═══ 1. Introduction ═══
PCPRINT is a program which helps you print documents on your workstation
printer, formatted with running headings and footings, margins, page numbers,
etc.
The document can be, for example,
o a PC file on disk or diskette
o a VM file on your A-disk
o an OfficeVision/VM note or calendar
o an MVS file being browsed with TSO ISPF
o a copy of whatever is on the host screen at the moment.
The printing of host documents and screens can be requested from the host
side, without leaving 3270 emulation.
PCPRINT also helps you control your printer. You can select printer, queue,
print driver and font. PCPRINT can use the Presentation Manager interface for
printing and print on Postscript printers, HP Laserjet, and even plotters.
Alternatively, you can use the device driver interface for printing and have
PCPRINT send a control string with printer control codes and escape sequences
to the printer before each document.
The output from PCPRINT can be sent to any printer, or saved in a PC file for
later printing.
═══ 1.1. Operating environment ═══
If PCPRINT is only used to print PC files, there are no special requirements
other than OS/2. You need release 1.2 or later of OS/2, Standard Edition or
Extended Edition, or OS/2 2.0 or 2.1.
Printing host documents requires OS/2 Extended Edition 1.2 or 1.3, IBM Extended
Services/2, or IBM Communications Manager/2.
If OS/2 EE 1.2 is used, it must be at CSD level 4064 or later. The SYSLEVEL
command will show your current CSD level.
The PCPRINT host support is primarily made for VM. PROFS, OfficeVision/VM, and
RDRLIST/PEEK users can all use PCPRINT. PCPRINT can also be used with MVS TSO,
but this support is not as powerful as that for VM.
═══ 1.2. The PCPRINT package ═══
PCPRINT consists of the following files:
1. The PCPRINT program itself:
PCPRINT.EXE The main OS/2 program
PCPRINT.HLP The help file
PCPRINT.DLL A DLL for certain PCPRINT host support functions
2. The file selection dialog (from IBM CUA Controls Library/2)
FCLDLGP.DLL Dialog code
FCLDRCP.DLL Dialog messages and text
3. PCPRINT.INF - PCPRINT User's Guide on line. The OS/2 command VIEW is used
to read, search and print it.
4. PCPRINT EXEC and PCPRINT XEDIT - support files for VM users. They are
uploaded from the PS/2 to a VM minidisk.
5. PCPRINT.TSO - a support file for MVS TSO users
6. PCPRCTRL.EXE - an optional utility used to control PCPRINT.
═══ 2. Installing PCPRINT on your PC ═══
This chapter describes how to install the "PC part" of PCPRINT.
═══ 2.1. Unpacking PCPRINT ═══
The PCPRINT package consists of the following files which are contained in ZIP
file PCPRINT.ZIP on diskette 1 of the Extended Services product diskettes or on
the Communications Manager/2 Productivity Aids diskette:
NAME DESCRIPTION
============ ============================================
PCPRINT.EXE PCPRINT main executable
PCPRINT.DLL PCPRINT DLL
FCLDLGP.DLL File selection dialog
FCLDRCP.DLL File selection dialog text
PCPRINT.HLP PCPRINT help file
PCPRINT.INF Online User's Guide for PCPRINT
PCPRINT.EXC Host EXEC file for VM users
PCPRINT.XED Host XEDIT profile for VM users
PCPRINT.TSO PCPRINT profile for TSO users
PCPRCTRL.EXE Optional utility for controlling PCPRINT from a .CMD file
Note: You need at least 200 KB of DASD available on your PC in order to
extract the PCPRINT package from the Extended Services product diskette.
These installation instructions assume that you are familiar with using the
OS/2 full screen session command line and that you wish to create a separate
directory on the C drive for PCPRINT. You may substitute a different drive
letter and directory name and/or omit steps where appropriate.
1. Place the diskette with PCPRINT.ZIP in diskette drive A.
2. Enter the following commands from a fullscreen or window command line
session on your workstation.
a. C:
b. CHDIR \
These optional steps puts you in the root directory of the C drive. You
may substitute any valid drive for C.
c. MKDIR PCPRINT
This optional step creates a directory for the PCPRINT package. You may
omit this step if you already have a directory where you would prefer
to have the package installed.
d. CHDIR PCPRINT
If you chose to use an existing directory instead of creating the
PCPRINT directory in the previous step, you should substitute the name
of that directory for PCPRINT on the CHDIR command.
e. PKUNZIP2 A:PCPRINT.ZIP
The PCPRINT files will be installed on your workstation. The PKUNZIP2
command was installed in directory \OS2\INSTALL by the Extended
Services installation procedure.
═══ 2.2. Updating CONFIG.SYS ═══
Use the system editor to edit CONFIG.SYS. Add directory C:\PCPRINT to the
following statements:
LIBPATH=
SET PATH=
SET HELP=
SET BOOKSHELF=
This is required only if you created a PCPRINT directory during installation.
If you did not create this directory, ensure that the PCPRINT files are
installed as follows:
CONFIG.SYS statement must list the directory with
LIBPATH= PCPRINT.DLL, FCLDLGP.DLL and FCLDRCP.DLL
SET PATH= PCPRINT.EXE
SET HELP= PCPRINT.HLP
SET BOOKSHELF= PCPRINT.INF
Note: For help to work, the SET HELP= line must list C:\OS2\HELP also.
If you made changes to CONFIG.SYS, you must re-boot your workstation before
you can use PCPRINT.
═══ 2.3. Defining PCPRINT to OS/2 - OS/2 1.3 ═══
Add PCPRINT to Group - Utilities or any other group. This is done the normal
way. See the OS/2 User's Guide. Specify the PCPRINT directory as "Working
directory".
If you want PCPRINT to start automatically when the system is booted, select
that option when you add PCPRINT to the Program Group. Or put a start command
in STARTUP.CMD. For example:
start "PCPRINT" c:\pcprint\pcprint.exe profile=c:\pcprint\pcprint.pro
PCPRINT can be started before or after Communications Manager. PCPRINT will
automatically activate the Host Print function when a host session becomes
active.
If you want PCPRINT to start minimized (i.e., as an icon), select that option
when you add PCPRINT to the Program Group. Or use the following procedure:
1. Start PCPRINT
2. Minimize its window (click the down-arrow)
3. Find the Desktop Manager window
4. Select "Save..." from the "Desktop" menu.
The choices on the "Print" menu are also available from the System Menu. This
means you don't have to restore the PCPRINT window to see and select these
options. Just click once on the PCPRINT icon.
═══ 2.4. Defining PCPRINT to OS/2 - OS/2 2.0 or 2.1 ═══
Start by dragging a Program icon from the Templates folder to the desired
location. You can put PCPRINT in the Productivity system folder, or in any
folder you want, or even place it on the desktop.
In the PCPRINT Settings notebook, on the Program page, enter the following:
o Path and file name: c:\pcprint\pcprint.exe
o Parameters: %* profile=c:\pcprint\pcprint.pro
o Working directory: c:\pcprint
The %* will be replaced by the file name when a file icon is dropped on
PCPRINT.
On the General page, enter PCPRINT as the title.
═══ 2.5. Considerations for LAN printing ═══
If you are connected to a LAN and want to be able to have the output from
PCPRINT printed on a print server, this is what you have to do:
1. Make sure the print driver (IBM4207.DRV for example) that is used on the
print server is installed in your workstation also. It should even be the
same version.
2. Start the LAN Requester and assign the LAN printer to a printer port (LPT3
for example).
3. Go into Print Manager's Setup menu. Create a printer with a unique name
(LAN4207 for example) and assign it to the same port (LPT3). Select the
same print driver (IBM4207) as used by the real LAN printer. Click
"Printer Properties..." and specify the same form and other options as
used on the server.
