Please enable JavaScript to view this site.

CopiaFacts Reference Manual

Introduction

This topic summarizes the different ways of converting documents for faxing, and when we recommend that each should be used.  The second table also shows how different methods and tools are used to render the image to monochrome faxable TIF format.

Conversion Location and Workflow

When and where conversion is done:

Pre-process in Document Converter
(in FFEXTERN/CVSINGLE, default)

On-the-Fly, before Faxing
(in COPIAFACTS, select with $convert_types)
(also On-the-Fly, on loading in FFVIEWER)

Use for:

All supported documents (PDF, HTML, Image, Office)

Only PDF, HTML, JPG, GIF PNG documents.

Recommended for:

Larger systems with multiple nodes and channels.
All fax broadcasting applications.
Documents of dozens or hundreds of pages.
Heavily loaded systems.

Small systems of only a few fax channels.
Documents sent to single destinations.
Documents of fewer than 10 pages.
Lightly loaded systems.

Advantages:

Easy to add capacity (FFEXTERN nodes).
Maximizes fax throughput.
All document types supported.
Can optionally use print drivers.
Can optionally use alternative conversion methods.
Broadcast documents are only converted once.

All processing in one program.
Uses built-in converters, no other applications needed.
Normally conversions are quicker.
Minimal setup needed.
 

Disadvantages:

More complicated to install and manage.
More running applications to monitor.

Conversion time can reduce fax capacity.
Fax channels are not sending while conversion is done.
Reduces inbound availability on bi-directional systems.
Conversion of Office documents is not supported.
On-the-Fly conversion is selected by omitting the corresponding file extension keywords from the $convert_types command.

Rendering Tools and Methods for Conversion to Faxable TIF

Rendering methods:

Name/
Type:

Application:

Auto/
Manual

Supports:

Printer Drivers
(optional,
select with
$convert_options):

FFCVRT

FFEXTERN/
CVSINGLE

Auto

Applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet Explorer, Acrobat Professional, Acrobat Reader

FFSAVE

Any Windows
application

Manual

Pop-up dialog, or pre-selected path, to save TIF

FFCLIENT

Any Windows
application

Manual

Pop-up Client dialog to select destination

FFMERGE

Any Windows
application

Manual

One or more separate documents without pop-up.

Built-in Converters
(default):

HTML

COPIAFACTS
FFEXTERN/
CVSINGLE

Auto

HTML Documents
 

LIBRE

FFEXTERN/
CVSINGLE

Auto

Office Formats (requires LibreOffice installed):
DOC DOCX XLS XLSX XLSM PPT PPTX

IMAGE

COPIAFACTS
FFEXTERN/
CVSINGLE

Auto

Image Documents:
JPG, GIF, PDF or non-faxable TIF

QPDF

COPIAFACTS
FFEXTERN/
CVSINGLE

Auto

PDF documents

PDFIUM

FFEXTERN/
CVSINGLE

Auto

PDF documents

HYBRID

FFEXTERN/
CVSINGLE

Auto

Office Documents (requires MS Office installed) :
DOC DOCX XLS XLSX XLSM PPT PPTX
Converted to PDF, then TIF: no Printer Driver

VIEWER

FFVIEWER

Manual

PDF, HTML, Image documents, converted to TIF on opening. Allows adjustment & saving of rendering options.
The use of printer drivers is selected globally by adding the option letters A, I or P to a CVTOPTS $environment command, or by using the corresponding $convert_options keywords.