Using direct-printing mode

This topic provides information about how to attach an AFP printer in direct-printing mode, describes what must be done to define PSF as a z/OS® subsystem, and provides examples of the JCL that must be coded when your application program is run.

PSF supports printers as system output devices for deferred printing under Job Entry Subsystem (JES), and for direct printing under Direct Printer Services Subsystem (DPSS). DPSS is the access means by which the application program sends records directly to an attached printer or directly to PSF, bypassing the JES spool. In direct-printing mode, an application program allocates a host-connected, channel-attached (non-SNA) printer for the program’s exclusive use. When you use direct-printing mode, make sure that the printer is not allocated to JES, but is online to z/OS.

Notes:

See Using channel-attached printers with PSF if your printer is not yet defined to z/OS.
SNA-attached and TCP/IP-attached printers cannot use direct-printing mode.
Microfilm devices are not supported in direct-printing mode.
Direct-printing mode does not provide the following functions, which are provided only in deferred-printing mode:
- User libraries
- System-assisted restart
- PSF repositioning
  Repositioning includes PAPER JAM recovery, PRINT ADJUST commands entered at the printer, and recovery for other intervention-required conditions at the printer.
- Data-set checkpointing
- Multiple data set processing
- JES operator commands to control the printer
- Job header and trailer pages
- Data set header pages
- Carrier-strip marking
- Mandatory page labeling ³
- System Management Facilities (SMF) type-6 processing
- Notification of job completion
- Restartable abends
- PSF installation Exits 1–7
- Message data set redirection
- Parameter specification in the Printer Inventory
Because direct-printing mode does not support repositioning or the use of Print Adjust, check your printer documentation for the appropriate settings required to prevent the printer from reporting these types of errors to DPSS. Generally, settings such as DIRECT PRINT = YES|NO and JAM RECOVERY = ON|OFF must be set appropriately for direct printing to function correctly.
If PSF is attached to a printer that does not support the selective deletion of page segments and overlays, DPSS will stop processing data sets if jobs require more than 127 page segments or more than 127 overlays. If you have IBM® printer microcode that supports extended overlays and page segments, the maximum number of overlays is extended to 32 511.
Information about the installation exit for direct-printing mode is given in Direct-print exit: Exit 16.
For forms marking, see the Exit 16 begin-data-set call (BDSC), described in Direct-print exit: Exit 16.