4. Go into Print Manager's Setup menu. Create a dummy queue (LPT3Q for
example ) for the printer. Put this queue in hold. The output will be
queued in the queue on the server instead. But the dummy queue is required
in order for PCPRINT to find the LAN printer.
5. Before printing a document, use PCPRINT's Printer menu to set the
destination to LPT3 or LAN4207.
6. Be aware that the Print Manager display is not always automatically
refreshed for LAN jobs. To see the LAN jobs, select Refresh - Refresh Now.
═══ 3. Installing the VM support for PCPRINT ═══
The VM support for PCPRINT consists of two files: PCPRINT EXEC and PCPRINT
XEDIT.
It makes it easy to print PROFS or OfficeVision/VM notes, CMS files, documents
formatted with SCRIPT or DisplayWrite/370, files in your reader, etc.
═══ 3.1. Uploading PCPRINT EXEC and PCPRINT XEDIT ═══
1. Install Communications Manager. Make sure that the configuration file you
install is configured with at least one 3270 terminal emulation session.
2. Start Communications Manager and the 3270 emulator session. Use the
emulator to logon to the VM host where you wish to install the host files
required by PCPRINT.
3. Ensure your VM session is at CMS Ready state.
4. Use the Extended Services Communications Manager SEND command to upload
the host files as follows:
SEND PCPRINT.EXC id:PCPRINT EXEC A (LRECL 1024 RECFM F
SEND PCPRINT.XED id:PCPRINT XEDIT A (LRECL 1024 RECFM F
Note: "id" is the identifier of the host emulation session where you wish
to install the host files. It may be for example a, b, c, d or e.
Enter HELP SEND for more information on the Communications Manager SEND
command.
5. Go to you host session and execute the following commands to unpack the VM
support files:
COPY PCPRINT EXEC A = = A (Replace Unpack
COPY PCPRINT XEDIT A = = A (Replace Unpack
═══ 3.2. Customizing OfficeVision/VM ═══
Use one of the two methods below.
═══ 3.2.1. Method 1 ═══
Create a file named WORKSTAT FILE on one of the CMS disks you are accessing. It
must have RECFM=F and LRECL=80 and contain exactly the following five lines:
PC EPSIPCWS TESTPC
PC Print the document using PCPRINT
PC PCPRINT WORKSTAT
PC
PC
All five records have "PC" in columns 1-2. Note the "WORKSTAT" parameter.
═══ 3.2.2. Method 2 ═══
Add a line like the following to the OfficeVision/VM file $$PRNT$$ $$FILE$$:
PCPRINT 3270 Print the document using PCPRINT 1403 EXEC PCPRINT PRNTFILE
Note the "PRNTFILE" parameter.
$$PRNT$$ $$FILE$$ should have RECFM=F and LRECL=100.
Several printer definitions can be added, with different options.
To provide more space for options, PRNTFILE can be abbreviated to PF. No option
can be longer than eight characters.
Example (only columns 14 through 100 are shown):
PCPRINT the document - draft quality 1403 EXEC PCPRINT PRNTFILE I=0
PCPRINT the document - near letter quality 1403 EXEC PCPRINT PRNTFILE I=2
PCPRINT the document - double spaced and nlq 1403 EXEC PCPRINT PF DS I=2
PCPRINT the document - FOILS style 1403 EXEC PCPRINT PF G W=1
PCPRINT the document - force ANSI ctl chars 1403 EXEC PCPRINT PF ANSI
For more information about the options see the next chapter.
═══ 3.3. Customzing PEEK ═══
If you normally use the standard PROFPEEK profile for PEEK, give the command
DEFAULTS SET PEEK PROFILE PCPRINT FOR *
(If you don't know which your PEEK profile is, the command DEFAULTS LIST PEEK
will tell you.)
Use of PCPRINT XEDIT as your PEEK profile will result in slightly faster and
easier printing of notes. But it is not mandatory.
═══ 3.4. Customizing PCPRINT for National Language Support ═══
If you are using a translated version of OS/2, and/or a non-U.S. keyboard, you
have to customize PCPRINT for National Language Support to be able to use the
host print support.
═══ 4. Using PCPRINT Base Functions ═══
This chapter describes the PCPRINT functions for printing PC files, as opposed
to VM or MVS files.
═══ 4.1. Reading PCPRINT User's Guide On Line ═══
PCPRINT.INF is the on-line version of PCPRINT User's Guide and Reference. Use
the OS/2 command VIEW to view it:
view pcprint
This assumes that the directory containing PCPRINT.INF is listed in SET
BOOKSHELF= in CONFIG.SYS. If not, you must use a fully qualified file name, for
example
view d:\pcprint\pcprint.inf
═══ 4.2. Starting PCPRINT ═══
To start PCPRINT, enter a PCPRINT command from the OS/2 command prompt, or
select PCPRINT from the Program Group or folder where you installed it.
PCPRINT takes a number of options as parameters:
pcprint ...
These options allow you to control the printing. They are explained below.
Examples:
pcprint
pcprint dest=LPT2
pcprint pl=66 tm=5 rh="File %f printed on 19%y-%m-%d"
PCPRINT will display a window similar to this:
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PCPRINT │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Profile Printer Session Options Print Help │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Current profile: PCPRINT.PRO │
│ │
│ Printing to: LPT1 │
│ │
│ Host Print status: Inactive │
│ │
│ Current host session: None (AUTO) │
│ │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
═══ 4.3. Using profiles ═══
The way PCPRINT prints documents is controlled through a number of options.
These options can be entered
1. as command line parameters when PCPRINT.EXE is started,
2. using PCPRINT pull-down menus and associated panels, and
3. in a profile.
A profile is a regular ASCII file containing option keywords and values. The
default name for this file is PCPRINT.PRO, but you can use any name. When
started, PCPRINT will look for PCPRINT.PRO in the current directory, and use
it if it finds it, unless you specify a different initial profile. For
example:
pcprint profile=report5.pro
Once PCPRINT is running, you can use the Profile pull-down menu to
1. Load a new profile (Open)
2. Reset all PCPRINT options to their default values (New)
3. Update the current profile with any changed options (Save)
4. Create a new profile (or overwrite an existing one) (Save As...)
The recommended way of creating a PCPRINT profile is using the Save As...
option under Profiles, but you can also create one using a text editor. Each
line has one of these formats:
keyword
keyword=value<,value><,value>...
keyword="string"
Example of what a profile might contain:
DS
PL=66
RH="For XYZ Company Internal Use Only"
═══ 4.4. The Printer menu ═══
The output from PCPRINT can be directed to different destinations:
1. PCPRINT can send the output directly to a LPTx or COMx port, using what is
known as the device driver interface for printing. LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, COM1,
COM2 or COM3 can be selected directly from the Printer menu. If, in a LAN
environment, you want to print to LPT4 or higher, you can do so by putting
DEST=LPT4 in a profile.
If the OS/2 print spooler is started, it will intercept the output and
hold it in a print queue until the printer is ready to receive it.
If you select LPTx/COMx from the Printer menu, you will be presented the
"Printer control string" dialog. This allows you to enter an optional
string which is sent to the printer immediately before each document and
is used to set font, forms length, drawer, etc. More about this later.
2. PCPRINT can use the Presentation Manager interface for printing. This is
usually a bit slower than the first method, but has many advantages:
o You can use Postscript printers, HP Laserjet printers, and even plotters.
o You can select font and character size.
o The print driver will often allow you to print sideways (landscape
printing), use low or high resolution, print several copies, and more.
You request this method by selecting one of the printer names listed in
the Printer menu. You will then be presented the "Specify queue, driver
and font" dialog described later.
This method requires that the OS/2 print spooler is started.
3. PCPRINT can send the output to a file on disk or diskette. The file will
be created if it doesn't exist, or appended if it already exists.
You request this method by selecting "File..." in the Printer menu. You
will then be presented a file name dialog.
You can change the destination at any time using the Printer pull-down menu.
