Redirecting output considerations

Spooled or nonspooled output intended for a printer can be redirected to another printer. However, each file is checked to ensure that the file attributes (device type, number of lines per inch, number of characters per inch, page length, and page width) and any advanced functions used by the file (such as variable LPI, variable font, or defined characters) are valid on the new printer.

Nonspooled output

When a nonspooled file is redirected, and the printer file attributes do not match the new printer, one of the following occurs:

• If the printer file specifies a characters-per-inch value not supported by the device being used, a diagnostic message (CPF4057) is sent to the program message queue and the data is printed at 10 characters per inch. If the page width is greater than 132 characters, the records are folded.
  Note:
  Folding is not supported on IPDS™ printers.
• If the printer file specifies a lines-per-inch value not supported by the device being used, a diagnostic message (CPF4056) is sent to the program message queue, and the data is printed at 8 lines per inch.
• If the page length is greater than the maximum length allowed for the printer being used, the printing ends with an escape message (CPF4138).
• If the printer file specifies special device requirements (such as use of certain DDS keywords) that are not supported by the device being used, then a diagnostic message is sent to the program message queue and the special function is ignored.

Spooled files

When a spooled file is redirected to another printer, the spooled file cannot be printed without change if any of the spooled file attributes are not supported by the printer device. For example, some printer device attributes that might not be supported are:

• Page size
• Output drawers
• Print quality
• Lines per inch
• Characters per inch

Spooled file redirected to SCS printers

The following describes the actions taken when a spooled file is redirected to an SCS printer and cannot be printed without change (SCS printers include the 3812, 3816, 4214, 4234, 4245, 4247, 5219, 5224, 5225, 5256, 5262, 6252, and 6262 Printers):

• An inquiry message is sent to the message queue of the writer if any of the following is true:
  • The spooled file uses the IPDS data stream (DEVTYPE(*IPDS))
  • The spooled file attributes are not supported by the printer
  • The special device requirements used by the spooled file are not supported by the printer

  The inquiry message allows these options:

  • End the writer
  • Print the spooled file with lines folded when the lines are longer than the width of IBM-supplied printer file QPSPLPRT
  • Print the spooled file with lines truncated when the lines are longer than the width of IBM-supplied printer file QPSPLPRT
  • Hold the spooled file and process the next file on the output queue

  If the spooled file is printed, results might be unpredictable because the file is printed using the printer attributes specified in the IBM-supplied printer file QPSPLPRT, and all advanced functions used by the spooled file are removed. Functions removed include:

  DDS keywords:

  CHRID

  Graphic character set and code page

  CHRSIZ

  Character size (width and height)

  CPI

  Characters per inch

  DFNCHR

  Define character

  DRAWER

  Paper drawer selection

  FONT

  Font selection

  LPI

  Lines per inch

  PAGRTT

  Page rotation

  PRTQLTY

  Print quality

  TRNSPY

  Transparency

  Other print functions:

  Drawer change in document
  Font change in document
  Lines-per-inch change in document
  Page rotation in document
  Subscript and superscript
  

• If the spooled file specifies a characters-per-inch value not supported by the printer, an inquiry message is sent to the message queue of the writer with the option to:
  • End the writer
  • Print the spooled file at 10 characters per inch with lines folded when the lines are longer than the width of IBM-supplied printer file QPSPLPRT
  • Hold the spooled file and process the next file on the output queue
• The 5219 Printer is an exception to the above cases if the only mismatch between the spooled file and printer is the HIGHLIGHT special device requirement that the file contains. When this occurs, an inquiry message is sent to the message queue of the writer with the option to:
  • End the writer.
  • Print the spooled file without highlighting but keep all other advanced functions used by the file.
  • Attempt to print the spooled file without changing. (If this is not successful, the file will be held on the output queue.)
  • Hold the spooled file and process the next file on the output queue.

  If the spooled file is printed, the resulting output closely resembles how the file was intended to look. This is because the attributes specified by the spooled file were used and advanced functions were kept.

