Compaq DECprint Supervisor (DCPS) for OpenVMS
Release Notes


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2.14 LIST Translator Ignores PAGE_SIZE Parameter

The LIST translator ignores the PAGE_SIZE parameter when formatting pages. It creates pages with maximum content at a size adequate for both A (Letter) and A4 paper:

PORTRAIT ORIENTATION: 80 columns, 70 lines
LANDSCAPE ORIENTATION: 150 columns, 66 lines

It is still possible to use PAGE_SIZE and SHEET_SIZE parameters together to scale the logical page onto a different size sheet.

2.15 Embedded PJL Commands Discarded; Avoid Binary Mode

Drivers that create files for PJL printers, such as those for the DEClaser 5100 and the HP LaserJet IV family, include printer control commands in HP Printer Job Language (PJL). DCPS filters out and discards that data. Therefore, printer options selected by such drivers do not affect the print job.

When using these drivers, do NOT select binary mode. It will insert additional commands into the file that can cause incorrect behavior when printing via DCPS. The exact form of behavior depends on which printer is actually connected to the queue and whether or not the job passes through a DCPS translator.

2.16 Unreliable Communication After Errors on Some Printers

Unexpected errors can occur at the end of a print job when printing to some printers using the AppleTalk interconnect. The printers which can exhibit problems include the LaserWriter Pro 600, LaserWriter Pro 630, the LaserWriter IIg, and the LaserWriter IIf. Generally, the unexpected error occurs when an explainable error occurred during the print job; for example, a PostScript error which causes the PostScript interpreter to "Flush to the EOJ", or a timeout error while waiting for manual feed. The behavior a user may see includes one of more of the following:

The user's part of the print job prints as expected. The unexpected error occurs during the end of job processing (for example, getting the page count or the job trailer page printed) done by the DECprint Supervisor. Once the offending job is complete, subsequent jobs print as expected. No system operator intervention is needed.

2.17 Deleting Job When Using AppleTalk

When printing using an AppleTalk interconnect, a request to delete a job (DELETE/ENTRY) is accomplished by closing the connection to the printer. The AppleTalk protocol does not provide for interrupting the PostScript interpreter; therefore, the printer will continue to print page descriptions that are contained in its buffer before it stops printing the job. A job trailer page will not be printed.

2.18 Avoid STOP/QUEUE/RESET Usage for PrintServer Printer Which Is Rejecting Connections

If you issue a STOP/QUEUE/RESET command for a queue to a DIGITAL PrintServer printer while there is a job in the "Starting" state and while the printer is rejecting connections (because, for example, the PrintServer is powered off or is booting), the queue will stop. Occasionally the symbiont process will not terminate. Avoid issuing this command until the PrintServer printer becomes available. If the job is in the "Starting" state and also in the PrintServer printer's job queue, a STOP/QUEUE/RESET will execute correctly.

2.19 No Job Trailer Page on DELETE/ENTRY

If you issue a DELETE/ENTRY command when the printer is printing the job trailer page, it is possible to delete the printing of this page. Also, if you issue a DELETE/ENTRY command for a job printing on a PrintServer printer after all the data for the file is sent, it is possible that the job trailer page will not print.

2.20 Problems with PostScript Files When Printing with /COPIES

When you use the /COPIES qualifier with a PostScript file, DCPS surrounds each file with a PostScript "save" and "restore" to avoid exhausting virtual memory in the printer.

However, there are infrequent cases when the print job aborts with an invalid restore error message. If this occurs, use the /JOB_COUNT qualifier instead of /COPIES.

2.21 Problems Using PAGE_LIMIT with /JOB_COUNT

If you use the PAGE_LIMIT parameter with the /JOB_COUNT qualifier, you are apt to get undesired results. In particular, if your intent is to suppress some initial pages of your job, DCPS will suppress them for the first copy of the job but print all pages of subsequent job copies. If your intent is to suppress some of the trailing pages of your job, DCPS will suppress them for the first copy of the job and omit subsequent job copies.

If you want multiple copies of your job with some pages suppressed, issue the PRINT command the desired number of times rather than using the /JOB_COUNT qualifier.

2.22 Setting I/O Buffers Too Small May Produce OPCOM Errors

If the size of the I/O buffers, set by the SYSGEN parameter MAXBUF, is too small, the print queue will be stopped, and the following message will be displayed to OPCOM:


    %SYSTEM-E-EXQUOTA, process quota exceeded 

If this error occurs, increase the value of the SYSGEN parameter MAXBUF.

