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Forcing Spooled Files to Print at 10, 12, or 15 CPI Rather Than COR When Using HPT

Troubleshooting


Problem

This document discusses how to force spooled files to print at 10, 12, or 15 CPI rather than performing Computer Output Reduction (COR) to compress the font when using Host Print Transform (HPT).

Resolving The Problem

This document provides information on forcing spooled files to print at 10, 12 or 15 CPI rather than performing Computer Output Reduction (COR) to compress the font when using Host Print Transform (HPT) to print to an ASCII dot matrix or line printer.

Note: The preferred method for printing spooled files without performing Computer Output Reduction (COR) on ASCII dot matrix or line printers is to have the printer device description or Remote Output Queue (RMTOUTQ) setup to print on wide-carriage or 13.2 inch continuous forms and to have the Degree of page rotation (PAGRTT) parameter in the spooled file attributes set to *AUTO or 0, not *COR.

For more information, refer to the following document:

N1019598: Explanation of Computer Output Reduction (COR) and Options To Circumvent It

When printing on a dot matrix or line printer with a page size of *CONT80 and a page rotation of *AUTO, if the attributes of a spooled file indicate that it is wider than 8.0 inches, Host Print Transform (HPT) will generally print that spooled file using Computer Output Reduction (COR) processing.

HPT does not support landscape printing on dot matrix or line printers, so unlike with laser printers the spooled file will still be printed in portrait. However, HPT will compress the Characters per Inch (CPI) to 15 or 17.1 CPI to ensure that the spooled file can be printed on narrow-carriage or 8.0 inch continuous forms without truncation or printing off the paper edge.

This document provides instructions for forcing HPT to print spooled files without compressing the font whenever HPT would normally perform COR processing. This is done by retrieving and modifying a Workstation Customization Table (WSCST) and changing the values in the Set Characters Per Inch in COR Mode (CPICOR) tags so 10 CPI spooled files print at 10 CPI, 12 CPI spooled files print at 12 CPI, and 15 CPI spooled files print at 15 CPI.

Note: These instructions are particularly useful when a third-party application is generating spooled files with the Degree of page rotation (PAGRTT) parameter set to *COR and there is no way to change or override the printer file to specify PAGRTT(*AUTO) or PAGRTT(0). If your spooled files are generated with the PAGRTT parameter set to *AUTO or 0, the better option to force HPT to print without COR processing would be to set the Paper source 1 (PPRSRC1) parameter to *CONT132 if using a printer device description or to set the Manufacturer type and model (MFRTYPMDL) parameter to *WSCSTCONT132 and setting the Workstation customizing object (WSCST) parameter to the appropriate system-supplied *WSCST object for the type of printer being used.

For more information, refer to the following KB documents:

N1019598: Explanation of Computer Output Reduction (COR) and Options To Circumvent It
N1018026: Files Print Condensed to Dot Matrix Printers Using Host Print Transform

Caution: These instructions are provided as is. Any assistance with editing the Workstation Customization Table must be done through a consulting agreement.

This document was last updated 14 January 2014.



Basic Steps for Creating and Using a Workstation Customization Object

The following are the basic steps for creating and using a modified workstation customization object or *WSCST object:

Step 1:Retrieve the WSCST Source Code
Step 2:Edit the WSCST Source Code
Step 3:Create the *WSCST Object
Step 4:Specify the *WSCST Object in the Printer Device, RMTOUTQ or Printer Session

Note: Regardless of the particular issues you are attempting to resolve, these steps must always be taken. This information is intended to provide a 'quick start' to creating a WSCST object for users who have at least some familiarity with creating them and with configuring printers. Additional, in-depth details for creating a WSCST object can be found in the following document:

N1010140: Instructions for Modifying a Workstation Customizing Object (WSCST)


    • - Step 1: Retrieve the WSCST Source Code



      Retrieve the WSCST source code using the Retrieve WSCST source (RTVWSCST) command. For example:

      RTVWSCST DEVTYPE(*TRANSFORM) MFRTYPMDL(*IBM6400) SRCMBR(CONT132)
               SRCFILE(QGPL/QTXTSRC)
               TEXT('Print on wide-carriage forms without COR')

      or

      RTVWSCST DEVTYPE(*TRANSFORM) MFRTYPMDL(*IBM6400EP) SRCMBR(CONT132)
               SRCFILE(QGPL/QTXTSRC)
               TEXT('Print on wide-carriage forms without COR')

      and press the Enter key.