The print destination can also be set with the DEST keyword as a parameter to
PCPRINT.EXE or in a profile. For direct output, specify DEST="LPTx" or
DEST="COMx". For PM output, specify DEST="PRINTER" and PRINTER="printer name".
In this case you must also specify queue, driver and font - more below. For
output to a file, specify DEST="file name".
═══ 4.5. The Session menu ═══
This menu is only used when working with host documents and OS/2 Extended
Edition or IBM Extended Services/2.
If no 3270 sessions are started, selecting Sessions will just give you a
message saying "There are no host sessions".
═══ 4.6. Printing options ═══
PCPRINT supports several mechanisms for controlling how a document is printed:
1. Page Layout options for setting margins, headings, footings, etc.
2. Form Feed options for adding or removing form feeds etc.
3. The Printer Control String. This is ignored for PM output.
4. Print driver data and font name, when using the Presentation Manager
interface for printing.
These options can be entered
1. as command line parameters when PCPRINT.EXE is started
2. in a PCPRINT profile
3. through the following Options menu choices:
o Page Layout...
o Form Feeds...
4. through the "Printer Control String" dialog
5. through the "Specify queue, driver and font" dialog.
If the same option is specified both as a command line parameter and in the
initial profile, the command line parameter will override the profile.
═══ 4.6.1. Page Layout options ═══
The Page Layout options affect the layout of the printed page. You can define
margins at the top, the bottom and the left side, as well as running headings
and footings.
Number of lines per page
This value is used by PCPRINT to figure out when it is time to put out footing
and bottom margin. It should not exceed the forms length known by the printer.
(The printer forms length can be set using an Esc C nn escape sequence - see
Printer Control String - when the device driver interface is used.)
The PCPRINT default is 66.
This option is coded as PL=number in a PCPRINT profile.
Note: This specification can affect the selection of fonts listed in the
"Specify queue, driver and font" dialog. Only fonts which are small enough to
for the number of lines per page requested here are listed.
Top Margin
This is the number of blank lines you want at the top of each page.
The PCPRINT default is 3.
This option is coded as TM=number in a PCPRINT profile.
Bottom Margin
This is the number of blank lines you want at the bottom of each page.
The PCPRINT default is 3.
This option is coded as BM=number in a PCPRINT profile.
Left Side Margin
The output will be adjusted this many characters to the right. (The average
character width is used for a proportional font.)
If this value is too large, long lines can wrap (direct output) or be truncated
(PM output).
The PCPRINT default is 0.
This option is coded as PM=number in a PCPRINT profile.
Initial Page Number
If the running heading or footing contains the page number (%n), the first page
will have this number.
The PCPRINT default is 1.
This option is coded as PN=number in a PCPRINT profile.
Double Spacing
Select this option for double spacing. PCPRINT will add a blank line after each
line in the source document.
The PCPRINT default is single spacing.
This option is coded as DS in a PCPRINT profile.
Running Heading
This is a string to be be printed after the top margin on each page.
Current date, time, page number and file name can be included in the heading.
The following substitutions will be made:
Code Will be replaced by
%y year (last two digits)
%m month (two digits)
%d day-of-month
%h hour (24-hour format)
%i minute
%s second
%n page number
%f file name
The file name (%f) format depends on the type of document you are printing:
o For a PC file, it is the PC file name, including drive and path if given
when requesting the printout.
o For a VM file, the format is "filename filetype filemode".
o For a note displayed with PEEK, it is "userid node A0".
o For a note displayed with OfficeVision/VM, it is "userid node A1".
o For a Print Screen, %f is replaced by "Session xxxx" where xxxx is the long
session name.
For %f to work properly, you must use rel 7.1 or later of PCPRINT EXEC and
PCPRINT XEDIT.
If the device driver interface for printing is used (i.e. if LPTx, COMx or
File was selected from the Printer menu), advanced users may include printer
control codes and escape sequences in the string. This can be used to make
the heading appear in a different style or font.
The running heading is not used when printing OfficeVision/VM documents.
The PCPRINT default is no running heading.
This option is coded as RH="string" in a PCPRINT profile.
Running Footing
If a footing is specified, a blank line and then the footing will precede the
bottom margin. The same substitutions as in the running heading will be made.
The PCPRINT default is no running footing.
This option is coded as RF="string" in a PCPRINT profile.
═══ 4.6.2. Form Feed options ═══
The form feed options affect the way the paper is fed through the printer.
Note that some OS/2 printer drivers also have form feed control settings in
their printer properties dialogs.
Remove initial form feed
Often, the first or second line of a document contains a code for skipping to
the start of a new page. If you are already at the top of a page, a blank page
will be fed through the printer. Select this option if you want such an initial
form feed to be removed.
The PCPRINT default is to not remove an initial form feed.
This option is coded as REMOVEFF in a PCPRINT profile.
Form feeds after each document
This is the number of form feeds PCPRINT sends to the printer after printing
the last line of the document.
The PCPRINT default is to send one form feed.
This option is coded as EJECTS=number in a PCPRINT profile.
Beep after each document
Select this option if you want PCPRINT to beep the speaker when it has
completed the processing of a document.
The PCPRINT default is to remain silent.
This option is coded as BEEP in a PCPRINT profile.
═══ 4.6.3. The printer control string ═══
The "Printer Control String" dialog is invoked when you select LPTx or COMx
from the Printer menu.
This dialog allows you to specify a string of hex codes which is sent to the
printer immediately before the first line of each document. It can be used to
set condensed mode, select font and print quality, and more - exactly what you
can do depends on what type of printer you are using.
You can modify the string by entering new values or changing values from the
keyboard. You can also add control codes and escape sequences by
double-clicking on entries in a list box. As with all options, you can save the
printer control string you have built by using the Profile pull-down menu.
A printer control string can be specified in a profile using the PCONTROL
keyword. Example:
PCONTROL ="07 1B 58 05 4B"
It is also possible, and maybe easier, to use keywords for the individual
control codes and escape sequences which make up the printer control string.
For example, the printer control string above could have been specified as
BEL X=5,75
Printer Control Codes
The following control codes can be selected from the Printer Control listbox or
specified using a keyword. The effect of each code varies somewhat from printer
to printer. Consult the Guide to Operations manual for your printer. For
example, on a Proprinter, Shift In starts compressed mode printing and Device
Control 2 ends it.
Keyword Code (hex) and meaning
BEL 07=Bell
BS 08=Backspace
HT 09=Horizontal Tab
LF 0A=Line Feed
VT 0B=Vertical Tab
FF 0C=Form Feed
CR 0D=Carriage Return
SO 0E=Shift Out
SI 0F=Shift In
DC1 11=Device Control 1
DC2 12=Device Control 2
DC3 13=Device Control 3
DC4 14=Device Control 4
CAN 18=Cancel
Printer Escape Sequences
Escape sequences are used to set tab positions, select print quality, and
other things which require more than a simple control code. An escape sequence
consists of the Esc character (x'1B'), a command character, and zero or more
values.
The Guide to Operations manual for your printer will show exactly which escape
sequences you can use to control your particular printer.
If you double-click on the "Escape Sequence..." line in the Printer Control
listbox, PCPRINT will display a panel which lets you enter a command character
and up to five values.
An escape sequences can be defined in a profile in the following format:
c<=number><,number><,number>...
where c is a the command character and the numbers are the values in decimal.
For example,
X=5,75
will cause the following addition to the printer control string:
1B 58 05 4B
The following escape command codes are supported by most printers:
B Set vertical tabs
C Set page length
D Set horizontal tabs
E Start emphasized printing
F Cancel emphasized printing
G Start double-strike printing
H Cancel double-strike printing
I Select print mode, font, or quality
W Control double-wide printing
X Set margins
9 Stop at end-of-page
See the printer Guide to Operations for details about values to use etc.
