An installation's print options are defined in the options file. Each record in the options file contains a set of valid LPR print options that are used when a job is printed. These options describe printers, type of data being printed, and instructions for printing the data. The LPR options can give instructions for a wide range of functions, such as whether or not to print headers, include margins, notify the sender, or translate the data. For specific information about the valid print options, see the LPR command in the z/OS Communications Server: IP User's Guide and Commands.

The Network Print Facility uses the options file with the routing file to determine how output will be printed. The routing file records contain pointers to options file records and thereby connect a set of print options to each routing. More than one routing file record can point to the same options file record.

The options file can also contain the name of a user-defined input record exit. This exit allows an installation to modify print data to meet specific output requirements. It can provide data manipulation capabilities beyond those provided by the LPR options, such as adding a banner page, modifying data by encryption, or deleting data. Use of any exit should not be done casually because it enables you to completely alter the data. See Writing exit routines to tailor the Network Print Facility for more information.