TcsPdfIt is a JAVA Windows batch PC program that is initiated via a DOS command line prompt. A very quick introductory overview of how TcsPdfIt works is as follows:
* Mainframe, or other system, data text file (txt) is downloaded to a PC
* PDF template files are prepared for on-going TcsPdfIt use
* TcsPdfIt reads the txt file, name and location, that is entered via a DOS command line parameter as in:
"C:\tcs>tcspdfit c:\tcs\myMFdata.txt"
* TcsPdfIt processes the contents of that txt file, which contains three basic things:
1. Name, including path, of the input PDF template file(s) to be used
2. Name, including path, of the output PDF file(s) to be created
3. Names of fields in the PDF template file, along with the data to populate those fields and create new output PDF files

There is a sample input txt and input PDF template file included with the installation of TcsPdfIt that will show how a single hypothetical tax form (PDF template) can be used to add data to PDF fields and create two new PDF files, all filled in with the data that was found in the txt file passed to TcsPdfIt as a DOS command line parameter. If you are still with me, read on...

Though OTM Users may also reap benefits from TcsPdft, it is the mainframe dinosaur Users of MVS, OS/390, z/OS, VSE, iSeries that may benefit the most! Legacy systems have tons of data but no simple (if any) "production fitable" mechanism for creating PDF files updated with that dinosaur resident data. (Oh, by the way, I’m a dinosaur person too! And OTM means Other Than Mainframe – I coined that term.)

With TcsPdfIt, all the mainframer needs to do is to package their data into a format that can be moved to a Windows environment and processed by TcsPdfIt. To accomplish this task, a simple, unique, markup language, called TML, was designed specifically for the dinosaur users.

The "simple" and tight rules for TML make the implementation of TcsPdfIt FAST and EASY so the users’ can begin to reap the benefits as quickly as possible. (Remember KISS)

So here is the story. Let’s say you need to fill out fields defined in a PDF "template" file from information you have stored in files on your computer. And you have the ability to manipulate that file information many different ways, but you still have to print listings and manually enter or cut and paste information, from your files, into specific fields in the PDF document(s) to get them updated.

TcsPdfIt will do this! How so, you ask...

Step #1. Get a PDF document (file) with fields defined and their “names.” (Adobe Acrobat Professional can create fields into existing PDF documents.) Let's call this the PDF template file that will be used over and over again as a read-only type file.

Step #2. Create xml “like” text stream (called TML by us folks) containing the “names” of the fields in the PDF document to be updated, followed by the information (data) you want entered into each of those named fields.

Step #3. Run TcsPdfIt passing it the TML text file you created in step 2.

Step #4. You are done!

Everything is contained in the TML including what "input" PDF file(s) to use as the "template(s)," what to name the one or more "output" PDF files, what field names to populate and with what data. TcsPdfIt was designed to promote a hands-free batch production type process of creating one or more PDF files from your TML text stream with little or no humane intervention.

If you think this functionality can help you out, TcsPdfIt may be what you need!

If you want more details on the workings of TcsPdfIt, before downloading it, I suggest you review the FAQs, which are found by clicking either the "SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS" or "HELP" tabs at the top of this page!

But the best way to see how TcsPdfIt really works is to donwload it, install it and run the Installation Verification Program (ivp.bat) file!

Download by clicking the "DOWNLOAD TcsPdfIt" tab at the top of this page. (You will be brought to a download page for further instructions...)