Printer files

When a printer file object is created, it is tagged with the coded character set identifier (CCSID) of the source file. Processing of the source files for printer files is the same as for display files. At compile time, all character data is read from the primary source file without any character conversion being performed.

When printing to the device, if the *JOBCCSID value is specified on the CHRID parameter of the CRTPRTF command:

• Constant text from an externally described printer file is converted from the CCSID of the printer file to the CCSID of the job.
• Character data sent to output fields is assumed to be already converted to the job CCSID.

If the printer data stream is tagged with the character identifier (CHRID) derived from the CCSID of the job, the CHRID value is used by the printer to interpret the data. The CHRID value is ignored for printers not supporting this function.

If a specific value is set for the CHRID parameter on the CRTPRTF command:

• For externally described printer files, fields that specify the CHRID DDS keyword use the CHRID value specified on the printer file. The remainder of the file is printed as if *DEVD was specified for the CHRID parameter on the CRTPRTF command.
• For program-described printer files, the printer data stream uses the CHRID value specified on the printer file.

If the *DEVD parameter is specified on the CHRID parameter of the CRTPRTF command, no conversion is performed.

The CHRID information is determined by either the printer hardware or by the device description. If the CHRID information is obtained from the device description, it is then sent to the printer.