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Chapter 3
Modifying Print Jobs and Displaying the Status of Print Jobs and Queues

You can display, delete, and modify your print jobs using the commands described in this chapter. You can also list the print jobs in the queue and the status of your print jobs.

3.1 Displaying Print Jobs

The SHOW ENTRY command allows you to display information about your print jobs.

If you want to see the status of a particular print job, include the job number in the SHOW ENTRY command. For example:


$ SHOW ENTRY 96


Entry        Jobname         Username   Blocks  Status 
-----        --------        --------   ------  ------ 
96           MEMO            MSMITH     114     Holding until 27- 17:00 
    On idle printer queue LP40$A14 

You can get more information about the print job if you include the /FULL qualifier. For example:


$ SHOW ENTRY 96/FULL


Entry        Jobname         Username  Blocks  Status 
-----        --------        --------  ------  ------ 
96           MEMO            MSMITH    114     Holding until 27- 17:00 
    On idle printer queue LPS40$A14 
    Submitted 27- 10:36 /FORM=DCPS$DEFAULT (stock=DEFAULT) /NOTIFY 
    /PARAM=("DATA=AUTOMATIC") /PRIORITY=100 
    File: _$1$DUA10:[MSMITH]MEMO.TXT;1 
    File: _$1$DUA10:[MSMITH]FILE_SNIFF.TXT;1 
    File: _$1$DUA10:[MSMITH]INFOPLAN.TXT;1 
    File: _$1$DUA10:[MSMITH]MONTHLY_REPORT.TXT;2 
    File: _$1$DUA10:[MSMITH]SPECIAL_SEPARATION_PAGES.TXT;1 
    File: _$1$DUA10:[MSMITH]VTPW.TXT;1 

The /FULL qualifier displays the status of the print job in the queue. The print job in the example is holding, because it was submitted with the /AFTER qualifier to delay starting the print job. The print job status may be any one of those listed in Table 3-1.

Table 3-1 Print Job Status
Status Meaning
Printing On a local printer, the print job is currently printing. On a network printer, the print job may be printing, or a job from another system may be printing.
Holding The print job is waiting to print because it was submitted with the /AFTER qualifier or the /HOLD qualifier, or the SET ENTRY/HOLD command was entered for the job. To release the print job for printing, use the /RELEASE qualifier in the SET ENTRY command (see Section 3.4).
Pending The print job is waiting to be printed. Other print jobs are ahead of this job in the queue, or the job is waiting for the appropriate type of media to be mounted in the printer.
Retained The print job has completed but it is being retained in the queue.

You can display all your print jobs by entering the SHOW ENTRY command without specifying the print job number. For example:


$ SHOW ENTRY


Entry        Jobname         Username  Blocks  Status 
-----        --------        --------  ------  ------ 
96           MEMO            MSMITH    114     Holding until 27- 17:00 
    On busy printer queue LP40$A14 
75           AUTO            MSMITH    368     Pending 
    On busy printer queue PS40$A10 
68           BOOK_LIST       MSMITH     78     Printing 
    On busy printer queue PS40$A10 

You can use the following qualifiers with the SHOW ENTRY command to display print jobs:
SHOW ENTRY Qualifier Displays ...
/BRIEF A short summary about one or more print jobs. This is the default display if you do not include the /FULL qualifier.
/BY_JOB_STATUS=( keyword,...) Print jobs that have the status you specify for the keyword. The status types are listed in Table 3-1.
/FILES The file names of the files in each print job displayed.
/FULL Complete information about the print job, including job status and files to be printed.
/USER_NAME= user-name The print jobs for the user you specify.

3.2 Displaying Print Queues

You can display a list of all of your print jobs in a queue and the status of the print queue, by using the SHOW QUEUE command.

Note

Remote nodes in the network may have print queues sending jobs to the same printer, but queues on those nodes are not displayed.

To see all of your print jobs in a queue, enter the SHOW QUEUE command followed by the name of the print queue:


$ SHOW QUEUE LPS40$A10


Printer queue LPS40$A10, on LEVEL::A10, mounted form DCPS$DEFAULT 
(stock=DEFAULT) 
Entry        Jobname         Username  Blocks  Status 
-----        --------        --------  ------  ------ 
96           MEMO            MSMITH    114     Holding until 27- 17:00 

If you wish to see print jobs belonging to all users, and you have sufficient privileges to do so, use the SHOW QUEUE/ALL command.

You can list all the queues in the system by entering the SHOW QUEUE command with no queue name.

You can use the following qualifiers to specify the type of information to display about a queue or queues:
SHOW QUEUE Qualifier Displays ...
/ALL_JOBS All the print jobs in a queue. If you do not include this qualifier, the SHOW QUEUE command displays your print jobs in the queue.
/BRIEF A short summary about one or more print jobs. This is the default display if you do not include the /FULL qualifier.
/BY_JOB_STATUS=( keyword,...) Print jobs that have the status you specify for the keyword. The status types are listed in Table 3-1.
/FILES The file names of the files in each print job displayed.
/FORM Information about the forms that are defined (see Chapter 14).
/FULL Information about the print job, including job status and files to be printed.
/SUMMARY A short message about the status of the queue and the print jobs in the queue.

