A spool file archival product that can convert an iSeries (AS400) spool file to a PC text file, HTML or PDF document on PC storage maintaining all SCS formatting.

The spool file archiving product needs to meet basic requirements:

• Operator less functionality (Fully Automated)
• Small learning curve
• Reduce disk space on the iSeries by archiving the spool files on a PC disk
• In a readable format on the PC system
• Accessible and secure from remote systems
• No additional hardware

Solution for AS400 Spool File Archival

The Brooks RPM Remote Print Manager can translate the SCS data to ASCII text, pdf, or html and write the spool file to the PC media. Many file naming conventions are offered and CPU is greatly reduced on the iSeries with the RPM spool file archival functionality.

Topics covered: how to save and print a spool file as400, how to save as400 spool files to disk, how to save spool file on as400

When printing from the AS/400 through RPM AS400 Print Manager (Print Server) or ExcelliPrint IPDS Printing Software, many new AS/400 (iSeries® System i5) printing features are opened.

Format AS400 printed text / finishing functions

When printing to the PC network printer from the AS/400 using the Hot Print Transform, the font is too compressed.

• RPM can be configured to scale the font.
• This will fill the page correctly for any paper size, including custom paper sizes.
• RPM will remove any embedded PCL formatting commands and any characters below the decimal 31, which are not printable.

To place characters on a pre-printed form in the exact position, such as on a medical form. The data is in excess of 60 lines per page and the excess print on the top of the next page.

• RPM can be configured to use a True Type font to scale the font appropriately for CPI (characters per inch) and LPI (lines per inch).
• Several fixed width fonts have been tried without success. Custom paper sizes and margins can be configured as well.

The report is 198 characters per line. The printer is truncating everything past 132 characters.

• Wrapping the lines is not the solution. The data must fit on a cut sheet paper size (8.5×11).
• RPM can be configured to scale the font to fit the paper size.
• This will be placed between the configurable margins and the configurable page orientation (printable area).
• The data can be printed in portrait or landscape.

Purchased a new copier that supports hole punch, watermarks, stapling, duplexing, overlay and various other page finishing functions. How can these finishing functions be applied to the spool file?

• The AS/400′s printer emulation does not support many of these functions.
• MFC device supports various finishing functions that can be used.
• RPM can be configured to apply these print driver finishing functions to the spool file.
• Individual RPM queues can be configured to apply
  different finishing options for specific jobs.
• The default Windows print driver settings are not affected, therefore the Windows print jobs will not be affected.

AS400 page range printing to Windows

The AS/400 remote OUTQ does not support page range printing as standard OUTQ’s.

• The remote OUTQ uses the LPR/LPD protocol which is a “file” printing protocol not a “page” printing protocol.
• Use an RPM to configure appropriately for the formatting.
• Hold the RPM queue, send the print request, set the AS400 page range printing within RPM for the job, and unhold the job.
• IBM supports a work around also, the program is called “TSPRWPR “and details can be found on the IBM web site.

iSeries connectivity and AS400 network printing

How to set up a CL program in the AS/400 so one can print to a queue with a Dynamic IP address.

Our current clients have provided us with this CL Program. We are providing it for your consideration. This program does the following:

• Prompts the user for the name of the OUTQ (printer) they want to use
• Automatically obtains their IP Address.
• Notifies the user that the OUTQ’s IP address is being updated.
• Updates the OUTQ they provided with their IP address.
• Prompts them to update another OUTQ.

This CL program may be used and modified for your needs.

AS400 printing speed to a network or local printer

When printing to the PC networked printer, the job takes a long time to print and the AS/400 processor take a fair hit on larger jobs (100 pages or more).

• The AS/400 is converting the spool file to PC printer language using the appropriate Host Print Transform settings.
• The Host Print Transform is very resource intensive and the resulting data is much larger than the original spool file. In fact, the connection can be lost to the printer on larger spool files while the Host Print Transform is be completed, which may start the process over.
• RPM supports an SCS to ASCII conversion.
• RPM will convert the EBCDIC characters to ASCII characters and the SCS formatting instructions to appropriate PC formatting instructions.
• This will preserve the SCS formatting instructions including italic characters, bolding, and underlines.
• The data can then be formatted to the specific Windows printer. This can be done by using the Windows printer driver to apply any available finishing functions.
• In bench tests, RPM accomplishes the transform in a tenth of the time. The larger the spool file, the better the results. Less bandwidth is used to transfer the spool file, also.

