LincPage will use if the source PostScript file specifies a font that has not been registered with the interpreter (see -*i$). EPFaxCL uses this parameter only if both the -*i$ and -!f parameters are also on the command line.  If those parameters are on the command line without the -*f$ parameter, EPFaxCL will assert Courier as the default font name.
-*g# maximum bytes for cached bitmaps This parameter allows the user to limit how much memory in bytes that the LincPage interpreter can use for cached font and screen bitmaps. A value of 0 sets allows the LincPage interpreter to determine the default cache size limit.
-*h# custom paper height This parameter sets the height of the custom paper size in pixels. The custom paper size can be set as default by using the -p11 parameter.  If both custom paper height, -*h#, and custom paper width, -*w#, are included in the command line, then EPFaxCL will automatically set the paper size code to 11 (see -p# paper size code).
-*i# install fonts ($ = font directory path) This parameter causes EPFaxCL to register all fonts files in the path specified by the string with the LincPage PostScript interpreter. If the command line also contains the -!f binary option, then all fonts currently registered with LincPage will be removed before registering the new font files. If the -!f binary option is not present, then the font files will be added to the currently registered fonts. See the -*f$ advanced option for information about setting the default font name.
-*j# set the left font cartridge (for PCL) If you have a soft font that will be used by many files, you may want to have it made into a font cartridge file. This will make your input files smaller. We can make the font into a cartridge file for you for a nominal fee. This parameter sets the left font cartridge for LincJet to the path specified by the string.
-*k# set the right font cartridge (for PCL) If you have a soft font that will be used by many files, you may want to have it made into a font cartridge file. This will make your input files smaller. We can make the font into a cartridge file for you for a nominal fee.This parameter sets the right font cartridge for LincJet to the path specified by the string.
-*l# set the root directory for LincPage This parameter causes EPFaxCL to look in the path specified by the string for the data files needed by the LincPage interpreter. ($ = root directory path)
-*m#

set the default font source (for PCL)

The default selection of ‘internal’ means the source of fonts is your system.  You can choose either of 2 font cartridges (“left” and “right”) or the font can be in the input file itself (“soft”). 
#  Font source
 0 internal
 1 left font cartridge
 2 right font cartridge
 3 soft font

-*n# horizontal offset for template This parameter sets the offset in pixels from the left edge of the output image bitmap to the left edge of the template bitmap if an overlay template file has been specified. 
-*o# vertical offset for template This parameter sets the offset in pixels from the top edge of the output image bitmap to the top edge of the template bitmap if an overlay template file has been specified. 
-*p# number of planes in bitmap (1, 3, 4) This parameter selects the number of planes in the output bitmap, and the device color model used by the LincPage PostScript interpreter.  The possible values are 1 for a single plane monochrome bitmap, 3 for a three plane bitmap, and 4 for a four plane bitmap.  The corresponding device color models are:  DeviceGray, DeviceRGB, and DeviceCMYK.
-*r# default bitmap height in rows (scan lines) This option sets the default bitmap height in pixels.  The bitmap height can be changed by the PostScript program if the program selects a different paper size.  The bitmap height can be fixed by using either the  !w binary option or the -t# parameter.
-*s# input file type

This parameter selects the file type for the source file specified in the -d$ option.  The following table shows the possible file types:

#     File Type
0  - PostScript
1  - Encapsulated PostScript (not supported)
2  - Pack Bits Compressed PostScript
3  - PCL (LaserJet emulation)
4  - HPGL
5  - Auto Detect - default PostScript
6  - Auto Detect - default PCL
7  - PDF (Portable Document Format)
>7 - reserved for future

EPFaxCL currently does not support Encapsulated PostScript.

-*t# output file type

This parameter selects the file format for pages rendered by the EPFaxCL.  Those choices are:

#  File Format/Type
0  binary file
1  TIFF uncompressed file
2  TIFF compressed Modified Huffman
3  TIFF-F file (Group3/Group4)
4  TIFF Pack Bits compression
5  PCX/DCX
6  DIB
7  Brooktrout "301"
8  Brooktrout InfoPacket (IPK)
9  Template file (output file can be used later as template)
10 Ascii
11 PostScript (for PDF input files only)
12 CADDY
13 Color TIFF with PackBits compression file (-!c, -*p3 or -*p4)
14 JPEG file (-!c and -*p3)
15 Split PCL file
16 Single CMYK colored Tiff with PackBits compression (-!c, -*p4)
17 Single-bit RGB color TIFF with PackBits compression (-*p3)
>17 reserved