      Notes:

      oSpecify a value for the Manufacturer type and model (MFRTYPMDL) parameter that is appropriate for your printer, or the value for the MFRTYPMDL parameter that is currently being used. For instance, use *IBM6400 for an IBM 6400 that is in IBM Proprinter emulation mode or use *IBM6400EP for an IBM 6400 in Epson emulation mode).
      oSet the Source member (SRCMBR) parameter to the name that you intend to use for the *WSCST object when created. The following examples of the RTVWSCST command use a source member name of "CONT132", which is the name of the *WSCST object specified in the example of the CRTWSCST command in Step 3.

      • - Step 2: Edit the WSCST Source Code



        Edit the WSCST source member by using the Programming Development Manager (PDM) or the Source Entry Utility (SEU).

        oTo edit the WSCST source member using PDM, use the Work with Members Using PDM (WRKMBRPDM) command, for example:

        WRKMBRPDM FILE(QGPL/QTXTSRC) MBR(CONT132)

        and press the Enter key, then select Option 2 (Edit) on the source member and press the Enter key again.
        oTo edit the WSCST source member using SEU, use the Start Source Entry Utility (STRSEU) command, for example:

        STRSEU SRCFILE(QGPL/QTXTSRC) SRCMBR(CONT132)

        and press the Enter key.
        Make any changes necessary to the WSCST object source code. Refer to the following sections, beginning with Forcing HPT to Print Spooled Files in Portrait Rather Than Landscape, to make your changes, then save and exit. Continue with Step 3.

        • - Step 3: Create the *WSCST Object



          Create the WSCST object using the Create WSCST (CRTWSCST) command, for example:

          CRTWSCST WSCST(QGPL/CONT132) SRCMBR(*WSCST) TEXT(*SRCMBRTXT)
                   SRCFILE(QGPL/QTXTSRC)

          and press the Enter key.

          Notes:

          oThe Source member (SRCMBR) parameter can be set to the default value of *WSCST if the source member has the same name as the *WSCST object that you are creating.
          oIf the Text 'description' (TEXT) parameter is set to the default value of *SRCMBRTXT, the TEXT parameter used in the source file member will also be used in the TEXT parameter on the *WSCST that you are creating.

          • - Step 4: Specify the *WSCST Object in the Printer Device, RMTOUTQ or Printer Session



            Specify the *WSCST object in the Workstation customizing object (WSCST) parameter in the printer device description, the Remote Output Queue (RMTOUTQ) description, the PC5250 printer, or the TN5250e printer session:

            oTo specify the *WSCST object in a printer device description, use the Change Device Desc (Printer) (CHGDEVPRT) command. For example:

            CHGDEVPRT DEVD(device_name) TRANSFORM(*YES) MFRTYPMDL(*WSCSTCONT132)
                      WSCST(QGPL/CONT132)

            and press the Enter key.

            Note: For more information on specifying a modified *WSCST object in a *LAN, *LCL or *RMT printer device description, refer to one of the following documents:

            N1010288: Using Host Print Transform (HPT) with a *LAN Device Description
            N1019712: Using Host Print Transform (HPT) with a *LCL or *RMT Device Description
            oTo specify the *WSCST object in a Remote Output Queue (RMTOUTQ) description, use the Change Output Queue (CHGOUTQ) command. For example:

            CHGOUTQ OUTQ(queue_name) TRANSFORM(*YES) MFRTYPMDL(*WSCSTCONT132)
                    WSCST(QGPL/CONT132)

            and press the Enter key.

