Simpler Method for Controlling Duplex Print by Modifying a Workstation Customizing Object (WSCST)

Resolving The Problem

This document provides information on a simple method to force duplex printing on an HP PCL-capable printer using a modified Workstation Customizing Object (WSCST). This is done by retrieving and modifying a Workstation Customization Table (WSCST) and then modifying the Set Duplex Printing (DUPXPRT), Set Simplex Printing (SMPXPRT), and Set Tumble Duplex Printing (TUMDUPXPRT) tags, as well as adding a Shift Out (SO) tag. This method will work with Single-Byte Character Set (SBCS) transforms, but not with Double-Byte Character Set (DBCS) transforms, including *HPDBCS, *IBMPAGES, and *CANLIPS.

Note: Examples in this document are using the HP PCL5 printer language. Therefore, they can be used on WSCST objects retrieved from various system-supplied WSCST objects, including *IBM4039HP, *IBM4312, *IBM4317, *IBM4332, *HP4, *HP5SI, *HP4000, *HP8000, and *LEXOPTRA.

This document was last updated on 24 October 2013.

Caution: These instructions are provided as is. Any assistance with editing the Workstation Customization Table must be done through a consulting agreement.

The following steps are involved with modifying a Workstation Customizing Object (WSCST):

1.	Retrieving the WSCST source code,
2.	Modifying the WSCST source code,
3.	Creating the WSCST object, and
4.	Using the WSCST object with a printer device description or Remote Output Queue (RMTOUTQ).

This document is primarily concerned with modifying the WSCST source code. However, this document provide links to other documents in the Software Knowledgebase that pertain to retrieving the WSCST source code, creating the WSCST object, and using the WSCST object with a printer device description or Remote Output Queue (RMTOUTQ).


Retrieving the WSCST Source Code

For instructions on deciding on the appropriate workstation customizing object to use, retrieving the source for the system-supplied workstation customizing object, and editing the workstation customizing object source, please refer to the following document:

N1010140: Instructions for Modifying a Workstation Customizing Object (WSCST)

Note: This same document also provides instructions on creating the modified workstation customizing object, but that portion of the document is not used until after the WSCST source code has been modified.

If making additional changes to an existing WSCST object, do not use the Retrieve WSCST source (RTVWSCST) command again or the existing changes to the WSCST source code will be overwritten. Instead, proceed to the section entitled Modifying the WSCST Source Code. If the source code for an existing WSCST object cannot be found, please refer to the following document:

N1019634: Finding the Source Code for a Modified Workstation Customizing Object (WSCST)


Modifying the WSCST Source Code

For instructions on editing the workstation customizing object source, please refer to the following document:

N1010140: Instructions for Modifying a Workstation Customizing Object (WSCST)

Note: This is the same document that provides instructions on deciding on the appropriate workstation customizing object to use, and retrieving the source for the system-supplied workstation customizing object.

Customizing the DUPXPRT, SMPXPRT, and TUMDUPXPRT Tags

The default settings for the Set Duplex Printing (DUPXPRT), Set Simplex Printing (SMPXPRT), and Set Tumble Duplex Printing (TUMDUPXPRT) tags are:

    :SMPXPRT
      DATA ='1B266C3053'X.
    :DUPXPRT
      DATA ='1B266C3153'X.
    :TUMDUPXPRT
      DATA ='1B266C3253'X.

To force all operating system spooled files to print simplex (single-sided) regardless of the settings in the spooled file attributes, set the DATA portion of each of these tags to match the current setting for the Set Simplex Printing (SMPXPRT) tag ('1B266C3053'X), as follows:

    :SMPXPRT
      DATA ='1B266C3053'X.
    :DUPXPRT
      DATA ='1B266C3053'X.
    :TUMDUPXPRT
      DATA ='1B266C3053'X.

To force all operating system spooled files to print duplex (double-sided) regardless of the settings in the spooled file attributes, set the DATA portion of each of these tags to match the current setting for the Set Duplex Printing (DUPXPRT) tag ('1B266C3153'X), as follows:

    :SMPXPRT
      DATA ='1B266C3153'X.
    :DUPXPRT
      DATA ='1B266C3153'X.
    :TUMDUPXPRT
      DATA ='1B266C3153'X.

To force all OS/400 spooled files to print tumble duplex (double-sided, flip on short edge) regardless of the settings in the spooled file attributes, set the DATA portion of each of these tags to match the current setting for the Set Tumble Duplex Printing (TUMDUPXPRT) tag ('1B266C3253'X), as follows:

    :SMPXPRT
      DATA ='1B266C3253'X.
    :DUPXPRT
      DATA ='1B266C3253'X.
    :TUMDUPXPRT
      DATA ='1B266C3253'X.



Adding a Shift Out (SO) Tag

If the spooled file attributes specify simplex printing, the operating system will send drawer, output bin, and page size information on each page boundary. These controls will force the printer to eject to a new sheet of paper, effectively turning off duplex. There is a way to tell the operating system not to send page formatting controls on successive page boundaries. You must add a Shift Out (SO) tag that contains a null data byte. This tag can be placed in any valid position in the *WSCST source member. An easy spot to place it would be immediately before the last line of the source file, which is :EWSCST:
.
.
.
    :SO
      DATA = '00'X.
:EWSCST.


Creating the WSCST Object

For instructions on creating the WSCST object, please refer to the following document:

N1010140: Instructions for Modifying a Workstation Customizing Object (WSCST)

Note: This is the same document that provides instructions on deciding on the appropriate workstation customizing object to use, retrieving the source for the system-supplied workstation customizing object and editing the workstation customizing object source.


Using the WSCST Object with a Printer Device Description or RMTOUTQ

For instructions on using Host Print Transform (HPT) with your device descriptions and/or remote output queues, refer to one of the following documents:

N1010288: Using Host Print Transform (HPT) with a *LAN Device Description
N1019713: Using Host Print Transform (HPT) with a Remote Output Queue (RMTOUTQ)
N1019712: Using Host Print Transform (HPT) with a *LCL or *RMT Device Description
N1019470: Using Host Print Transform (HPT) with a PC5250 Printer Session at V5R1M0 and Above
N1019670: Using Host Print Transform (HPT) with a Third Party Emulation Package