Note: The command character (B, C, D, etc) must be in UPPER CASE.
Example: The following specification could be useful for a Quietwriter which
has no sheet feed or form feed feature:
C=62 9 X=15 HT HT HT CR
which alternatively could be specified as
PCONTROL="1B 43 3E 1B 39 1B 58 0F 09 09 09 0D"
(The Horizontal Tabs are used to get the carriage past the left margin before
printing the first line.)
═══ 4.6.4. Print queue, print driver and font options ═══
The "Specify queue, driver and font" dialog is invoked when you select a
printer name from the Printer menu, and thus request the Presentation Manager
interface for printing.
The dialog is used to select print queue, print driver, driver data, and font
for the print job.
The current queue, driver and font are displayed and can be modified. Note that
if you have more than one printer defined, the current values could apply to
another printer and may not be valid for the printer you work with now. The
listboxes will show the valid values.
You may have to do some experimenting to find the best combination of font,
number of lines per page and page margin (in the page layout dialog) for a
particular type of print job. When done, use Profile Save or Save As... to save
the selections.
Print queue
There may be more than one queue defined for the selected printer. Use the drop
down list to select the desired queue.
For example, a 4019 might have one queue for PPDS jobs, one for HP Laserjet
jobs, and one for Postscript jobs. All queues are normally held except the one
corresponding to the mode in which the 4109 is currently started. Regardless of
the current status, you can direct your PCPRINT output to the desired queue.
This option is coded as QUEUE="string" in a PCPRINT profile. There is no
default.
Print driver
There may be more than one print driver defined for the selected printer. Use
the drop down list to select the desired driver.
For example, a 4019 might have one driver for PPDS jobs, one for HP Laserjet
jobs, and one for Postscript jobs.
The selection will affect which fonts that are available.
This option is coded as DRIVER="string" in a PCPRINT profile. If the driver
contains a period (for example, "PSCRIPT.IBM 4019 v52_1 (39 Fonts)" ), the name
before the period is coded as DRIVER="string" and the name after the period is
coded as DEVICE="string". There are no defaults.
Driver data
When you change to a new print driver, or click the "Driver data" push button,
the print driver will display a dialog allowing you to specify things like
resolution, paper format, portrait or landscape printing, and number of copies.
Please note that this dialog is provided by the print driver, not by PCPRINT.
PCPRINT only invokes it.
The driver data is coded as DRIVDATA1="string1" and DRIVDATA2="string2" in a
PCPRINT profile. String1 contains the total driver data length in hex (byte
1-4), the driver version number in hex (byte 5-12) and possibly a device name
(byte 13-44). String2 is the remaining driver data in hex. The length of
String2 is (total driver data length - 40)*2. There are no defaults.
The recommended way of placing this information in a PCPRINT profile is by
using Profile Save or Save As...
The profile should be re-saved if you apply service to the OS/2 print driver,
since the version number and the format of the data may have changed.
Font source
Select Device font to use a font specifically made for the selected printer.
Such a font is normally faster and nicer looking than a generic font.
Select Generic font to use a font which is available on all printers and
screens. On some printers, this is the only way to get an outline font. An
outline font can be scaled to any size and can be printed sideways.
The selection affects which fonts that are displayed when the List fonts
pushbutton is clicked.
Font spacing
Select Proportional spacing unless the document contains tables or other
information that needs to be aligned. In that case, specify Fixed spacing.
The selection affects which fonts that are displayed when the List fonts
pushbotton is clicked.
Font name
When you click "List fonts", the "Fonts" listbox will be filled with fonts that
are
o device or generic fonts, as desired
o proportionally or fixed spaced fonts, as desired
o small enough to provide the desired number of lines per page, as specified
in the "Number of lines per page" field in the Page Layout dialog.
If there is no such font, you will get an error message. In that case, change
font type, or decrease the number of lines per page. The reason could also be
that you have specified an invalid combination of printer, queue and driver.
Click the down-arrows in the Queue and Driver fields to list valid names.
The currently selected font is shown above the listbox. It can be replaced by
clicking on a font in the listbox.
The font specification has three parts:
1. The font face name
2. The character cell size (horizontal x vertical) for a raster font, or
"(Outline)" for an outline font.
3. The font match value. The match value plus the face name identifies a
particular font. The match value is negative for a device font, positive
for a generic font.
There may be more than one raster font with the same face name and cell size.
Then you will have to experiment to find the difference.
An outline font can be scaled to any size and can be printed sideways. But a
raster font with a given size normally prints faster and looks better than an
outline font scaled to the same size.
The selected font is coded as FONT="string" in a PCPRINT profile.
═══ 4.7. Printing a file ═══
To invoke the Print PC File function,
1. Select the PCPRINT window or icon.
2. Press Ctrl-f or select Print PC File from the Print pull-down menu or the
System Menu.
3. You will be prompted for a file name.
4. The file you specified will now be printed, according to the options you
have selected.
═══ 4.8. Printing files using drag and drop ═══
With OS/2 1.3, files can be dragged from File Manager and dropped on the
PCPRINT icon or window. You can mark several files (up to 25) and drag and drop
the whole group on PCPRINT. They will then be printed one at a time.
In OS/2 1.3, if PCPRINT is not started, a single file can be dragged and
dropped on the PCPRINT icon in the Program Group containing PCPRINT. PCPRINT
will start, print this file, and terminate.
With OS/2 2.x, files can be printed by dragging them from a drives folder and
dropping them on the icon representing the PCPRINT program (not the icon
representing a running copy of PCPRINT, if you have choosen, in the OS/2 System
settings, to have minimized windows placed on the desktop). Make sure the
PCPRINT settings are sutiable for this.
═══ 4.9. Printing PC files with host-type control characters ═══
Documents on S/370 hosts often contain machine-type or ANSI-type control
characters in column 1 of each line. PC documents almost never have such
control characters. The exception to this rule is when you have downloaded a
document with control characters from a host. PCPRINT will print ANSI documents
correctly if you specify ANSI, as a command line option or in a profile.
═══ 4.10. Closing PCPRINT ═══
To close PCPRINT,
o press F3, or
o select Exit from the Profile pull-down, or
o select Close from the System Menu.
═══ 4.11. Printing just one file ═══
Sometimes you may want PCPRINT to print just one file, and then terminate. If
you enter the name of the PC file to printed as the FIRST parameter, PCPRINT
will print this file and then terminate, without ever putting up its window.
For example:
pcprint letter1.txt profile=c:\pcprint\letters.pro
pcprint test.dat ansi
pcprint d:\reports\august.rep rh="File %f printed on 19%y-%m-%d" pm=5
The file name must contain a period.
═══ 5. Using PCPRINT with VM ═══
This chapter describes how to use PCPRINT to print VM documents like files,
notes, and OfficeVision/VM calendars. This requires that you use OS/2 Extended
Edition, IBM Extended Services/2, or IBM Communications Manager/2, that
Communications Manager 3270 Emulation is started, and at least one host session
is active.
Please note that if you are using OS/2 Extended Edition release 1.2, it must be
at CSD level 4064 or later. The SYSLEVEL command will show your current level.
PCPRINT allows you to request the printing of host documents from the host
side, without leaving the 3270 emulation window.
Host documents sometimes have ANSI- or IBM-defined control characters in the
first column. PCPRINT supports such control characters.
═══ 5.1. Specifying the host session ═══
You can tell PCPRINT to work with a specific host session. Or you can use
automatic session selection (the default).
To request a specific session,
o enter its name as the first parameter to PCPRINT.EXE
pcprint ...
where "session_id" is
- the one-character short name, or
- the two- to eight-character long name
of the session.
o or specify SOURCE=short-name or SOURCE=long-name in a profile.
If the specified session is not active when PCPRINT is started, PCPRINT will
wait for it. A check is made every 10 seconds (see Checking Interval.)
