Using Host Print Transform (HPT) with a Remote Output Queue (RMTOUTQ)

Resolving The Problem

This document provides information about using Host Print Transform (HPT) with a Remote Output Queue (RMTOUTQ). For instructions on using Host Print Transform (HPT) with various types of device descriptions, please refer to one of the following documents:

N1010288: Using Host Print Transform (HPT) with a *LAN Device Description
N1019712: Using Host Print Transform (HPT) with a *LCL or *RMT Device Description
N1019470: Using Host Print Transform (HPT) with a PC5250 Printer Session
N1019670: Using Host Print Transform (HPT) with a Third Party Emulation Package

This document was last updated on 28 May 2014.

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General Information About Host Print Transform (HPT)

ASCII printers can be attached to the IBM System i system through a PC (using WSF, RUMBA/400, PC5250, or a third-party emulation package) or through hardware (for example, a 3179 or 3477 display, an ASCII Workstation Controller, a Lexmark MarkNet XLE, or a HP JetDirect card).

Host Print Transform is an operating system function that converts an operating system spooled file (in the *SCS or *AFPDS data stream) into an ASCII printer data stream. This can be used in conjunction with most printer emulation software and hardware. One of its benefits is that it can create the same look and feel when printing through a variety of printer emulation software and hardware. For example, if you have printers connected to some PCs running WSF under Client Access/400 DOS Extended, others running RUMBA/400 under Client Access/400 for Windows 3.1, others running PC5250 under Client Access/400 for Windows 95/NT, and still others connected to the LAN with an IP address, you can use Host Print Transform with all of these and the output will look very similar across all of your ASCII printers.

Some printer emulation software (such as WSF and PC5250) require you to specify to use Host Print Transform (HPT) in the printer session profile. Then, when the printer session connects to the operating system, the emulation software automatically changes the operating system printer device description to reflect the settings you made in the printer session profile.

Other printer emulation software (such as RUMBA/400) and all non-PC hardware connections require you to manually change the operating system printer device description yourself.

Notes:

1. If the printer emulation software you are using requires you change the printer session profile, but you change the operating system printer device description instead, your changes will automatically be removed the next time you connect the printer session.

2. Not all printers are supported with Host Print Transform. This includes all PostScript printers and any of the new Windows-only printers such as the HP DeskJet 820 Series printers, the Lexmark 2070 printer or the Lexmark WinWriter 150 printer.


Using a Modified Workstation Customizing Object (WSCST) with Host Print Transform

Host Print Transform provides a way to change the way it converts operating system spooled files into the ASCII printer data stream. This is done by retrieving a workstation customization table, editing the source file member, creating a new workstation customizing object and then using that modified workstation customizing object (WSCST) with your operating system printer device description.

Using modified workstation customizing object with Host Print Transform allows you change things like:

o	Print 198 character spooled files on a letter sized (8.5" x 11.0") sheet of paper in landscape
o	Force all output to print in draft quality for dot matrix line printers
o	Print 132 character spooled files on a letter sized (8.5" x 11.0") sheet of paper in Portrait
o	Force all output to print from drawer 2 on a laser printer

Instructions for Using Host Print Transform with a Remote Output Queue (RMTOUTQ)

This document explains how to manually change a remote output queue in order to use Host Print Transform. These instructions also include the steps needed to use a modified workstation customizing object (WSCST) with Host Print Transform. Do the following:

1.	From the operating system command line, type the following: WRKWTR WTR(*ALL) ASTLVL(*INTERMED) Press the Enter key. From the Work with All Writers panel, scroll down the list of writers until you find the name of the remote output queue you want to change.
2.	If you find the remote (RMT) writer listed, type Option 4 (End) next to the remote writer, and press the F4 (Prompt) key, set the When to end writer (OPTION) parameter to *IMMED, then press the Enter key.
3.	Press the F5 (Refresh) key to confirm that the remote writer has disappeared from the Work with All Writers screen.
4.	From the operating system command line, type the following: CHGOUTQ OUTQ(outq-library/outq-name) and then press the F4 (Prompt) key rather than pressing the Enter key.
5.	From the Change Output Queue (CHGOUTQ) panel, press the F10 (Additional parameters) key to display additional parameters.
6.	Set the Writers to autostart (AUTOSTRWTR) parameter to 1.
7.	Set the Host print transform (TRANSFORM) parameter to *YES.
8.	Position to the Manufacturer type and model (MFRTYPMDL) parameter, and press F4 to display a list of possible values. Choose a value that corresponds to your type of printer, or choose a value for a type of printer that your printer emulates. For example, if you have an HP LaserJet 4 printer or a printer that is compatible with the HP LaserJet 4, type in *HP4. If you have an HP LaserJet 5 or 5si printer you might, depending on the operating system release, be able to type *HP5 or *HP5SI.
9.	To use a workstation customizing object or *WSCST object with the Remote Output Queue (RMTOUTQ), set the Manufacturer type and model (MFRTYPMDL) parameter to the value that matches the paper size used with this printer, for example: *WSCSTLETTER for Letter sized (8.5 x 11 inch) paper *WSCSTLEGAL for Legal sized (8.5 x 14 inch) paper *WSCSTLEDGER for Ledger sized (11 x 17 inch) paper *WSCSTEXECUTIVE for Executive sized (7.25 x 10.5 inch) paper *WSCSTA3 for A3 sized (297mm x 420mm or 11.7 x 16.5 inch) paper *WSCSTA4 for A4 sized (210mm x 297mm or 8.3 x 11.7 inch) paper *WSCSTA5 for A5 sized (148mm x 210mm or 5.83 x 8.3 inch) paper *WSCSTB4 for B4 sized (250mm x 353mm or 10.1 x 14.3 inch) paper *WSCSTB5 for B5 sized (176mm x 250mm or 7.2 x 10.1 inch) paper *WSCSTCONT80 for continuous 8.0 inch forms *WSCSTCONT132 for continuous 13.2 inch forms *WSCSTNONE when the paper size not specified *WSCST when the printer is not listed Then press the F9 (All parameters) key and specify the name of the *WSCST object and the name of the library containing the *WSCST object in the Workstation customizing object (WSCST) parameter. Note: Unlike *LAN 3812 and *LAN IPDS printer device descriptions, Remote Output Queues (RMTOUTQs) do not have a parameter for specifying the paper size. The Manufacturer type and model (MFRTYPMDL) setting that is specified will imply a particular paper size, including all of the *WSCSTxxx values except for *WSCSTNONE and *WSCST. These two values do not have an implied paper size and therefore should be avoided when configuring a RMTOUTQ.
10.	Press the Enter key to change the settings in the output queue description. If the Writers to autostart (AUTOSTRWTR) parameter is set to 1, as discussed in Step 6 above, changing the settings in the output queue description will cause the remote writer to be started automatically.