Align (ALIGN) parameter

The align parameter on the Start Printer Writer (STRPRTWTR) and Create Printer File (CRTPRTF) commands influences how the iSeries™ server issues messages to check forms alignment in printers before they start to print.

If the value on the STRPRTWTR align parameter is *WTR, the printer writer keeps track of spooled files that are to be printed and issues a forms alignment message whenever it determines that forms alignment is needed.

If this value is *FIRST, the forms alignment message is issued only for the first spooled file printed.

The following events cause the printer writer to issue a forms alignment message:

• Delete or hold spooled file command (option *IMMED) issued against a spooled file with a status of WTR
• Printer writer or spooled file restarted
• Previous spooled file was created with ASCII data (virtual print) and current spooled file was not
• Forms length of previous spooled file is different from current spooled file
• File being printed is the first file to print after a printer writer has been started
• Forms type is changed (after a G reply to a CPA3394 or CPA3395 message)
  Note:
  A B reply to these messages allows you to skip or not receive the alignment message.
• Incorrect control characters have been detected on a workstation printer in the previous file
• The Cancel key on a workstation printer has been pressed while the previous file is being printed
• A C (Cancel) reply has been given to the inquiry message for unprintable characters detected on a workstation printer in a previous file
• An H (Hold) reply has been given to some inquiry messages on a workstation printer
• A printer writer has recovered from a communications failure on a remote workstation printer

If you do not want the printer writer to control the issuing of forms alignment messages, you can specify *FILE as the value for the align parameter of the STRPRTWTR command and *YES on the align parameter of the printer file used with the application that produces the spooled file.

If the value on the STRPRTWTR align parameter is *FILE, the printer writer looks at the attributes of the spooled file created by the application program. Specifically, the printer writer looks at the align parameter value of the spooled file attributes to determine if it should send a forms alignment check.

If the align parameter value of the spooled file attributes is *YES, the printer writer sends a message to check forms alignment on the target printer.

If the align parameter value of the spooled file attributes is *NO, the printer writer does not send any messages to check forms alignment on the target printer.

If you want to avoid any forms alignment messages, you can specify *FILE for the align parameter on the Start Printer Writer (STRPRTWTR) command and *NO as the align parameter value of the printer file. With this combination of values, the iSeries server does not send any messages to check alignment.