AS/400 Printing Software
CYBRA's MarkMagic software allows users to design, print, and maintain business documents, labels, packing slips, bills of lading, invoices, and ecommerce forms on the IBM i, iSeries, or AS/400 system.
Printing Software for Your AS/400 System
MarkMagic is the forms development software solution for IBM i (AS/400) users. MarkMagic replaces multiple software packages with one cost-effective, integrated offering to help automate your forms design, maintenance, and printing without any programming.
MarkMagic not only makes it easy to print forms, it is packed with a host of additional money saving features. Use MarkMagic to create overlays and eliminate preprinted forms.
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IBM System i Form Design and Printing
MarkMagic is a powerful tool for the design and printing of barcodes, forms and other documents. Accessible through several interfaces including a Java client and System i native 5250, MarkMagic provides you the tools you need to create the forms and documents that drive your business.
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Connect Spool Files and Database Files
With MarkMagic, you can “map” to existing spooled report files to create electronic, plain paper laser forms. It’s easy to relocate, rearrange, remove, and rotate spool file fields, mix different font types and sizes, change text fields to barcode fields, and reformat and edit spooled file data.
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Print Preview with Live System i Data
Ensure your forms will look just as you need them to at print time. MarkMagic's powerful print preview feature shows you what your printed form will actually look like -- with the variable fields filled with your actual spooled file or label file data.
MarkMagic Forms Software Supports the Following Printers and Applications
- All Barcode types including PDF417 and UPS Maxicode 2D barcodes
- RFID smart label printers
- Virtually any thermal printer or applicator
- Hewlett-Packard (and compatible) PCL5 Laser printers
- IBM (and compatible) AFP/IPDS laser and page printers
- Plastic card printers with magnetic stripe double encoding
- Complete connectivity including portable printers over RFDC Networks
- Drives cutters, stackers, applicators, rewinders
- Powerful application generator
- Foreign languages, international character sets
- Electronic customer support via Internet web site, and e-Mail.
Integrate Powerful Forms Software with Any IBM i, iSeries, or AS/400 System
Typical MarkMagic uses include any business application (quality control, compliance marking, labor tracking, work in process, etc.) which requires barcodes, RFID tag, or plain paper form output. If your business requires merchandise marking labels, string tags, bin and location labels for inventory control, shipping labels, or pick tickets, MarkMagic will reduce the time required to integrate barcode, printing and RFID encoding into your business systems. If you need to replace preprinted invoices or purchase order forms, MarkMagic forms can do the job quickly and easily
Forms Software Features
- Full Barcode Support – With MarkMagic you can add any barcode to any label or form and integrate marketing and promotion programs with logistics documents.
- 500+ Printer Types Supported – MarkMagic supports types including Avery Dennison, HP, Epson, Zerbra, and many others.
- SQL Support – Create labels and forms, combining data from multiple sources – in the same document. IBM i users can mix and match data from DB2, MySQL, SQL Server, and Oracle data sources.
- IBM i Native – MarkMagic is built to be deployed natively on your AS/400 system.
AS/400 Printing Software FAQs
Have more questions about optimizing your IBM i printing environment? The right AS/400 printing software can simplify spool file management, modernize document output, and eliminate manual work—without disrupting your existing system.
If you’re ready to improve accuracy, streamline workflows, and gain more control over your printing operations, now’s the time to take the next step.
Can AS/400 printing software convert spool files to PDF or other formats?
Yes. Most modern AS/400 printing solutions can automatically convert spool files into formats like:
- Excel
- HTML
- Email attachments
This allows businesses to move beyond paper-based workflows and distribute documents digitally, improving efficiency and accessibility.
Does AS/400 printing software support network and remote printing?
Yes. AS/400 systems support multiple printing protocols, including:
- LPR/LPD (remote printing)
- IPP (internet printing)
- LAN-based printer sharing
These capabilities allow print jobs to be routed across networks or to remote locations, making it easy to centralize or distribute printing operations.
Can I design and customize labels, forms, and documents on AS/400?
Out of the box, AS/400 printing is functional but limited in design flexibility. Advanced printing software adds:
- Graphical label and form design tools
- Barcode and RFID support
- Custom layouts for invoices, packing slips, and reports
This eliminates the need for hard-coded report formatting and gives users full control over document design.
How does AS/400 printing software improve print accuracy and reliability?
IBM i printing already includes strong job tracking and control features, ensuring print jobs are processed correctly. Advanced solutions build on this by adding:
- Automated validation and error handling
- Queue monitoring and job tracking
- Page-level recovery and reprint capabilities
For example, AFP-based printing can track jobs and ensure they are printed completely and accurately.
Can AS/400 printing software integrate with modern ERP and warehouse systems?
Yes. Modern AS/400 printing solutions are designed to integrate with:
- ERP systems (like Acumatica, SAP, Oracle)
- WMS platforms
- EDI and supply chain systems
They act as a bridge between legacy IBM i environments and modern business applications—allowing you to automate document generation across your entire operation.
How does AS/400 printing software handle spool file transformation and data mapping?
Advanced AS/400 (IBM i) printing software can intercept spool files directly from output queues and transform the raw data into fully formatted documents using mapping rules and templates.
Instead of relying on traditional DDS or externally described printer files, modern solutions parse spool file data streams (like SCS or AFPDS) and map specific fields—such as item numbers, quantities, or customer data—into structured layouts. This enables:
- Dynamic data extraction from spool files
- Conditional formatting (e.g., show/hide sections based on values)
- Overlaying graphics, logos, and barcodes
Reformatting legacy reports into modern documents
This approach allows you to modernize document output without modifying your core RPG or COBOL programs—reducing development effort while significantly improving output flexibility.
Try MarkMagic for Free
MarkMagic AS/400 forms software is the easiest way to design and print the forms and documents on your IBM i system. Powerful and easy to use, once you try MarkMagic, you’ll see why thousands of software vendors and customers worldwide rely on the software to create their business critical documents.