Once PCPRINT is running, you can use the Sessions pull-down menu to change
session. PCPRINT will dynamically create the Sessions pull-down menu each time
you select it, so newly started sessions will be included.
If you want to use PCPRINT for multiple host sessions, with the same
formatting options, use automatic session selection. When you switch to a new
host session (for example by selecting it from the Task List, or by clicking
with the mouse in its window), PCPRINT will automatically change session also.
To request automatic session selection, specify AUTO as the first parameter,
put SOURCE=AUTO in a profile, or select AUTO from the Sessions pull-down menu.
Or do nothing - AUTO is the default.
You can run multiple copies of PCPRINT, some monitoring specific host
sessions, and one (using AUTO) monitoring the remaining sessions. Even if they
all process documents at the same time and send them to the same printer, the
printouts will not be intermixed - the OS/2 print spooler will take care of
that.
═══ 5.2. Controlling the Host Print function ═══
The Host Print function can be in one of three states, as shown on the "Host
Print status" line in the PCPRINT window:
1. Inactive: A specified 3270 session has not been started. Or you use
automatic session selection but no 3270 sessions are started. Or Host
Print has been manually deactivated.
2. Active - waiting: You can now enter print requests from the 3270 session
shown on the "Current host session" line.
3. Processing document xxxxxxx: The named document is being downloaded from
the host and sent to the printer.
You can manually activate or deactivate Host Print at any time, from the Print
pull-down menu or the System Menu. There are three reasons why you might want
to deactivate Host Print:
1. To interrupt the processing of a large document.
2. If it slows down other programs too much.
3. If it interferes with other host communication programs.
For the large majority of users, only the first item is of any interest.
If you don't want PCPRINT to activate Host Print automatically, start PCPRINT
with the STARTINACTIVE option. To make this the default, put STARTINACTIVE in
the default profile PCPRINT.PRO. Example:
pcprint e startinactive
═══ 5.3. Printing a VM note - OfficeVision/VM users ═══
When looking at your mail, select "Print" with PF8 (as usual).
Then select a printer definition which uses PCPRINT. Then press Enter. The note
will now be printed.
PCPRINT will display the note in a special format, with a double quote in the
first position in the command area. This is the signal to PCPRINT.EXE to start
printing the note. If the screen stays this way and nothing more happens,
chances are that PCPRINT.EXE has not been started, or that it is monitoring the
wrong host session. See Nothing happens in the Problem Determination chapter.
═══ 5.4. Printing non-OfficeVision/VM documents in your reader ═══
When leaving Incoming Mail, you will be asked if you want to see a list of
non-OfficeVision/VM documents in your reader. If you answer yes, and want to
print one of the items in the list, just type PCPRINT to the left of the item
to be printed (under Cmd).
═══ 5.5. Printing a VM note from PEEK, NOTE or RDRLIST ═══
═══ 5.5.1. Printing from PEEK ═══
With PCPRINT as your PEEK profile
If you have set PCPRINT as your PEEK profile, just press PF2.
This will put a special character (a grave accent in the U.S.) in the first
position in the XEDIT command field. This is the signal to PCPRINT.EXE to start
printing the note. Don't hit Enter.
When the note has been sent to the PC printer (or to the PC file), you will get
the message
PCPRINT processing complete
You can now continue to work with the note.
Note: On some VM systems, the special character is displayed as a double
quote. This will happen for example if your workstation is defined to VM as a
3277. This will also work, but PCPRINT will issue a QUIT command instead of
displaying the PCPRINT processing complete message.
Note: On non-U.S. VM systems, the special character will usually be something
else than a grave accent, for example an accented character. In that case you
must create a PCPRINT profile with MSGSIGNAL=this character. See National
Language Support.
With any PEEK profile
Regardless of what your PEEK profile is, you can print the note by typing
"pcprint" in the command area (after the arrow). and hitting Enter.
PCPRINT will format the screen in a special way and put a double quote in the
first position in the XEDIT command area. This is the signal to PCPRINT.EXE to
start printing the note.
When the note has been sent to the PC printer (or to the PC file), the screen
will be restored to its original layout.
You can also include options. For example
pcprint (rh="The first note from John"
If the screen remains with a special character in the command area and nothing
more happens, chances are that PCPRINT.EXE has not been started, or that it is
monitoring the wrong host session. See Nothing happens in the Problem
Determination chapter.
═══ 5.5.2. Printing the note you are typing ═══
After completing the note, but before sending it, you can print it by typing
"pcprint" in the command area.
You can also include options. For example
pcprint (rh="My answer to John's first note"
═══ 5.5.3. Printing from RDRLIST ═══
You don't have to PEEK a note to print it - you can do it from the RDRLIST
panel.
Simply type "pcprint" on the line with the note you want to print.
As always, you can include options. For example
pcprint / (rh="The second note from John"
═══ 5.6. Printing a VM file ═══
PCPRINT EXEC can be used to print any regular VM file with a maximum record
length of 79 bytes. To do this, give the command
pcprint fn <(options...>
The defaults are SCRIPT for ft, and * for fm. The options are the PCPRINT Base
Support options plus some new ones, explained below. Examples:
pcprint summary table b (pm=10 ds
pcprint invit letter (cc notrc dest=lpt2
pcprint monthrep listing (dest=monthrep.scr
The command can also be given from FILELIST.
OfficeVision/VM users can use the OfficeVision/VM functions for printing files.
PCPRINT will invoke XEDIT, automatically issue FORward commands to page through
the file, and then issue a QUIT command to leave XEDIT and return to wherever
you invoked PCPRINT from (FILELIST for example).
If you decide you don't want to print the whole file, use the following
procedure to stop the printing:
1. Go to the PCPRINT window.
2. Press Ctrl-d or select Deactivate Host Print from the Print pull-down menu
or the System Menu.
3. What you have processed so far will be released to the OS/2 Print Spooler.
OS/2 functions can be used to cancel the print job.
4. Press Ctrl-a or select Activate Host Print to activate PCPRINT again.
Note: PCPRINT is dependent on OS/2 to to do the translation from EBCDIC to
ASCII. Box characters may not be correctly translated.
═══ 5.7. Scripting and printing SCRIPT source files ═══
A VM file with filetype SCRIPT normally contains SCRIPT/GML tags.
OfficeVision/VM users can format and print such a document in one step using
the following command:
profs hardcopy fn ft
If OfficeVision/VM is not installed, you have to script the document (use the
SCRIPT command) and then use PCPRINT to print the output from SCRIPT.
═══ 5.8. Printing from within XEDIT ═══
If you are editing or browsing a file with XEDIT and decide you want to print
it, just type "pcprint" in the command area and hit Enter.
You can also include options. For example
pcprint (rh="Outline of my report"
If you don't want to print the whole file, use the XEDIT prefix commands X or
XX to exclude the parts you don't want to print. Only the "viewed" parts of the
file are printed.
If you want to print another file than the one you are editing, you don't have
to leave XEDIT to do it. Just include the file name in the pcprint command. For
example
pcprint chapter2 script (ds
═══ 5.9. Printing wide documents ═══
Normally, you cannot print documents with lines longer than 79 characters. This
is possible only if your host session is defined, in Communications Manager and
on the host, as having more than 80 columns. For example, the session can be
defined as a 3270 model 5 session, with 27 lines and 132 columns. Many systems
also support non-standard sizes like 24 lines and 85 columns.
If your host session is set up this way, PCPRINT lets you print lines as wide
as your session width minus 1.
If your printer can print lines that long is a different story. The Shift In
printer control code (SI option) might be useful, to start compressed mode
printing. If lines wrap and you are not sure if it is a host or a PCPRINT or a
printer problem, select File... from the Printer pull-down menu, print to a
file, and examine the file.
═══ 5.10. Entering PCPRINT options from the host side ═══
All the PCPRINT options explained in chapter 4 (except SOURCE and PROFILE), can
be entered from the host side.
