Full-function mode support

Full-function mode is using those functions of the printer that produce page-mode output. The concept of page-mode permits printed pages to contain both text data and graphical presentations. Page-mode printers allow for the specification of complex data attributes not available from printers without all-points-addressable capabilities.The user can define and request such attributes as:
  • Segments - predefined portions of a page
  • Overlays - predefined page templates
  • Images - pictures and graphics
  • Type fonts - collections of unique or stylized print characters.
The graphical material can include a wide range of print font types and sizes [1/18 inch (4 pts.) to 1/2 inch (36 pts.)] for use in text headings, logos, and imbedded artwork; shading of textural and user-produced graphics; and graph plotting. You can make the above print features available for page-mode printing by defining AFP printers as a page-mode printers.

The advanced function printing data stream (AFPDS) used in IBM® page-mode printing does not allow the use of blank truncation within the data stream. Be certain that the output class that you define for the use of advance function printing (AFP) does not specify blank truncation. Specify BLNKTRNC=NO on the OUTCLASS statement; the JES2 default is BLNKTRNC=YES.

JES2 does not communicate directly with an AFP printer but rather through the functional subsystem interface (FSI) to an FSS. The FSI defined for an FSS specifies the manner in which the FSS/FSA and JES2 communicate. IBM designed a specific FSS/FSA, the Print Services Facility, to support the AFP printer. See Functional subsystem support for a more detailed description and Figure 1 for a pictorial description of these relationships.

Route data sets that include both page-mode and line-mode data to page-mode printers exclusively, and define the data sets as page-mode on the JCL OUTPUT statement. JES2 provides job output routing, through the printer work selection criteria (WS= parameter the PRT(nnnn) statement). To define an AFP printer as page-mode, also specify PRMODE=(PAGE,...) on the PRT(nnnn) statement.

Functional subsystem support of a page-mode printer applies to all page-mode printers in a multi-access spool JES2 complex. Therefore, both you and the operator need to be aware of what printers in your complex can process of which type of work at any one time. Table 1 summarizes this output processing support by printer type.
Table 1. Summary of data type and printer mode compatibility
DATA PROCESS MODE (PRMODE)
PRINTER PROCESS
MODE (PRMODE)
PAGE-MODE LINE-MODE*
 
LINE
PAGE
YES** YES
YES NO***
*
A page-mode printer operating in 3800 compatibility mode is equivalent to a line-mode printer.
**
This assumes the printer is defined to accept line mode data, that is, PRT(nnnn) PRMODE=(LINE,PAGE...)....
***
If the operator forces a line-mode printer to print a page-mode data set, the data set will print with undesirable results.