3.3 Deleting a Print Job

You can remove a print job from the queue by using the DELETE/ENTRY command. If the print job is being printed, this command terminates printing and deletes the print job.

If the system manager sets up the queue to retain print jobs, your print job remains in the queue after you use the DELETE/ENTRY command. In this case, use the DELETE/ENTRY command twice to remove the job from the queue.

Include the job number of the print job to be deleted after the DELETE/ENTRY command. For example:


$ DELETE/ENTRY=96


Job MEMO (queue LP40$A10, entry 96) terminated with error status 
%JBC-F-JOBDELETE, job deleted before execution 
%DELETE, entry 96 aborting or deleted 

3.4 Modifying a Print Job

You can modify a print job that has not started printing. You can change the queue for the print job, or any of the print job attributes that you specified in the PRINT command. You cannot modify a print job that has begun printing.

Use the SET ENTRY command to modify the status, queue, or attributes of a print job. Specify the job number and any qualifiers in the SET ENTRY command. The following example shows how to change the print queue for print job number 318. To specify the new queue, use the SET ENTRY command with the /REQUEUE qualifier.


$ PRINT *.MSG/AFTER=17:00/QUEUE=PS40$A10


Job AUTO (queue PS40$A10, entry 318) holding until 27- 17:00 


$ SET ENTRY 318/REQUEUE=LP40$A10
$ SHOW QUEUE LP40$A10


Printer queue LP40$A10, on MOON::A10::, mounted form DCPS$DEFAULT 
(stock=DEFAULT) 
Entry          Jobname         Username  Blocks  Status 
-------        --------        --------  ------  ------ 
318            AUTO            MSMITH     368    Holding until 27- 17:00 

Use the SET ENTRY command to release a print job that is Holding. Include the /RELEASE qualifier in the SET ENTRY command to release the print job. For example:


$ SET ENTRY 318/RELEASE


%DCPS-I-JOBSTART, Job AUTO (queue LP40$A10, entry 318) started 
on LP40$A10 

You can change the qualifiers and print parameters for a print job using SET ENTRY. Include the job number and the new qualifier or parameter values in the SET ENTRY command.

If your PRINT command included more than one print parameter, you must include them all in the SET ENTRY command. You cannot modify only one of the print parameters without affecting the others that you included in the PRINT command. If you modify only one parameter, the others are reset to default values. For example, you could submit a print job with the following command:


$ PRINT/PARAMETERS=(SIDES=2,PAGE_ORIENTATION=LANDSCAPE) MYFILE.RPT
Job MYFILE (queue PS40$A10, entry 329)

To modify the page orientation setting for this print job, you must include the SIDES parameter, as well:


$ SET ENTRY 329/PARAMETERS=(SIDES=2,PAGE_ORIENTATION=PORTRAIT)
$ SHOW ENTRY 329/FULL


Entry        Jobname         Username  Blocks  Status 
-----        --------        --------  ------  ------ 
329          MYFILE          MSMITH       4    Holding until 27- 17:00 
    On Printer queue PS40$A10 
    Submitted 27- 11:50 /FORM=DCPS$DEFAULT (stock=DEFAULT) /NOTIFY 
    /PARAMETERS=("SIDES=2","PAGE_ORIENTATION=PORTRAIT") /PRIORITY=100 
    File: _$1$DUA10:[MSMITH]MYFILE.RPT;2 


Chapter 4
Copying and Printing Files from a PC

This chapter contains tips for printing from a PC. For specific information about printing from DOS or your application, see the information provided by DOS Help or your application documentation.

4.1 Copying Files from a PC to an OpenVMS System

If you are copying your file from a PC to an OpenVMS system and then printing it, the resulting file must have one of the OpenVMS file formats listed in Table 4-1.

Table 4-1 PC File Interchange Formats
OpenVMS Record Format Record Attributes File Creation Mechanism
Stream Any Format for files transferred from a PC to an OpenVMS system using the PATHWORKS COPY command.
Variable length None Format for files transferred from a PC to an OpenVMS system using KERMIT in binary mode.
Undefined Any Generated by some applications. Format is acceptable for files with binary data.
Fixed format None Format for files transferred from a PC to an OpenVMS system using the PATHWORKS Network File Transfer (NFT) utility, using the COPY/IMAGE command.