2.23 Cannot Start Queue for PrintServer Printer

Because of a CPAP protocol bug in some versions of DIGITAL PrintServer Software, DCPS symbionts can be given a badly formatted packet in response to a resource query. The bad packet prevents a symbiont from starting.

The problem is triggered by loading enough resources to require more than one packet describing the resources loaded to be returned. The suggested workaround is to load fewer resources. Empirical testing has found the limit to be 7 fonts.

This problem is fixed in version S5.0-29 and later of the PrintServer Software.


Chapter 3
Other Restrictions that Affect DCPS

This section contains information about other problems that are known to impact DECprint Supervisor and remedial patch kits ("ECOs") that address some of these problems.

You can obtain these remedial patch kits (or an update to them)

3.1 DCPS Processes Consume Memory and Pagefile

Over time, DCPS print symbiont processes may consume increasing amounts of memory and pagefile space, resulting in system performance problems. This problem is seen only on OpenVMS Alpha V7.1-2 systems.

The following DECthreads patch kit fixes this problem:

3.2 Problems Starting Queues with Multistreamed Symbionts

All sites running DECprint Supervisor as a multistreamed process on OpenVMS V7.1 and earlier should install the Queue Manager Remedial Update.

The Queue Manager remedial update kits are:

This update corrects problems that cause the START/QUEUE command to hang under certain circumstances when operating with a multistreamed symbiont. The release notes provided with the kit describe all the problems fixed by this update. After installing this update, you need to reboot your system to enable these changes.

If this update is not installed you may encounter the following problem. If a queue running in a multistreamed process is stopped with STOP/QUEUE/RESET, then quickly started with START/QUEUE, it is possible that the start request will hang. In addition, sometimes the following message will be written to OPCOM:


    %DCPS-F-STREAMUSE, Request 4 for Stream Id n ignored. 
    Not consistent with symbiont state 

To recover, issue a Ctrl/Y to return to the DCL prompt, then issue a STOP/QUEUE/RESET again, wait a few seconds, and try to start the queue again. To avoid this problem, install the queue manager update.

3.3 Problem Starting Queues for LAT- and Direct-Connected Printers

There is an OpenVMS V7.0 terminal driver problem that may hinder you in using DCPS with LAT- and direct-connected printers. The symptom is that the associated queue cannot be started, with messages like the following being written to OPCOM:


    %%%%%%%%%%%  OPCOM  31-OCT-1995 21:53:55.73  %%%%%%%%%%% 
    Message from user SYSTEM on FUNYET 
    Queue SYS$PRINT: %DCPS-E-UNSUPPORTED, unsupported operation or function 
 
    %%%%%%%%%%%  OPCOM  31-OCT-1995 21:53:55.74  %%%%%%%%%%% 
    Message from user QUEUE_MANAGE on FUNYET 
    %QMAN-I-QUENOTSTART, queue SYS$PRINT could not be started on node FUNYET 
 
    %%%%%%%%%%%  OPCOM  31-OCT-1995 21:53:55.74  %%%%%%%%%%% 
    Message from user QUEUE_MANAGE on FUNYET 
    -SYSTEM-F-ABORT, abort 

The failure may be constant or intermittent. If you subsequently attempt to start the queue, you may succeed.

The following patch kits fix this problem:

3.4 I/O Errors for Serially-Connected Printers

There is an OpenVMS terminal driver problem that may result in your printer reporting I/O problems when connected to a serial port of your OpenVMS system. You may see the problem with OpenVMS Alpha V6.2 through V7.0, and with OpenVMS VAX V5.5 through V7.0, depending in part on what kind of serial port you are using.

The problem is that the terminal driver sometimes does not respond quickly enough to an XOFF request from the printer to prevent the printer from losing data.

This problem is fixed in OpenVMS Alpha V7.1.

The following patch kits fix this problem:

3.5 Symbiont Aborts with Insufficient Dynamic Memory Error

There is a DECthreads problem on OpenVMS VAX V7.0 and V7.1 systems that results in the DCPS symbiont aborting with an INSFMEM error. The DCPS symbiont consumes an increasing amount of memory over time, eventually aborting when it attempts to obtain more than the available dynamic memory. The probability of the symbiont aborting increases with each new print job that it processes.

