Transmitting multiple data sets in a JES output group

You can use IP PrintWay™ to control how it transmits data sets that are in the same JES output group to a printer or to an email destination. You can request that IP PrintWay transmit each data set individually in a separate transmission or email, or together in one transmission or email. Transmitting data sets in the same transmission makes sure that data sets from other print requests do not print between the data sets in the JES output group.

A JES output group consists of output data sets created in the same batch job that have the same OUTPUT JCL parameters, such as the same CLASS, DEST, FORMS, and TITLE parameters. For more information about how JES places output data sets into output groups, see z/OS JES2 Initialization and Tuning Guide or z/OS JES3 Initialization and Tuning Guide.

You can specify these fields and options in the printer definition to control the transmission of data sets in the same JES output group:
Automatic dataset grouping (extended mode) field
Select this field if you want IP PrintWay extended mode to transmit all the data sets to a printer in the same transmission or send all the data sets in the same email (each data set is a separate attachment). This is an efficient method of transmitting data sets that makes sure the data sets print together. Most printers start printing each data set on a new sheet of paper.

If more than one copy is requested, data sets print in the order IP PrintWay receives them from JES. For example, if you request 2 copies of data set A and 3 copies of data set B, data sets print in this order: data set A, data set A, data set B, data set B, data set B.

Tips:
  1. Some older printers do not support this type of transmission. These printers might not start each data set on a new sheet of paper, or they might print an extra blank page between data sets. If this case, you can specify a printer command to start a new sheet in the Document Header field or clear this option and select the Job option or the Concatenate job option in the Dataset grouping field instead.
  2. IP PrintWay basic mode ignores this field and instead uses the option that is selected in the Dataset grouping field.
  3. If you select this field, IP PrintWay extended mode ignores the option that is selected in the Dataset grouping field.
Concatenate job option – Dataset grouping field
Select this option if you want IP PrintWay to combine all the data sets into a single transmission that is called a concatenation and transmit them to a printer in the same transmission or send all the data sets in the same email (each data set is a separate attachment). This is an efficient method of transmitting data that makes sure the data sets print together. IP PrintWay inserts form feeds between data sets so that, in most cases, each data set starts printing on a new page.

If more than one copy is requested, the data sets print in the order in which IP PrintWay concatenated them. However, the number of copies that are requested for the first data set applies to all data sets. For example, if you print 2 copies of data set A and 3 copies of data set B, 2 copies of each data set print in this order: data set A, data set B, data set A, data set B.

Tips:
  1. Some printers might start printing data sets on the back side of a sheet in duplex mode. In this case, you can (1) select the Automatic dataset grouping (extended mode) field, (2) select the Job option, or (3) specify a printer command to start a new sheet in the Document header field.
  2. IP PrintWay basic mode: If you select the Resubmit for filtering field, data sets might start printing on the same page as the previous data set in the concatenation. Also, when you select the Resubmit for filtering field, all the data sets in the output group must have the same type of carriage controls and the same data format.
  3. If you print copies, do not select this option because the correct number of copies might not print. The number of copies that are requested for the first data set in the concatenation applies to all data sets in the concatenation. The number of copies that are requested for the second and subsequent data sets is ignored.
Job option – Dataset grouping field
Select this option if you want IP PrintWay to transmit the data sets to a printer as individual data sets at the same time or send the data sets in separate emails. This method makes it likely that data sets in the same JES output group print together. However, data sets from other print requests might print between the data sets. Each data set starts printing on the front side of a sheet of paper.

If you print to a print server, each data set arrives and is stored as a separate file at the print server. Therefore, the data sets can be individually managed on the remote print spool.

If more than one copy is requested, the data sets print in the order that IP PrintWay receives them from JES. For example, when you print 2 copies of data set A and 3 copies of data set B, data sets print in this order: data set A, data set A, data set B, data set B, data set B.

None option – Dataset grouping field

Select this option if you want IP PrintWay basic mode to transmit the data sets to a printer as individual data sets as soon as each data set is ready to print, or send each data set in a separate email.

If more than one copy is requested, the data sets print in the order that IP PrintWay receives them from JES. For example, when you print 2 copies of data set A and 3 copies of data set B, data sets print in this order: data set A, data set A, data set B, data set B, data set B.

Tip: This option does not apply to IP PrintWay extended mode. If you select it, IP PrintWay extended mode uses the Job option instead.
Limitations:
  1. If Print Interface or NetSpool allocates a data set on the JES spool, JES places each data set in a separate output group even when the job submitter submits multiple data sets with the same lp command or in the same job step by using the Print Interface subsystem. Therefore, IP PrintWay cannot group data sets. The Automatic dataset grouping and Dataset grouping fields do not apply.
  2. When it uses the VTAM® protocol, IP PrintWay always transmits each data set in a separate transmission. The Automatic dataset grouping and Dataset grouping fields do not apply.
  3. When it uses the IPP protocol, IP PrintWay supports only the Job and None options in the Dataset grouping field. The Automatic dataset grouping field does not apply.
Parent topic: Planning printer definitions for IP PrintWay

Procedure for specifying attributes

To specify how IP PrintWay transmits data sets in the same JES output group, specify one of these fields on the IP PrintWay Options panel:
  • Automatic dataset grouping (extended mode)
  • Dataset grouping: Select None, Job, or Concatenate job. The default is Job.

Example

This ISPF panel shows how to request that IP PrintWay transmit all the data sets in the same JES output group to the printer in the same transmission or send the data sets in the same email:
  • IP PrintWay extended mode uses the Automatic dataset grouping field.
  • IP PrintWay basic mode uses the Dataset grouping field.

Only a portion of the ISPF panel is shown. 

 
                           IP PrintWay Options
 ⋮
 / Automatic dataset grouping (extended mode) 
 Dataset grouping. . . . 3  1. None  2. Job  3. Concatenate job ⋮