4.2 Printing Binary Files from a PC

When you print files with binary data (such as images, fonts, and so forth) directly from a PC using PATHWORKS, you may have to use the COPY/B command rather than the NET PRINT command. For example, the following command may create a file that does not print:


M:\>  NET PRINT file LPT1: /PARAMETERS="DATA_TYPE=PCL"

In this case, print the file using the following commands:


 M:\> NET PRINT LPT1:  /SET /PARAMETERS="DATA_TYPE=PCL"
 
 M:\> COPY/B font-or-macro-file.dat + data-file.dat LPT1:

The NET PRINT command is supported in PATHWORKS Version 3.0 and Version 4.0.

4.3 Printing Files Generated on a PC or Macintosh System

When generating PostScript files on a PC or Macintosh system, for eventual printing through DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS software, you should keep the following points in mind:

  1. Use of Printer-Specific Code
    PC and Macintosh printer drivers often generate PostScript code that is specific to a printer and to the set of printer options for which you configured the driver (for example, printer brand and model, trays available, whether the printer can perform duplex printing, how much memory is available in the printer, etc.). If you later attempt to print such a file on a different type of printer or a printer with a different set of options, the file may not print correctly.
    Try to generate a file that is specific to the printer and printer options that you ultimately intend to use. Alternatively, attempt to select a generic printer (for example, PostScript Level 1, optimized for portability, with few options) to increase your chances of being able to print the file on multiple printer configurations. (Also see Section 6.5.)
  2. Use of Feature-Specific PostScript Code
    PC and Macintosh applications and printer drivers often generate PostScript code that is specific to a set of printer features that you select when you generate the file (for example, which tray to use, the number of uncollated copies, simplex or duplex, etc.). When your PostScript file contains explicit requests for such features, the corresponding DCPS parameters (for example, INPUT_TRAY, OUTPUT_TRAY, SHEET_COUNT, SIDES, etc.) have no impact on your print job.
    If your application and printer driver allow you to default certain settings (for example, the input tray) to the current printer setting, do so and then specify the desired setting using a DCPS parameter. Otherwise, use your application or driver to specify the feature and omit the corresponding DCPS parameter.
  3. Assumptions about Printer-Specific Setup
    The physical setup of a printer can vary from printer to printer, and over time. For example, you might generate a PostScript file to print to the top input tray because you know that the top tray on your printer contains yellow paper and you want to print on yellow paper. However, if you then send the file to another printer of the same brand and model, or even the same printer at a later date, the top tray may contain other media.
    For printer features that DCPS does not allow you to specify and that your application and printer driver also do not allow you to specify (for example, media type), verify that the physical setup of the target printer is as you desire before sending your file to it. If not, you may have to regenerate the file for the reasons given in items number 1 and 2 above.

4.4 Printing with the Adobe Windows Printer Driver

To avoid wrap problems when printing PostScript output from the Adobe Windows printer driver, take the following steps:

  1. Enter the PS Options menu from the driver Set-up window
  2. Change the Protocol Options item to None (AppleTalk)
  3. Disable the Send Binary Data feature

4.5 Printing with the Microsoft Windows PSCRPT Driver

To successfully print from a Microsoft Windows application with the Microsoft PSCRPT.DRV driver, follow these steps:

  1. Before printing the PostScript document, enter the following variables into your WIN.INI file for each [printer, port] combination:


    LandscapeOrient=270 
    CtrlD=0 
    

  2. Set the following options in the Advanced Options Print Setup dialog box:

    This procedure helps you create PostScript documents that are printable on many printers.

    If you cannot re-create a failed PostScript document, and you must print it on the printer where it failed, modify the print job to ignore unrecognized PostScript operators. See Section 6.6 for information about modifying print jobs.

    4.6 Using the Network Printer Setup Utility

    The Network Printer Setup utility helps PC users use DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS options through PATHWORKS. This utility allows you to set options, such as two-up or four-up printing and multiple copies, on a network printer hosted by a PATHWORKS server.

    4.6.1 Software Required

    The Network Printer Setup utility works with PATHWORKS Version 4.0, 5.0, and 5.1 servers.

    The Network Printer Setup utility is provided as a Windows utility (PRINTOPT.EXE) with Windows Help, and as a DOS utility (PRINTSET.EXE). The files for this utility are in the following location:


    SYS$COMMON:[SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS.NETPRINT]NETPRX11.ZIP 
    

    To install and use the utility, follow the directions given in the README.TXT file in the same directory.

    Note

    This utility is available to PATHWORKS customers on an unsupported basis.

    4.6.2 Features of the Network Printer Utility

    The Network Printer Setup utility sets default options in the PATHWORKS server that are applied to all jobs printed on a network printer connection. For example, you can set the default number of copies, the default orientation, and the default page options using this utility.

    Different printer connections may have different defaults associated with them. Establish defaults with this utility and then print as usual: directly from Windows applications, from DOS applications, or by copying files to the network printer port.

    Some of the options you can specify with the Network Printer Setup utility are supported only by PostScript printers controlled by the DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS software. For example, NUMBER_UP is a feature of the DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS software.


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