If you are using PCPRINT EXEC or are invoking PCPRINT XEDIT directly, just type
the options after a left parenthesis. Use the same keywords and values as you
would use in a PCPRINT profile. Examples:
pcprint imspars log a (pm=3 I=2
exec pcprint prob8904 report (rh="Problem report" ds
pcprint febr summary b (dest=d:\febrsum.wks
pcprint (ds (entered from within XEDIT)
When using OfficeVision/VM print functions, put the options last in $$PRNT$$
$$FILE$$. For examples, see chapter 3. In this case you cannot use an option if
the length of the keyword plus its operands (if any) exceeds 8 characters. So
"pm=3" is OK but "DEST=COM1" is not.
Options entered from the host side only remain in effect while the print
request for which they were entered is executed. Printer control codes and
escape sequences entered from the host side will create a temporary extension
to the printer control string. For example, suppose you enter
pcprint imspars log a (pm=3 I=2
pcprint prob8904 report (rh="Problem report" ds
Then imspars log will be printed with a left side margin of 3. An escape
sequence (Esc I 2 or 1B 49 02 hex) will be added at the end of the printer
control string before printing it. But prob8904 report will be printed with
whatever left side margin value and printer control string that were in effect
before the printing of imspars log was requested.
═══ 5.11. Printing documents with control characters ═══
Many host documents have printer control characters in column 1, with meanings
like "skip three lines", "skip to a new page", etc. Two types of control
characters are commonly used: IBM-defined (also called machine-type and
S/370-type) and ANSI-defined (also called ASA control characters).
Output from SCRIPT/VS normally has IBM-defined control characters. The
OfficeVision/VM calendar has ANSI control characters.
PCPRINT supports both types. You can use the CC and ANSI options to explicitly
tell PCPRINT to treat column 1 of the document as containing IBM or ANSI
control characters, respectively. You can use the NOCC option to explicitly
tell PCPRINT to treat column 1 as data. Or you can let PCPRINT decide.
PCPRINT then uses the following logic to determine the type of control
characters present.
1. PCPRINT assumes
a. CC if the file type is LIST3800, PRINT, or PRINTCC
b. CC if the file type is SCRIPT and the file name starts with a dollar
sign
c. ANSI if the file type is 1403
d. ANSI if the file type is PRINTLOG and the file name is CALENDAR (as it
is for a OfficeVision/VM calendar)
e. ANSI if the file type is $$LOG$$ and the file name is $$TEMP$$.
f. ANSI if the first line contains "DisplayWrite/370" starting in column 3
2. If the PCPRINT still doesn't know, column 1 of the data is examined. If at
least one record has a valid machine-type control character in column 1,
CC is assumed.
3. In all other cases, PCPRINT assumes that there are no control characters.
If PCPRINT formats the document according to control characters, all Page
Layout options are ignored, with one exception: The side margin value (PM) is
used.
═══ 5.11.1. IBM-defined control characters supported by PCPRINT ═══
The following IBM-defined control characters are supported:
Code (hex) and meaning PCPRINT action after printing the line
01 = Write w/o spacing Add CR only
03 = No operation Ignore the line
09 = Space one line Add CR LF
0B = Space one line Add CR LF
11 = Space two lines Add CR LF LF
13 = Space two lines Add CR LF LF
19 = Space three lines Add CR LF LF LF
1B = Space three lines Add CR LF LF LF
89 = Skip to channel 1 Add CR FF
8B = Skip to channel 1 Add CR FF
CR = Carriage Return, LF = Line Feed, FF = Form Feed.
PCPRINT will change IBM-defined control characters in column 1 to displayable
characters (0 to 9). These changes are temporary and will not be saved unless
you explicitly do it (which you shouldn't). Doing a RECEIVE from the PEEK
screen is OK, since RECEIVE gets the data from the reader and ignores any
changes made while PEEKing.
Note: If you download a file with IBM-defined control characters to the PC,
and request EBCDIC to ASCII conversion, the control characters will be
translated also. PCPRINT cannot print such a PC file correctly. PCPRINT can
only interpret the control characters listed above, and the corresponding
displayable characters set by PCPRINT XEDIT.
═══ 5.11.2. ANSI-defined control characters supported by PCPRINT ═══
The following ANSI-defined control characters are supported:
Code and meaning PCPRINT action before printing the line
blank = Space 1 line Add CR LF
0 = Space 2 lines Add CR LF LF
- = Space 3 lines Add CR LF LF LF
+ = Suppress space Add CR only
1 = Skip to new page Add FF
CR = Carriage Return, LF = Line Feed, FF = Form Feed.
Note: If you download a file with ANSI control characters to the PC, and
request EBCDIC to ASCII conversion, the control characters will be translated
also. PCPRINT will print such a PC file correctly if you specify the ANSI
option on the command line or in a profile.
═══ 5.12. Printing documents with table reference characters ═══
Documents formatted for printing on the 3800 often have table reference
characters in column 2. These control the character set to be used. If such a
document is to be printed with PCPRINT, the TRC option is recommended. The
table reference characters will then be suppressed by PCPRINT. TRC assumes CC.
TRC with ANSI is not supported.
═══ 5.13. Closing PCPRINT ═══
To close PCPRINT,
o press F3, or
o select Exit from the Profile pull-down, or
o select Close from the System Menu.
Note: If you stop Communications Manager, you cannot restart it unless you
close PCPRINT first. (This is a CM limitation and not PCPRINT's fault.)
═══ 5.14. Printing just one host document ═══
If you want PCPRINT to terminate automatically after having printed one host
document, start PCPRINT with the ONCE option. For example,
pcprint once rh="The note from David" pm=5 dest=note1.txt
PCPRINT will display its window while processing the document (or waiting for
you to issue the commands on the host side to request the printout, if you
haven't already done that). You can interrupt the processing by selecting
Deactivate Host Print from the Print menu or the System Menu.
═══ 6. Using PCPRINT with MVS TSO ═══
PCPRINT is made primarily for the VM environment. However, it is possible to
print a document displayed with TSO ISPF BROWSE.
═══ 6.1. Starting PCPRINT ═══
Start PCPRINT with a profile like the one supplied as PCPRINT.TSO:
pcprint profile=c:\PCPRINT\pcprint.tso
PCPRINT TSO contains the following statements. If you want to understand how
this works, please read How PCPRINT works.
/screentm=3
/screenbm=0
/cmdline=2
/cmdcol=15
/msgsignal="L"
/top="OCATE 0"
/for="DOWN 21"
/eof="******************************** BOTTOM OF DATA"
/idline=1
/idcol=2
/idtext=BROWSE
/msgline=0
/msg="locate 0"
═══ 6.2. Printing an MVS file ═══
To print a file,
1. Display it with TSO ISPF BROWSE.
2. Type an L (letter ell) in upper case on the command line when you want
printing to start. Since TOP is defined as "OCATE 0", the command "LOCATE
0" will be executed.
3. When printing is complete, another "locate 0" will take you back to the
top of the file again (MSG command). This time locate is in lower case, to
avoid triggering a new printout.
═══ 6.3. Limitations with MVS TSO ═══
Printer control characters in col 1 and table reference characters in col 2 are
not supported in this environment.
═══ 7. Using PCPRINT's Print Screen support ═══
This support allows you to print host session screens, formatted with headings
and footings, by just pressing the Print Screen key. You can also copy the text
on the host session screen to a file.
═══ 7.1. Printing the host session screen ═══
To print the screen of a 3270 session, just press the Print Screen key. (Don't
hold down the shift key.) If the 3270 session you are using is the "Current
host session" for PCPRINT, PCPRINT will print the presentation space, in
accordance with the options you have selected. If a running heading or footing
is specified, and the string contains "%f", the %f will be replaced by "Session
xxxx" where xxxx is the long session name.