            Note: For more information on specifying a modified *WSCST object in a Remote Output Queue (RMTOUTQ) description, refer to the following document:

            N1019713: Using Host Print Transform (HPT) with a Remote Output Queue (RMTOUTQ)
            oTo specify the *WSCST object in a PC5250 printer emulation session, do the following:

            a In the PC5250 printer session, click on Communication > Configure.
            b Click on the Setup button.
            c In the Configure PC5250 Printer Emulation window, select the box next to Transform Print Data to ASCII on the iSeries and select the Printer Model value of *WSCST.
            d In the same window, specify the name of the WSCST in the Customizing Object parameter and the library where it is found in the Library parameter (for example, Customizing Object HP4 and Library QGPL).
            e Click OK three times.
            f Click File > Save to save the configuration.

            Note: For more information on specifying a modified *WSCST object in a PC5250 printer emulation session, refer to the following document:

            N1019470: Using Host Print Transform (HPT) with a PC5250 Printer Session
            oTo specify the *WSCST object in a third-party TN5250 printer emulation session, or in the printer hardware settings on a printer that has built-in support for TN5250, contact your software or hardware vendor.

            Note: For more information on specifying a modified *WSCST object in a third-party TN5250 printer emulation session, refer to the following document:

            N1019670: Using Host Print Transform (HPT) with a Third Party Emulation Package

            Note: If any changes are made to the WSCST object source code after the CRTWSCST command has been issued, it is necessary to issue the CRTWSCST command again. The printer writer must be ended and restarted for the changes to take effect.





          Forcing HPT to Print Spooled Files at 10, 12 or 15 CPI instead of Compressing Font to 17.1 CPI

          Edit the Workstation customizing object (WSCST) source member, and find the CPI in COR Mode (CPICOR) tags in the table (you can type CPICOR on the SEU command line and press the F16 key). The CPICOR tags are what tell HPT how much to shrink the output through the ASCIIFNT and FNTWTH portions of the CPICOR tag, or what font string to send to the printer through the DATA portion of the CPICOR tag..

          The following table shows the original settings for a dot matrix or line printer, whether in IBM Prorprinter or Epson emulation mode, and the settings required to print 10 CPI spooled files at 10 CPI (144 / 1440ths of an inch), 12 CPI spooled files at 12 CPI (120 / 1440ths of an inch), and 15 CPI spooled files at 15 CPI (96 / 1440ths of an inch):

          Original Settings for Compressing Font to 17.1 CPIRecommended Settings for Printing at 10, 12 or 15 CPI
              :CPICOR
                CPI=10
                ASCIIFNT=  255
                FNTWTH=   84
                FNTATR=    1
                DATA =''X.
              :CPICOR
                CPI=12
                ASCIIFNT=  255
                FNTWTH=   84
                FNTATR=    1
                DATA =''X.
              :CPICOR
                CPI=15
                ASCIIFNT=  255
                FNTWTH=   84
                FNTATR=    1
                DATA =''X.          		    :CPICOR
                CPI=10
                ASCIIFNT=  11
                FNTWTH=   144 /* Print 10 CPI SPLFs at 10 CPI */
                FNTATR=    1
                DATA =''X.
              :CPICOR
                CPI=12
                ASCIIFNT=  85 
                FNTWTH=   120 /* Print 12 CPI SPLFs at 12 CPI */
                FNTATR=    1
                DATA =''X.
              :CPICOR
                CPI=15
                ASCIIFNT= 223 /* Print 15 CPI SPLFs at 15 CPI */
                FNTWTH=    96 /* (17.1 CPI in IBM PPR mode)   */
                FNTATR=    1
                DATA =''X.

          To create the WSCST object and implement it, perform Steps 3 and 4 (above).

          [{"Type":"MASTER","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB57","label":"Power"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU058","label":"IBM Infrastructure w\/TPS"},"Product":{"code":"SWG60","label":"IBM i"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF012","label":"IBM i"}],"Version":"6.1.0"}]

          Historical Number

          603075219

          Document Information

          Modified date:
          18 December 2019

          UID

          nas8N1011479

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