The following patch kits fix this problem:

3.6 Symbionts Aborts with Access Violation or Bad Parameter Error

The DCPS symbiont can abort with an ACCVIO or BADPARAM error, possibly also indicating the CMA (DECthreads) facility, beginning 19 May 1997. Other software on your system, including DIGITAL TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS and anything layered upon DECthreads, may also fail after this date.

The problem is related to a long-standing OpenVMS restriction of fewer than 10,000 days in a delta-time value. POSIX-related software in particular, using the UNIX reference date of 1 January 1970, can encounter this limit on and after 19 May 1997. Refer to the OpenVMS web pages ( http://www.openvms.compaq.com ) for more information about the "Delta-Time Limit".

The following patch kits fix this problem:


Chapter 4
Printer-Specific Information

The following sections provide information about using DCPS with specific printers. The DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS System Manager's Guide and DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS User's Guide contain additional printer-specific information.

4.1 HP LaserJet 2100 and 2200

4.1.1 Media Size Not Selectable

The HP LaserJet 2100 and 2200 printers cannot detect the size of paper in their trays. Therefore, the following restrictions apply when using DCPS with this printer:

To avoid printing on the wrong size paper, set the tray with the default paper size "unlocked" and set all other trays "locked".

4.1.2 Problems Starting Queues

Some models in this series may not allow DCPS jobs to start. To resolve this, either set the printer to PostScript mode or suppress DCPS's PostScript synchronization. See Section 2.2 in these Release Notes or the DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS System Manager's Guide for more information.

4.2 HP LaserJet 9000

4.2.1 Optional Stapler

Output trays STACKER and STAPLER refer to the same physical tray, included with the HP LaserJet 9000's optional finisher.

When printing to the STAPLER tray, the printer will staple output by default and place the staple in the default staple position.

The preferred way to specify stapling is with the DCPS parameter STAPLE, which offers four different staple positions and takes page orientation into account when determining staple position. Therefore, when specifying stapled output with the STAPLE parameter, use OUTPUT_TRAY=STACKER.

4.3 Lexmark Optra S, Optra T and T Series

4.3.1 Problems Starting Queues

Some models in the Lexmark Optra S, Optra T and T series may not allow DCPS jobs to start. To resolve this, either set the printer to PostScript mode or suppress DCPS's PostScript synchronization. See Section 2.2 in these Release Notes or the DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS System Manager's Guide for more information.


Appendix A
Raw TCP/IP Port Numbers

When setting up a DCPS queue using a raw TCP/IP connection, check the documentation for your network interface card (NIC), print server or terminal server to determine the number of its raw TCP/IP port (if it has one). The raw TCP/IP port must support bidirectional communication between the printer and your OpenVMS system.

Table A-1 shows the port numbers for some commonly-used devices.

Table A-1 Raw TCP/IP Port Numbers
  20nn DECserver terminal servers, where "nn" is the physical port number
  2501 DIGITAL LN17ps and DIGITAL Laser Printer LN17+ps
    Emulex NICs
  3001 DIGITAL Laser Printer LN15 and LN15+
    DIGITAL RapidPrint 500 print server
  6869 Compaq Laser Printer LNC02
    DIGITAL Laser Printer LN20, LN40 and LNC02
  9100 Compaq Laser Printer LN16, LN32 and LNM40
    GENICOM Intelliprint mL, LN and microLaser printers
    GENICOM RapidPrint MPS100 print server
    HP LaserJet printers
    IBM InfoPrint printers
    Lexmark C, Optra, S, Optra T, T and W series printers
    Tektronix Phaser printers
    Xerox DocuPrint N printers
    HP JetDirect, Lexmark and XCD print servers


