Terminology

The production printing and IT industry is awash with buzzwords.

To help you understand the terminology we have used on this website and within our documentation, alternative terms (if any), a description and related IDS products or services are provided.

Band Printer
Impact Printer / Line Printer / Line Matrix Printer

A printer that uses a metal band, or loop, of type characters as its printing mechanism. The band contains a fixed set of embossed characters that can only be changed by replacing the band. The band spins horizontally around a set of hammers, one for each print column. When the required character in the band has revolved to the selected print column, the hammer pushes the paper into the ribbon and against the embossed image of the letter, digit or symbol.

IDS product(s)/service(s): Band Printer Services

Batch Printing
Batch Processing / Bulk Printing

The process of printing more than one document in a single operation.

IDS product(s)/service(s): SilentPrint

Bulk Mail Discount
MailSort / Royal Mail Discount

UK postage discounts provided as a result of conditioning and presenting your mail in such a way there is no need for the Royal Mail to sort it.

IDS product(s)/service(s): MailSort On Demand / MailSort Online

Connectivity

Hardware and software products commonly used to connect a source to one or more destination devices.

IDS product(s)/service(s): TN Interface / Print/Director

Data
Print Data / Print Job / Output

Information and commands that pass between a source and destination, and processed by certain products supplied by IDS. The terms "print data" and "print job" are still commonly used despite data being emailed, archived and viewed as well as printed.

Data Processing

One or more processes performed on data to meet various connectivity and output requirements.

IDS product(s)/service(s): PageBuilder / StreamEdit / iCONVERT

Destination
Output Device / Printer / e-Environment / Archive / PC / Certain Servers and Mainframes

A device or facility where documents and data are sent to for output or storage.

Document Composition
Document Development / Document Design

The process of creating or updating document overlays that are used to present data in a format that makes best use of the print technology available.

IDS product(s)/service(s): FormServer / FormScape / Paris / XIMAGE

Document Production

An IDS term that refers to all elements of the document production process - from host to printer connectivity through to document output and storage.

Document Storage
Archiving / Cold Storage / Backup

Facility where documents are stored (normally after being output) for future retrieval or viewing. Common platforms are tape, hard drive and optical drive.

e-Environment

Internet, email and fax.

Output Management
Document Management / Print Management / Job Management

Software facility where documents are automatically or manually organised into the most appropriate print queues prior to output.

IDS product(s)/service(s): SpoolQ / Print/Director / FormScape

Source
Host / Input Device / Server / Mainframe / PC / e-Environment / Archive

A device or facility where documents and data are retrieved from normally prior to viewing or output.