If for some reason the Print Screen key does not work, use this procedure:
1. Select the PCPRINT window or icon.
2. Press Ctrl-s or select Print Host Screen from the Print pull-down menu or
from the System Menu.
This procedure will work even if you forgot to put PCPRINT.DLL in a LIBPATH
directory.
Communications Manager also has a Print Screen function. This can be requested
by pressing shift-PrintScreen (unless keyboard remap has been used to move it
somewhere else). This function is not affected by PCPRINT.
In OS/2 2.x, there is also a general Print Screen function, which will print
an open window or the whole desktop (unless disabled in the System Settings
notebook). This function is also requested by pressing the PrintScreen key. To
avoid duplicates, PCPRINT disables the OS/2 Print Screen function for 3270
windows during startup.
You can only print text with PCPRINT. If you are displaying graphics, using
GDDM OS/2 Link, only the text on the screen (if any) is printed. To print the
graphics, stop PCPRINT and use the OS/2 2.x Print Screen function.
═══ 7.2. Copying the screen to a file ═══
To copy the screen to a file, just select Printer - File... from the PCPRINT
menu before pressing Print Screen.
Each time you press Print Screen, the file will be appended. This way you can
easily save a whole host dialog in a single file.
═══ 7.3. Printing the host session screen once ═══
If all you want to do is to print the host session screen and then terminate
PCPRINT, you can do this without ever seeing the PCPRINT window. Enter the
following command:
pcprint screen
This will print the host screen according to the specifications in PCPRINT.PRO.
You can add other options on the command line, for example
pcprint screen source=vmsess2 rh="This is the first VM error message"
═══ 8. Customizing the Host Print function ═══
This chapter describes a number of options which modify the way Host Print
works. Normally, you need not worry about this. Read this section if
o you are using a translated version of OS/2, and/or a non-U.S. keyboard
o you don't want to use the standard PCPRINT XEDIT macro
o you want to understand more about how PCPRINT works.
═══ 8.1. How PCPRINT works ═══
To use the customization options, you must understand the main logic of
PCPRINT:
1. PCPRINT will look, at two seconds intervals, for a certain character in
the first position of the XEDIT command line.
2. If PCPRINT finds this character, it checks that the VM screen is formatted
by PCPRINT XEDIT. It does this by checking for the string "PCPRINT"
starting in line 20 column 17. If PCPRINT didn't do this, printing could
start accidentally.
3. If everything is OK, PCPRINT will
a. retrieve the message line, which may contain PCPRINT options
b. send a TOP command
c. print lines 4 through 19
d. send a FOR command
e. print lines 4 through 19
f. send a FOR command
g. etc
until "* * * End Of File * * *" is found.
4. PCPRINT will then send a "COMMAND QUIT" command or a "MSG PCPRINT
processing complete" command, depending on which character that triggered
PCPRINT to start printing.
═══ 8.2. The customization options ═══
The behavior described above can be modified through the Host Screen Format and
the Host Communication panels, both of which are available from the Options
pull-down menu. You can change the values in the panels interactively until
PCPRINT works as you want it to, and then save the options in a profile. Or you
can create the profile using an editor and the keywords listed below.
═══ 8.2.1. Host Screen Format options ═══
PCPRINT must know how the host screen is formatted to be able to retrieve
documents from the host. The options in this dialog can be used to customize
PCPRINT to your host environment.
If you use VM and the standard PCPRINT host support, there is no need to change
these values.
For TSO, there is a sample profile in PCPRINT PACKAGE called PCPRINT TSO.
Command Line
This is he line number for the line where the command input area is. (In the VM
XEDIT case, this is the area after ====> .)
A negative number means 'counted from the bottom'. So -2 means line 23 on a
regular 3270 model 2 session.
The PCPRINT default is -2.
This option is coded as CMDLINE=number in a PCPRINT profile.
Command Column
This is he column where the first character of a host command is entered.
The PCPRINT default is 7.
This option is coded as CMDCOL=number in a PCPRINT profile.
Identification Line
The "Identification" concept is used to ensure that the expected panel is on
the host screen before lines to printed are retrieved or a command is issued.
PCPRINT verifies that the Identification Text is on the Identification Line,
starting in the Identification Column.
A negative number means 'counted from the bottom'. So -5 means line 20 on a
regular 3270 model 2 session.
The PCPRINT default is -5.
This option is coded as IDLINE=number in a PCPRINT profile.
Identification Column
PCPRINT verifies that the Identification Text is on the Identification Line,
starting in this column.
The PCPRINT default is 17.
This option is coded as IDCOL=number in a PCPRINT profile.
Identification Text
PCPRINT verifies that this text is on the Identification Line, starting in the
Identification Column.
The PCPRINT default is "PCPRINT".
This option is coded as IDTEXT="string" in a PCPRINT profile.
Message Line
This is the line number for the line where the host PCPRINT command is echoed.
Any text on this line following the first left parenthesis will be used as a
PCPRINT option.
To suppress this feature, set the message line number to 0.
A negative number means 'counted from the bottom'. So -3 means line 22 on a
regular 3270 model 2 session.
The PCPRINT default is -3.
This option is coded as MSGLINE=number in a PCPRINT profile.
Screen Top Margin
This is the number of lines to be skipped at the top of each screen.
The PCPRINT default is 3.
This option is coded as SCREENTM=number in a PCPRINT profile.
Screen Bottom Margin
This is the number of lines to be skipped at the bottom of each screen.
The PCPRINT default is 5.
This option is coded as SCREENBM=number in a PCPRINT profile.
═══ 8.2.2. Host Communication options ═══
These options define the signals and commands used to communicate between the
PC part and the host part of PCPRINT.
If you use VM and the standard PCPRINT host support, there is no need to change
these values.
For TSO, there is a sample profile in PCPRINT PACKAGE called PCPRINT TSO.
Advanced users may include EHLLAPI keyboard mnemonics in the TOP, FOR, QQ and
MSG strings. For example, @R for Reset or @8 for PF8. Use at your own risk. See
EHLLAPI Programming Reference (S04G-1027) for the complete list of codes.
Primary trigger character
When PCPRINT finds this character in the first position of the command input
area, it will start retrieving the document.
The PCPRINT default is ".
This option is coded as QQSIGNAL=character in a PCPRINT profile.
Alternate trigger character
Works the same as the Primary trigger character. The only difference is that
the Alternate final command will be issued last instead of the Primary final
command.
The PCPRINT default is a grave accent (ASCII x'60').
This default is fine for the U.S., but must be changed in most other countries.
This option is coded as MSGSIGNAL=character in a PCPRINT profile.
Checking Interval
This value determines how often PCPRINT will look for the trigger characters in
the command input area. The unit is seconds.
If you are running many copies of PCPRINT at the same time (monitoring
different sessions), or if you are using a comparatively slow PC, you may want
to increase the checking interval. Otherwise other programs, including the 3270
emulator, may be slowed down by PCPRINT.
But if you increase this value, PCPRINT will not respond as fast to your host
printing requests.
The PCPRINT default is 2 seconds.
If you change this value, the change will not take effect until you restart
PCPRINT. Therefore you should select Profile - Save after making the change.
This option is coded as INTERVAL=number in a PCPRINT profile.
Initial command
This is the first command sent to the host when one of the trigger characters
is found in the command input area.
The PCPRINT default is "TOP".
This option is coded as TOP="string" in a PCPRINT profile.
Page forward command
This command will be sent to the host when a screen full of data has been
processed.
The PCPRINT default is "FOR".
This option is coded as FOR="string" in a PCPRINT profile.
End-of-file string
PCPRINT will look for this string to indicate the end of the document.
The string MUST start in column 1.
The comparison is made without regard for lower and upper case. Only as many
bytes as are specified here are used in the comparison.
The PCPRINT default is "* * * End Of File * * *".
This option is coded as EOF="string" in a PCPRINT profile.
