The queue file

For each print job, a Network Print Facility capture point application creates a temporary QSAM data set that contains the print data. It also adds a record to the queue file to keep track of the temporary print data set.

The queue file is a VSAM key-sequenced data set with one record for each print job. The key of a queue file record is based on the major name, minor name, and the name of the temporary QSAM print data set. The queue file record also contains status fields plus the retry time, retain times, and retry limit found in the routing file record for that destination.

After a queue file record has been created, it comes under the control of the queue manager. Through the use of the NPF ISPF interface, you can affect how the queue manager handles the queue file and the temporary print data sets.

The NPF queue manager scans the queue file at regular intervals to determine what processing is needed for each record. It can make initial send attempts, retry failed transmissions and update the queue file records to reflect this activity, hold print data sets and queue file records, or delete print data sets and queue file records that are no longer needed.
A user can modify the queue file records through the ISPF interface. The interface allows you to change the data set status, the next date and time to retry the transmission, the retain times for successful and unsuccessful transmissions, the internet and printer name, and the LPR options. These changes will affect whether the print data sets are sent, held, or deleted and where they are sent.
It is possible for multiple NPF capture point applications to add records to the same queue file. However, only one NPF queue manager application should process any given queue file.

For a description of queue management, see Managing the print queues.