Appendix B
List of Files Installed on Alpha Systems


DCPS021.RELEASE_NOTES                     [SYSHLP] 
DCPS$HELP.HLP                             [SYSHLP] 
DCPS$SMBSHR.EXE                           [SYSLIB] 
DCPS$SMB.EXE                              [SYSEXE] 
DCPS$MSG.EXE                              [SYSMSG] 
DCPS$TRNPRC.EXE                           [SYSLIB] 
DCPS$BE_SERIAL.EXE                        [SYSLIB] 
DCPS$BE_CPAP.EXE                          [SYSLIB] 
DCPS$BE_APPLETALK.EXE                     [SYSLIB] 
TRN$DDIF_PS.EXE                           [SYSLIB] 
TRN$DDIF_IMAGE.EXE                        [SYSLIB] 
TRN$ANSI_PS.EXE                           [SYSLIB] 
TRN$PROPRINTER_PS.EXE                     [SYSLIB] 
TRN$PCL_PS.EXE                            [SYSLIB] 
TRN$LIST_PS.EXE                           [SYSLIB] 
TRN$REGIS_PS.EXE                          [SYSLIB] 
TRN$TEK4014_PS.EXE                        [SYSLIB] 
DCPS$DEVCTL.TLB                           [SYSLIB] 
DCPS$STARTUP.TEMPLATE                     [SYS$STARTUP] 
DCPS$REQUIRED.COM                         [SYS$STARTUP] 
DCPS$GET_VERSION.COM                      [SYS$STARTUP] 
DCPS$EXECUTION_QUEUE.COM                  [SYS$STARTUP] 
DCPS$GENERIC_QUEUE.COM                    [SYS$STARTUP] 
DCPS$IVP.COM                              [SYSTEST] 
DCPS$IVP_ANSI.DAT                         [SYSTEST.DCPS] 
DCPS$IVP_POST.DAT                         [SYSTEST.DCPS] 
DCPS$IVP_PCL.DAT                          [SYSTEST.DCPS] 
DCPS$IVP_PROPRINTER.DAT                   [SYSTEST.DCPS] 
DCPS$IVP_LIST.DAT                         [SYSTEST.DCPS] 
DCPS$IVP_REGIS.DAT                        [SYSTEST.DCPS] 
DCPS$IVP_TEK4014.DAT                      [SYSTEST.DCPS] 
LPS$SINGLEHOLES.LUP                       DCPS$LAYUP: 
LPS$DOUBLEHOLES.LUP                       DCPS$LAYUP: 
LPS$HOLES.LUP                             DCPS$LAYUP: 
LPS$NUP.LUP                               DCPS$LAYUP: 
COLOR-PRINTER-FULL-PAGE.LUP               DCPS$LAYUP: 
COLORWRITER-2000-FULL-PAGE.LUP            DCPS$LAYUP: 
PROPRINTER-FULL-PAGE.LUP                  DCPS$LAYUP: 
FULL-A4-LANDSCAPE.LUP                     DCPS$LAYUP: 
CPS_TO_DCPS_STARTUP.COM                   [SYS$STARTUP] 
LPS_ANSI_PROLOGUE.PS                      [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
UPDATE-ANSI-PROLOGUE.COM                  [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
FONT_DOWNLOADER.COM                       [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
LPS$SET_PRINTER_NAME.PS                   [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
LPS$SET_TIMEOUT.PS                        [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
DCW1000_CONFIG.PS                         [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
DCW1000_DEVPARAM.PS                       [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
DCW1000_STARTPG.PS                        [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
DCW1000_NOSTRTPG.PS                       [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
DCW1000_PRNTCNFG.PS                       [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
DCW1000_PSCRIPT.PS                        [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
FAX_3500_PRINTME.PS                       [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
DL3500_SEND_FAX_PS.PS                     [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
DL3500_SEND_FAX_PS_SENDPS.PS              [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
DL3500_SEND_FAX_TEXT.PS                   [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
DL3500_SEND_FAX_TEXT_SENDPS.PS            [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
DCPS$FILE_EXTENSION_DATA_TYPE.DAT_DEFAULT [SYSLIB] 
UNSOLICITED-PJL-FIX.COM                   [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
IGNORE-A-SIZE.PS                          [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
DCPS$COMMON-PORT-SETTINGS.COM             [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
DCPS$CONFIG-PRINTER-PORT.COM              [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
DCPS$DS100-PORT-SETTINGS.COM              [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
DCPS$DS200-PORT-SETTINGS.COM              [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
DCPS$DS500-PORT-SETTINGS.COM              [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
DCPS$GET-DS100-PORT-GROUPS.COM            [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
DCPS$SET-DS-GROUPS.COM                    [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
DCPS$SET-DS100-GROUPS.COM                 [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
DCPS$SAVE-DS500-PORT.COM                  [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
LPS$STATUSDICT.PS                         [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
CONFIDENTIAL.PS                           [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
INSTALL-PS-SUPPLEMENT.COM                 [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
PS_SUPPLEMENT.PS                          [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
NETPRINT.ZIP                              [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 
NETPRINT.TXT                              [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] 


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