Variable Data Intelligent Postscript Printware

Variable Data Intelligent Postscript Printware (FreeFlow VI Suite (VIPP)) is an open language from Xerox that enables highest-performance output of personalized (variable-data) PostScript documents VIPP Support Forum.

The leading VIPP programmer/developer is allegedly Dave Newton of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire currently plying his trade at Linney's, a Print and Print Management company.

VIPP was originally called XGF and it is simply groups of PostScript dictionaries which provide macros that simplify writing of complex PostScript commands. PostScript is powerful language which allows variable data printing and personalization of the data stream if the user inserted the right commands in the right position. To implement some of these features a programmer has to write a few, or sometimes many, lines of code. Xerox developed macro procedures in PostScript language dictionaries to facilitate page control with simple commands.

For example; To merge form (graphic form) with the data stream you need to understand and write a great deal of Adobe PostScript commands according to the Adobe PostScript Language Reference Manual (PLRM, otherwise known as the 'Red' book). Xerox gives you this feature through this simple command "(formname) SETFORM", where formname is the name of the form accessible from the Xerox printer controller (DocuSP or FreeFlow Print Server). Several VIPP commands are identical to PostScript commands.

VIPP was originally written by couple of Xerox systems Analysts in Switzerland to enable the highest speed Postscript Printers, at that time 50 pages per minute, to have the features of Xerox's famous production printing languages PDL and FDL (Xerox proprietary printing languages) which provide simple variable data printing. With the success of the personal efforts of these Analyst(s) Xerox Corporation adopted the idea and developed their work by putting these procedures on Sun Microsystems hosts where the Adobe interpreter also resides. Together, these modules give complete control over the printing engine and data stream.

VIPP can be used in four different modes: Database mode, Line mode, XML mode and Native mode. In Database mode, the programmer can quickly implement a printing solution, for example a billing application, for a delimited database file. In Line mode, an existing print application can be enhanced with form overlays, font selection, color and other features offered by modern laser printers. In XML mode, an XML file can be turned into a readable document. In all modes, VIPP offers conditional logic manipulation of the data.

For example a multi-page bill could be printed in duplex (two-sided) mode with the first page selected from a paper tray loaded with a perforated sheet for remittance return, have the back side printed with disclosures and instructions, while subsequent pages of billing detail are printed on plain paper. The VIPP programmer might even insert an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) or MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) line for remittance processing, complete with a check digit.

Xerox markets an Interactive Developer's Environment (IDE) for VIPP (FreeFlow (R) VI Designer), Lytrod and FreeFlow VIPP Pro Publisher that helps a programmer code applications rapidly in VIPP. FreeFlow VIPP Pro Publisher is a plugin to the popular Adobe InDesign product enabling WYSIWYG VIPP development .

VIPP is licensed to specific printer controllers running a Solaris (FreeFlow Print Server) or MS/Windows operating (Creo ) systems, including some PostScript capable office devices that have non-volatile memory (such as a hard drive). Basically VIPP is capable of being installed on any device which has a PostScript interpreter . FreeFlow Print Server (FFPS), formerly DocuSP is VIPP enabled but is limited in producing up to 200 pages until appropriately licensed.

PostScript is a registered trademark of Adobe Corporation.