Routing process order

This topic gives an overview of the routing process.

Assuming that the method used to start the job does not override the output queue or printer device values, the following order is followed:

• The job initiation phase begins. The system looks at the following values:
  1. The output queue value in the job description.
  2. The output queue value in the user profile.
  3. The output queue value in the workstation description.
  4. The printer device value in the job description.
  5. The printer device value in the user profile.
  6. The printer device value in the workstation description.
  7. The system value Default printer (QPRTDEV). If the printer identified in the system value does not exist, the output goes to the QPRINT output queue.
  The results of this phase determine the job attributes.
• The job run time phase begins. The system looks at the following values:
  1. The output queue value in the printer file.
  2. The output queue value in the job attributes.
  3. The printer device value in the printer file.
  4. The printer device value in the job attributes.
  5. The SPOOL value in the printer file.
  The results of this phase determine the output queue name or printer device name to where the spooled file is routed.

The following figure shows the printing elements and how they relate to the printing process.

The Change Job (CHGJOB) CL command allows you to override the output queue and printer device values. The Override with Printer File (OVRPRTF) CL command allows you to override many printer file values including the output queue and printer device values. See Printer file overrides for more information on overriding printer file values.

Printing in a batch environment

When a user signs on to the system, an output queue and a printer device are established for that job.

The names for the output queue and printer device are resolved when the system searches through the user profile, job description, workstation description, and system values.

A similar process occurs when batch jobs are started on the system, with two differences:

• The output queue and printer device values are passed to the batch job from the job that started it. This means that no resolution of the output queue and printer device needs to be done.
• The value *WRKSTN has no real meaning because batch jobs do not have an associated workstation. If *WRKSTN is encountered in the resolution of output queue and printer device, *WRKSTN is replaced with *DEV if output queue is being resolved and *SYSVAL if printer device is being resolved.