Primary final command
This command will be sent to the host after the End-of-file string has been
detected, if processing was triggered by the primary trigger character.
The PCPRINT default is "COMMAND QUIT".
This option is coded as QQ="string" in a PCPRINT profile.
Alternate final command
This command will be sent to the host after the End-of-file string has been
detected, if processing was triggered by the alternate trigger character.
The PCPRINT default is "MSG PCPRINT processing complete".
This option is coded as MSG="string" in a PCPRINT profile.
Emulator task title
This text identifies an entry in the OS/2 Task List as a 3270 session. You only
need to change this if you are using a translated version of OS/2. For example,
when using the French version, specify "Emulateur 3270".
The PCPRINT default is "3270 Emulator".
This option is coded as EMULATOR="string" in a PCPRINT profile.
═══ 8.3. National Language Support ═══
If you are using a translated version of OS/2, you may have to specify a
Emulator task title that is different from the default "3270 Emulator". See the
preceding paragraph.
If you are using a non-U.S. keyboard, or other code pages than the ones used
normally in the U.S., you may have to change the Alternate trigger character.
Check which character that is displayed in the XEDIT command area when you try
to print a note from RDRLIST/PEEK, and then set this as the Alternate trigger
character (MSGSIGNAL=x).
You might also want use the C=nn and PL=nn options to set the paper length and
number of lines per page to something else than 66.
If you put all these options in PCPRINT.PRO, they will automatically take
effect when you start PCPRINT.
All messages and other text strings used in PCPRINT are stored in a so-called
resource file. All help information is in another separate file. This makes it
relatively easy to translate PCPRINT to another language.
═══ 9. Problem determination ═══
═══ 9.1. General hints ═══
1. If you are using the host print support, try to isolate the problem to the
host side or the PC side. The best way of doing this is to
a. find a colleague who has PCPRINT working,
b. log on with your VM or TSO id from his workstation. If PCPRINT now
works, there is something wrong with the PC side of your installation.
Review the "Installing PCPRINT" section.
c. ask him to log on with his id from your workstation. If PCPRINT now
works, there is something wrong with the host side. If using VM, check
that you access the same versions of PCPRINT EXEC, PCPRINT XEDIT,
WORKSTAT FILE and $$PRNT$$ $$FILE$$ as your colleague.
2. If the problem seems to be with the Host Print function,
o Read How PCPRINT works.
o Check the values in the Host Screen Format and Host Communication panels
and make sure they are correct.
═══ 9.2. PCPRINT error messages ═══
PCPRINT error messages are shown in a dialog box, with the following
explanation available through the Help button:
The following string cannot be found in the task list
PCPRINT expects to find the string in the Task List entries for the 3270
sessions. If you are using a translated version of OS/2, you have to select
Host Communication from the Options menu and change 3270 emulator task title.
PCPRINT.DLL could not be loaded.
Make sure PCPRINT.DLL is in a directory listed in the LIBPATH statement in
CONFIG.SYS.
Until this error is corrected, automatic session selection will not work. And
print screen cannot be done by pressing the Print Screen key, only by selecting
Print host screen from the Print menu.
PCPRINT.DLL is corrupt.
Make sure PCPRINT.DLL has been correctly downloaded and that you are not using
an old version.
Until this error is corrected, automatic session selection will not work. And
print screen cannot be done by pressing the Print Screen key, only by selecting
Print host screen from the Print menu.
PCPRINT.DLL is not responding.
Make sure PCPRINT.DLL has been correctly downloaded and that you are not using
an old version.
Until this error is corrected, automatic session selection will not work. And
print screen cannot be done by pressing the Print Screen key, only by selecting
Print host screen from the Print menu.
Your FCLDLGP.DLL is back-level. Get the latest version.
PCPRINT wanted to use FCLDLGP.DLL but obtained a version of this file which was
too old for PCPRINT to use. Use PMSEEK to find all copies of FCLDLGP.DLL in
your system and erase them. Then install the version which comes with the
latest version of PCPRINT.
Until this error is corrected, PCPRINT will use a very rudimentary file
selection dialog.
Error printing this PC file
The file could not be printed. The most probable cause is an incorrect file
name.
Error printing host screen.
The host screen could not be printed.
═══ 9.3. OfficeVision/VM Error messages ═══
If you get an error message from OfficeVision/VM when you try to print a
OfficeVision/VM document, you probably haven't set up WORKSTAT FILE and/or
$$PRNT$$ $$FILE$$ exactly as specified in chapter 3.
═══ 9.4. Formatting problems ═══
If PCPRINT doesn't seem to honor IBM-defined or ANSI control characters, try
printing the document with Host Print inactive. This will give you a chance to
check what is displayed on the XEDIT command line before PCPRINT.EXE issues the
TOP command. The first character should be a grave accent or a double quote.
The second character should be M for a file with IBM-defined control
characters, A for a file with ANSI control characters, T for a file with table
reference characters. If it is not, using the CC, ANSI or TRC option might be
the solution.
═══ 9.5. Collisions with other communication programs ═══
PCPRINT will not monopolize the host session. It will connect to the host
session for a few milliseconds once every two seconds to see if there is work
for it to be done. You don't have to stop PCPRINT to run SEND, RECEIVE,
CMMOUSE, or other host communication programs.
Occasionally, the other communication program may display an error message,
complaining that the host session is already in use by PCPRINT. This only means
it tried to connect to the host session during the few milliseconds PCPRINT is
connected. Just try again.
If this happens too often, there are several things you can do:
1. You can decrease the risk for collisions by increasing the Checking
Interval.
2. You can deactivate Host Print before starting the other communication
program. Or you can start PCPRINT with the STARTINACTIVE option and
activate Host Print only when you want to PCPRINT a document. See
Controlling the Host Print function.
3. You can use the PCPRCTRL program. The following is the help information
displayed if you enter PCPRCTRL without parameters.
Syntax: PCPRCTRL function session_id
where "function" is SUSPEND, RESUME, CHECK or STOP
and "session_id" is a one-character short session name.
SUSPEND: This will stop PCPRINT from trying to connect to the
specified session. Use to avoid collisions with
other communication programs.
RESUME: PCPRINT will resume normal operation for the specified session.
CHECK: PCPRCTRL will display the current status of the specified session.
STOP: This can be used to stop PCPRINT from a .CMD file.
Example: A CMD file for file downloading might contain:
d:\pcprint\pcprctrl suspend a
(statements to run the file downloading program)
d:\pcprint\pcprctrl resume a
PCPRCTRL requires PCPRINT release 2.6 or later.
═══ 9.6. "Nothing happens" ═══
If the note or file is displayed on your screen but not printed, check
1. that PCPRINT.EXE is running and displays "Host Print status: Active -
waiting".
2. that "Current host session: " shows the right host session.
3. that there is a special character (EBCDIC x'79', which is a grave accent
in the U.S.) or a double quote (") in the first position of the XEDIT
command input area.
4. that the same character is shown as Primary trigger character or Alternate
trigger character in the Options - Host Communication panel.
5. that PCPRINT knows where the XEDIT command input area is. Check Command
Line and Command Column in the Options - Host Screen Format panel.
6. that the string PCPRINT (or whatever you have specified as Identification
Text, if you have changed the default) is on the screen.
7. that PCPRINT looks for the PCPRINT string in the right place. Check
Identification Line and Identification Column in the Host Screen Format
panel.
8. that you haven't used PCPRCTRL to suspend the host session.
If PCPRINT works when your host session is defined as a model 2 screen, but
not when it is defined as a model 3, 4, or 5 screen, it is probably because
there is something wrong with your terminal definitions on the host side. The
XEDIT command line with model 3, for example, should be on row 31. If it is on
row 23 even though you are running as a 32-line terminal, talk to your host
support people. Using PVM or VCNA sometimes causes this type of problem.