The AS/400 and the printing

process

Chapter 5

W7L1ops400.ppt 2

4 Types of Files*file

• Each of these is an object with a TYPE of *FILE but is further described with an attribute. The attribute helps define how the object can be used.

• Physical Files (PF) • Logical Files (LF)• Printer Files (PRTF)• Display Files (DSPF)

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4 Types of Files*file

Opt Object Type Attribute Text CRTFILE *PGM CLP SAMPLE COMMAND CREATION TESTMENU *MSGF EVFEVENT *FILE PF-DTA MENUSRC *FILE PF-SRC menu designs QCMDSRC *FILE PF-SRC TESTDATA *FILE PF-DTA CREATING COMMAND TESTMENU *FILE DSPF SUM05 *CMD SUMMER 2005 TESTPRT *FILE PRTF

•PRINTER WRITERS

GENERATING HARD COPY

DATA

The program

Printer file

The output queue/ spool files

PRT01

User 1User 2

User 3

PRT01 LASER1 LPRT1

RequirementsDATAa PROGRAM APPLICATION OR SYSTEM

a PRINTER FILE ATTRIBUTES / TEMPLATE

an OUTPUT QUEUE HOLDING BIN

a PRINTER WRITER physical device assignment

a PRINTER Laser, character, line, page

PAPER e.g. standard 8-1/2 x 11, 11x15, custom forms

DATA• Can come from anywhere

disk, tape, screen, communications,

internet, e-biz

• Is managed / created / manipulated by a program

the program

• Receives data by way of input

• Processes the data

• Generates output one form of which is reports

– merges the data with the print file and directs it to a output queue e.g QPRINT

• Holds the report attributes / properties(can be looked on as a template)

– Lines per inch– characters per inch– Font– form length in lines– overflow line number– Printer device type

the printer file

The output queue

• Temporary storage

• Receives and directs the printer output to a printer writer or holds it until a printer writer is activated (varied on)

• Can retain the documents and be redirected to another output queue

• Is connected / associated with a printer writer.

The printer writer• Is a device file *DEVD

• Contains all the attributes associated with the physical device

– connection • port no, controller, address• device type• type and model number• features (AFP capable)• to be powered up at IPL (boot up)• font used• paper source (if applicable)• The message queue used to communicate with the

system• etc. etc.

The printer

• Receives the DATA

• Has paper mounted or stored in the trays.

• Has inked ribbons / a full toner cartridge / ink cartridge

• Merges the INK, DATA and Paper and produces the “HARDCOPY” document

Application/System utility/Command

Printer File

eg. QSYSPRINT, QPRINT

Output Queue

data

Formatted

report

Physical printer

Printer Writer

Paper Report

PRINT FUNCTIONS

OUTPUT QUEUES

and

SPOOL FILES

output queues v.s. spool files • Output queues contain the printer output

of ANY user directed to it and are directly associated (soft) with a printer device. (MANY user’s to ONE queue)

• Spool files contain the printer output from one specific user regardless of the queue it is directed to.

(ONE user to MANY queues)

wrkoutq command Work with Output Queue

Queue: PRT01 Library: QGPL Status: RLS/WTR

Type options, press Enter.

1=Send 2=Change 3=Hold 4=Delete 5=Display 6=Release 7=Messages

8=Attributes 9=Work with printing status

Opt File User User Data Sts Pages Copies Form Type Pty

-- QPSUPRTF DA540A26 SAV 2 1 *STD 5

-- QPRINT SIMONLI PROG041B SAV 1 1 *STD 5

-- QPRINT SIMONLI PROG041B SAV 1 1 *STD 5

-- QSYSPRT CE500A09 test SAV 1 1 *STD 5

-- QPRINT DA344I06 AR100C HLD 2 1 *STD 5

-- QPUSRPRF DA400C07 SAV 2 1 *STD 5

Wrksplf USER(username) command

Work with All Spooled Files

Type options, press Enter.

1=Send 2=Change 3=Hold 4=Delete 5=Display 6=Release 7=Messages

8=Attributes 9=Work with printing status

Device or Total Cur

Opt File User Queue User Data Sts Pages Page ...

-- QPEZBACK QSYSOPR QPRINT DSPBCKSTS RDY 2 1

-- QPEZBACK QSYSOPR QPRINT DSPBCKSTS RDY 2 1

-- QPEZBACK QSYSOPR QPRINT DSPBCKSTS RDY 2 1

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Components of Printer Spooling

• Output queues - Spooled Files

• Printer files • Printer Writers• System spooler

– part of OS/400 that controls and manages printed output

– runs in subsystem QSPL

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Printer Files

• Objects on the AS/400• Object Type is *FILE• Sub-Type (attribute) is PRTF• Holds the Report Layout and print

characteristics• Commands: CRTPRTF, CHGPRTF

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Printer Files cont’d

• Defaults are QSYSPRT, QPRINT …• CHGPRTF changes the attributes of a Printer Device File

Some attributes you can change are:

• Page size: • Length--lines per page . • Width--positions per line• Measurement method . . . • Lines per inch . . . . . . • Characters per inch . . . • Overflow line number . . .