EPFaxCL currently supports binary (#=0), TIFF-F (# = 3), PCX/DCX (# = 5), Template (#=9), IPK (# = 8), PostScript (#=11), Caddy (#=12), color TIFF (#=13), JPEG (#=14), Split PCL (#=15) and single-bit RGB color TIFF (#=17) output files.
Output Image File Format Color Options Comments
TIFF-F (Black/White) -!-c -*p1 -*t3 Group3/Group4
TIFF (3-bit RGB color) -!-c -*p3 -*t17 Packbits
TIFF (24-bit RGB) -!c -*p3 -*t13 PackBits (PostScript only)
TIFF (32-bit CMYK) -!c -*p4 -*t13 PackBits
JPEG (24-bit RGB color) -!c -*p3 -*t14 DCT
PCX/DCX -!-c -*p1 -*t5 
IPK -!-c -*p1 -*t8 
Caddy -!-c -*p1 -*t12 
Binary -!-c -*p1 -*t0 
Template -!-c -*p1 -*t9 

-*u# set up universal thunk Started in Windows 3.1 by 16 bit DLL, now need to set up the Universal thunk.
-*v# maximum virtual memory size in bytes This option sets the limit for the maximum memory in bytes that the LincPage interpreter can use for virtual memory.  A value of 0 lets LincPage choose the default value.
-*w# custom paper width This parameter sets the width of the custom paper size in pixels. The custom paper size can be set as default by using the -p11 parameter. If both custom paper height, -*h#, and custom paper width, -*w#, are included in the command line, then EPFaxCL will automatically set the paper size code to 11 (see section 4.1.10 -p# paper size code).
-*x# select HalfTone This parameter sets desired halftone type. The number following the ‘x’ should be 0 if the desired halftone type is a dot pattern, 1 if the desired halftone type is a dither pattern, 2 if the desired halftone type is PDF proprietary FaxTone pattern (which speeds up transmission times), or 3 if error diffusion is desired.
-*y# Multi-byte encoding method

#  Encoding method
 0 single byte encoding
 1 JIS X0208 (Japan)
 2 GB 2312-80 (China) 7-bit
 3 KS C 5601-1992 (Korea) 7-bit
 4 Other "Group 1" encoding
 5 Shift-JIS
 6 Other "Group 2" encoding
 7 Big Five
 8 TCA (Taiwan)
 9 KS C 5601-1992 (Korea) 8-bit
 10 GB 2312-80 (China) 8-bit
 11 Other "Group 3" encoding

-*z# template multi-page specifier When this flag and the UseTemplate option are both set, the template will be applied to the first page only.

 


More Advanced Command Line Arguments

-^a or -**a# default Point Size The desired point size for the font. Enter a value between 0.25 and 999.75. The default value is 12.0.
-^b# or -**b# default Pitch The desired pitch for the font. Enter a value between 0.1 and 576.0. The default value is 10.0.
-^c$ or -**c# default Symbol Set If this field is left blank the default symbol set is Roman-8. If you would like to use a different default symbol set, enter the two character code here.
-^j$ or -**j# page ranges This option allows the user to specify the ranges of pages to be converted from the PDF file or for splitting a PCL file. Multiple ranges will be specified by: -^j1-2,5-11,23-58  meaning convert pages 1-2 and 5-11 and 23-58 with commas delimiting the ranges. When splitting a PCL file by page (rather than by search string), the -$e option must NOT be specified.
-^k$ or -**k# page specification This option allows the user to specify the pages in the ranges to print (for PDF) or keep when splitting (for PCL). This is a three state variable with values of 0 (All Pages), 1 (Odd Pages Only) or 2 (Even Pages Only).
-^l$ or -**l# search string for splitting PCL This option allows the user to specify the string to be used for splitting a PCL file. Any page on which this string is found will be the starting page for a separate PCL file. The -$e option must be specified to split PCL files by a search string.
-^q$ or -**q# quality factor for JPEG output (COLOR) This parameter specifies the factor for JPEG output quality control. The valid factor range is from 0 to 100. Smaller numbers give better quality, but also create a bigger output file size and vice versa.