The spool file does not complete printing job/complete multiple pages.

• This is generally a protocol issue. RPM supports the LPR/LPD protocol.
• The LPR/LPD protocol is a “file” printing protocol vs. a “page” printing protocol.
• The integrity is much better than that of other protocols available. If the file is not transferred, the file is sent again.
• Other protocols verify if a page has printed, this does “not” mean there is any data on the page.

AS400 print to file and archiving spool files

To capture the AS/400 spool file to PC folder. You will only need the text, not the embedded PC printer commands from the Host Print Transform. You will also need to call a Windows forms generator to apply a form to send to a printer.

• RPM supports a filter action that can receive the incoming spool file, remove the printer commands, and writes to disk, that the system can access.
• RPM supports various file naming conventions which includes any information passed in the control file that was sent from the AS/400.
• The user name, host, banner, class, job, title, source, RPM queue name, date, time, and job sequence number are available.

To apply a form created by a Windows forms application to the spool file and then send job to PC printer.

• RPM supports a “Command Line Interface” to start additional software (forms, applications, etc.).
• RPM receives the spool file, starts the application, and passes the spool file to the current application.
• The application then applies the form and sends the job to the printer.
• Many requirements can be met RPM.

To capture spool file and save as PDF file with an applicable file name for future reference and emailing.

• If the data is pure text or text with embedded pcl, an RPM, with various virtual PDF printers will render the data to PDF file.
• OctoPDF, Adobe PDF, PDFCreator have been used successfully to obtain data. OctoPDF and PDFCreator offer various file naming conventions.
• RPM can also be used to write the incoming data that will be submitted to a “watch” folder, for third party application rendering as Report to Web, etc…

LPD / TCPIP is a much safer, and much easier way to transfer files to the Windows environment than FTP. Transferring files via FTP can be time consuming, resource intensive, can open security holes, and the data integrity is not guaranteed.

RPM’s AS400 Filter Printing Features

RPM can accommodate “print to file” data processing and supports many file naming conventions and to any media that the PC has access to. The data passed from the AS/400 is SCS format. The SCS formatted data could be considered encrypted data. RPM can then translate the SCS data to ASCII text and write the data to the PC media.

Helpful “Write to Disk” Links

• Saving short filenames to disk
• How to capture a print job to my PC

We have created this set of AS/400 FAQs from the various support calls we have received from AS/400 specialists and IT managers. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our tech support.

Article

1. AS/400 print jobs repeat over and over.
2. AS/400 print job goes into a SND state.
3. AS/400 page range did not work.
4. RPM prints different than direct from the AS/400.
5. AS/400 print job stays in RDY state (does not SND).
6. AS/400 print jobs go into to HLD state.
7. Where do spool files go if RPM host is off?
8. How to setup remote AS/400 OUTQ.
9. All jobs are in SND status after upgrading the AS/400.
10. How to set the IP address in the AS/400.
11. AS/400 telnet test.
12. What does the XAUTOQ option do?
13. How do I print labels from the AS/400.
14. RPM overrides page orientation of A4.
15. When moving a spool file the OS asks for a printer.
16. OFFICE VISION asks for a printer to send report to.
17. Does RPM handle IPDS files?
18. How can I print a logo and address without IPDS.
19. Does RPM handle AFPDS files?
20. RPM prints differently in RAW Queue than direct from AS/400.
21. Problems when upgrading to OS400 V4R5.
22. Setting up AS/400 for A4 paper size.
23. Managing AS/400 printing forms.
24. Setting up AS/400 to print to dynamic IP address.
25. Copying a remote outq on the AS/400.
26. Error: Failed Subcommand 4.
27. Error: Unable to find data queue in library (AS/400 V3R6).
28. Error: Printer Device needed:
29. Error: Writer ended abnormally.
30. Error: Cannot find data queue in library.
31. What other “Destination Options” settings can there be?
32. How to get data without any specific printer control characters