• Documents created on other systems might contain print controls that are not supported by the 5219 or 3812 Printers. These controls might include variable form size, output drawer, print quality, lines per inch, characters per inch, character identifier, or justification. If this occurs, an inquiry message is sent to the message queue of the writer with the options to:
  • End the writer.
  • Print the spooled file with unsupported values changed to values which are supported by the printer.
  • Attempt to print the spooled file without changing. (If this is not successful, the file will be held on the output queue).
  • Hold the spooled file and process the next file on the output queue.

If the spooled file is printed, the file attributes from the spooled file are used and all advanced functions that are valid for the device are kept. The resulting output should closely resemble what the file was intended to look like, though it still might not print exactly as intended because of the unsupported values.

Spooled files redirected to IPDS printers

IPDS printers include: 3130, 3160, 3812, 3816, 3820, 3825, 3827, 3829, 3831, 3835, 3900, 3912, 3916, 3930, 3935, 4028, 4224, 4230, 4234, 4247, 4312, 4317, and 4324. InfoPrint 20, InfoPrint 32, InfoPrint 3000, and InfoPrint 4000 are also IPDS printers. The following describes the actions that are taken when you spool a file to an IPDS printer:

• The message queue will receive an inquiry if the spooled file uses the SCS data stream (DEVTYPE(*SCS)) and contains DBCS (double-byte character set) data. It will also receive an inquiry if it has a page length greater than that supported by the printer (for both SNA character string (SCS) and IPDS files). You can choose any of the following options:
  • End the writer
  • The spooled file will print with lines that are truncated when the lines are longer than the width of IBM-supplied printer file QPSPLPRT
  • Hold the spooled file and process the next file on the output queue

  Printing results might be unpredictable because the printer will use the printer attributes that are specified in QSPLPR, the IBM-supplied printer file. All advanced functions that are specified in the spooled file will be removed. Functions removed include:

  DDS keywords:

  CHRSIZ

  Character size (width and height)

  CPI

  Characters per inch

  DFNCHR

  Define character

  DRAWER

  Paper drawer selection

  PAGRTT

  Page rotation

  TRNSPY

  Transparency

  Other print functions:

  Drawer change in document
  Font change in document
  Lines-per-inch change in document
  Page rotation in document
  Subscript and superscript
  

• The message queue will receive an inquiry message for the following: if the spooled file uses the SCS data stream, (DEVTYPE(*SCS)), does not contain DBCS data, and uses special device requirements. Special device requirements include graphics, defined characters, transparencies, variable font, and enhanced 3812 fonts. It will also receive an inquiry if it uses a proportionally spaced font for the FONT parameter of the file. You can select any of the following options:
  • End the writer
  • Transform the spooled file to IPDS format and print
  • Hold the spooled file and process the next file on the output queue

  If the file prints, its existing attributes will be used. Advanced functions remain intact, except graphics, defined characters, justification, and transparencies. The transformation to IPDS format should substantially keep the integrity of the text data. However, the file might still not print exactly as intended. Unsupported font pitches, font spacings, and character identifiers are changed to the closest approximation valid on the printer.

• The writer automatically transforms the file to an IPDS file and prints it if the following is true: the spooled file uses DEVTYPE(*SCS), does not contain DBCS data, does not use defined characters, graphics, transparency, variable fonts, or enhanced 3812 fonts. The printer file also can not use a proportionally spaced font for the FONT parameter of the printer file. The spooled file might not print exactly as intended. For unsupported font pitches, font spacings, and character identifiers, the printer writer uses the closest approximation available on the printer.
• The message queue of the writer receives an inquiry message if the spooled file uses the IPDS data stream (DEVTYPE(*IPDS)), but uses advanced functions not supported by the printer. Options made available are:
  • End the writer
  • Print the spooled file, but dropping unsupported advanced functions from the file
  • Hold the spooled file and process the next file on the output queue