Print On Demand - Sharp MX-7000N Manual

Print on Demand

Ever since MFPs started including hard drives, manufac-
turers have looked for ways to offer more and more on-
demand document facilities. The most basic is the ability
to store a document on the device for instant reprinting
from the walk-up interface. Virtually all manufacturers of-
fer this level of print-on-demand capability. Most allow us-
ers to store, copy, and print. Some also include scan and fax documents
into the mix.
Are All Documents the Same?
The way different document function types are stored and the way in
which they can be reused at a later date create some issues due to the
file format in which the function operates. Copy is usually done in a com-
pressed proprietary format, fax in TIFF, and scan in TIFF/PDF or JPEG as
selected by the user.
When users look to reuse the files they are often limited to the same func-
tion as it was created in.
Do All Devices Offer the Same Capabilities?
There is much differentiation between products and manufacturers in this
area. Those interested in print on demand should look carefully at the
functionality offered by each manufacturer.
Areas of differentiation include the range of finishing or output control
the user can place upon a reprint-on-demand job; whether more than one
stored job can be combined and treated as a single print file; the ability to
view, manage and share stored documents using desktop applications;
the complexity of the filing system in place; and the ease at which users
can search for documents.
The Future
Increasing security concerns may result in more companies using data
overwrite kits. This would put an end to the print on demand capability of
such devices. For those still looking for a fast reprint capability, the answer
may be external media ports such as USB memory sticks, digital camera
SD cards, or volatile memory storage.
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