Spooled Files

They are -

- AS/400 objects that contain data for printing

- Stored in Output Queues

And

- To print a Spooled File, the file must be moved to an Output Queue attached to a printer.

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How Do Spooled Files get Created?

Program/Command

Data ReportLayout

Output Queue

*FILEPRTF

*FILEPF

Spooled File

JOBQINTER/QBATCH

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What Components do you Need …to Print?

• Output Queue- Spooled File

• Printer Device Description– (Printer Writer) *DEVD

• Printer

• Paper

SpoolfileDA999X99

SPLF#1

SPLF#2

OUTPUT QUEUEPRT01

SPLF#3

SPLF#4

Change / Move theSpooled Fileto OutQPRT01

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Spool Files Commands• Change Spooled File Attributes (outq,copies,save) (2) CHGSPLFA

• Copy Spooled File to physical file (3) CPYSPLF

• Delete Spooled File from outq (4) DLTSPLF

• Display contends of Spooled File (5) DSPSPLF

• Hold Spooled File that is ready to print (6) HLDSPLF

• Release Spooled File that is held (7) RLSSPLF

• Send Network Spooled File to another AS/400 (1) SNDNETSPLF

These commands require the parameters:

• Spooled file

• Job name

• User

• Number

• Spooled file number

W7L1ops400.ppt 25

Changing Spool Files

• Use WRKOUTQ or WRKSPLF to display spool files• To change a spool file put option 2 next to spool file entry on LIST

or CHGSPLFA

The following are some spool file attributes that can be changed:

• PRINTER• Form type • Copies • Restart printing page• Output Queue• Start/End page to print

PrinterWriterPRT01

OutputQueuePRT01 Spooled

Files

PaperReport

PrintedCharacters

Printer Writer• It is How the AS/400 sees a Printer

• It is an Object

• It has an Object Type of *DEVD

• The AS/400 creates an output queue with the same name as the printer when the Printer Device is created.

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Printer Writer CONT’D 1

• A utility used to move spooled files from the outq to the physical printer.

• When the Printer Device is created (CRTDEVPRT) the AS/400 creates a writer and an output queue with the same name as the printer.

• A writer is always associated with the printer it was created for

Printer Writers cont’d

• Usually the Printer Writer is attached to the output queue with the same name.Command: CHGWTR

• To display the status of a printer, use the Work with Writer command, (WRKWTR)

• STRPRTWTR Use this command to start a printer and / or assign it to a

• different printer• different output queue• different message queue

Working with Printers

• STRPRTWTR - start a printer• ENDWTR - end a printer• CHGWTR - change writer ( such as outq)• HLDWTR - put printer on hold (pause)• RLSWTR - release printer that is on hold (can release at specified

page)• WRKCFGSTS - work configuration status to VARYON or VARYOFF

• most printer problems are either paper jam or no ink• use WRKWTR then option 7 to display message if you suspect a

printer problem

W7L1ops400.ppt 31

Work with All Writers Type options, press Enter. 2=Change 3=Hold 4=End 5=Work with 6=Release 7=Display messages 8=Work with output queue Opt Writer Type Device Queue Library Status Form Type ODINQ RMT ODINQ QGPL STR *ALL PRTORIGIN RMT PRTORIGIN QGPL STR *ALL PRTTEST RMT PRTTEST QGPL STR *ALL PRT01 RMT PRT01 QGPL STR *ALL PRT02 RMT PRT02 QGPL STR *ALL PRT03 RMT PRT03 ADMIN STR *ALL RMTOUTQ RMT RMTOUTQ LYDIA_LI STR *ALL RMTW000001 RMT PRT03 QGPL STR *ALL WIN RMT WIN QGPL STR *ALL Bottom Parameters for options 2, 3, 4, 6 or command ===> F3=Exit F4=Prompt F12=Cancel F22=Start printer writer F24=More keys

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Trouble Shooting Printer Problems

• When there is a problem with printing, you need to check 2 things:– the hardware: is it turned on, is the paper

loaded, is there a jam, etc– the software: is the writer started, is there a

message waiting, is the outq held, if it is a remote printer are the communications ok?

• Commands:– WRKWTR– STRPRTWTR– ENDWTR– RLSOUTQ

If ALL else failsYou can always use

GO ASSISTor

GO SYSTEMto navigate your way to the output queue / spool files /

devices work with printer output

The END

GOOD LUCK WITH THE TEST AND IN THE REMAINDER

OF THE SEMESTER