IBM Support

Finding the Job Log of a Printer Writer or Remote Writer

Troubleshooting


Problem

This document contains some suggestions for finding the job log of a printer writer that has ended in error. This is useful when diagnosing a problem where a printer writer or remote writer is ending unexpectedly.

Resolving The Problem

Note: This document was previously entitled Finding the Job Log of a Failed Printer Writer.

This document contains some suggestions for finding the job log of a printer writer that has ended in error. This is particularly useful when diagnosing a problem where a printer writer or remote writer is ending unexpectedly.

After the writer job log has been collected, it can be displayed or downloaded to a PC and e-mailed to the Remote Technical Support representatives using the instructions in the following Rochester Support Center knowledgebase document:

N1019300: Copying the Text from a Spooled File Using iSeries Navigator

This document was last updated on 4 November 2013.

Step 1: Increase the Message logging level for the job description. Use one of the following options, depending upon how the printer is configured:

oIf printing through a *LCL, *RMT or *LAN *IPDS device description with Advanced Function Printing (AFP) parameter set to *YES, use the following commands to change the QSPLAFPW and QSPLPRTW job descriptions so that the IBM OS/400 or IBM i5/OS generates both a WTR job log and a PDJ job log with as much information as possible. If running 5.4 i5/OS or higher, type the following Change Job Description (CHGJOBD) commands:

CHGJOBD  JOBD(QGPL/QSPLAFPW)  LOG(4 00 *SECLVL) LOGCLPGM(*YES) LOGOUTPUT(*JOBEND)

CHGJOBD  JOBD(QGPL/QSPLPRTW)  LOG(4 00 *SECLVL) LOGCLPGM(*YES) LOGOUTPUT(*JOBEND)

When printing to an IPDS printer with Advanced Function Printing (AFP) turned on there will be two jobs (a WTR job and a PDJ job) running at the same time. Therefore, when the writer ends there should be two QPJOBLOG spooled files generated. One for the WTR job and one for the PDJ job. The WTR job is started using the QSPLAFPW job description and the PDJ job is started using the QSPLPRTW job description, therefore both job descriptions must be changed to ensure that both the WTR and PDJ jobs generate a job log.

When using Infoprint Server to convert spooled files to Adobe Acrobat PDF format, there will be three jobs (a WTR job, a PDJ job, and a BATCH job) running at the same time. Therefore, when the writer ends there should be three QPJOBLOG spooled files generated. One for the WTR job, one for the PDJ job, and one for the BATCH job.
oIf using a remote output queue, use the following command to change the QSPLRMTW job description so the operating system generates a job log with as much information as possible. If running 5.4 i5/OS or higher, type the following Change Job Description (CHGJOBD) commands:

CHGJOBD  JOBD(QGPL/QSPLRMTW)  LOG(4 00 *SECLVL) LOGCLPGM(*YES) LOGOUTPUT(*JOBEND)
oIf not using one of the above configurations, use the following command to change the QSPLPRTW job description so the OS/400 generates a job log with as much information as possible. If running 5.4 i5/OS or higher, type the following Change Job Description (CHGJOBD) commands:

CHGJOBD  JOBD(QGPL/QSPLPRTW)  LOG(4 00 *SECLVL) LOGCLPGM(*YES) LOGOUTPUT(*JOBEND)
If not using an emulated printer session (or if the device description is *LCL, *LAN, or *RMT or if using a remote output queue), the changes to the job description should take effect the next time the printer writer or remote writer is started.

Step 2: If using an emulated printer session (or a *VRT device description), start the router again to ensure the changes to the job description take effect. This can be done by restarting or rebooting the PC. Then, bring up the emulated printer session, and verify that the printer writer did not start.

Step 3: Start the printer. If using an emulated printer session, this is done by connecting the printer session to the OS/400 or i5/OS server. If not using an emulated printer session, use the Start Printer Writer (STRPRTWTR) or Start Remote Writer (STRRMTWTR) command to start the writer.

Step 4: Determine if the writer is still active. If not, look for the failed writer job. On the OS/400 or i5/OS command line, type the following:

WRKJOB JOB(writer-name)

Press the Enter key. This brings you to the Select Job panel or the Work with Job panel. If it brought you to the Select Job panel, the most current failed writer job is at the top of the list. Select Option 1 on this job, and press the Enter key.

Step 5: Locate the job log. Do one of the following:
oIf the writer is no longer active, select Option 4 (Work with spooled files) on the Work with Job panel. From the Work with Job Spooled Files panel, select Option 5 (Display) to display the QPJOBLOG spooled file or Option 2 to requeue the spooled file to a different output queue so it can be printed. Note the Message ID listed for each message in the writer job log.
oIf the writer is still active, select Option 10 (Display job log, if active or on job queue) on the Work with Job panel. From the Display Job Log panel, press the F10 key (Display detailed messages) to see the detailed messages. Place the cursor on any pertinent messages and press the F1 key to display additional information about each message. Note the Message ID listed for each message in the writer job log.

Step 6: Use one of the following options to find and send in the spooled files:
oThe resulting QPJOBLOG spooled files can be found from a display workstation by using the following Work with Spooled Files (WRKSPLF) command:

WRKSPLF SELECT(QSPLJOB *ALL *ALL writer-name)

After the QPJOBLOG spooled files have been found, they can then be printed, faxed through Facsimile Support/400 (FAX/400), or converted to PDF format and e-mailed through Infoprint Server.
oThe resulting QPJOBLOG spooled files can be found within IBM iSeries Navigator or Operations Navigator by going into the Basic Operations > Printer Output container and bringing up the Printer Output - Include dialog box. Set the User to QSPLJOB, set the User-specified data to the writer name, and set everything else to All, then click on the OK button.

After the QPJOBLOG spooled files have been found, they can then be copied to the PC by dragging them to the Microsoft Windows Desktop or to a folder within Windows Explorer.

Note: To bring up the Printer Output - Include dialog box when using R520 iSeries Access for Windows, select View > Customize this View > Include... on the iSeries Navigator menu bar or press the F11 key. To bring up the Printer Output - Include dialog box when using R510 Client Access Express for Windows, select Options > Include... on the Operations Navigator menu bar. For more information, refer to the following Rochester Support Center knowledgebase document:

N1019300: Copying the Text from a Spooled File Using iSeries Navigator

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Historical Number

9380907

Document Information

Modified date:
18 December 2019

UID

nas8N1010059