Converting between EBCDIC and ASCII (basic mode)

This information applies to IP PrintWay basic mode. If you run IP PrintWay extended mode, see Converting between EBCDIC and ASCII (extended mode).

IP PrintWay basic mode can convert line and text data from EBCDIC to ASCII or from ASCII to EBCDIC before it transmits a data set to the remote printer. You specify in the printer definition whether you want IP PrintWay basic mode to convert data and also the conversion method you want IP PrintWay basic mode to use.

Tip: IP PrintWay basic mode does not convert data between EBCDIC and ASCII if Print Interface allocated the data set on the JES spool or if NetSpool converted the data stream to any format other than line data. In these cases, Print Interface or NetSpool already converted data to the printer code page.
IP PrintWay basic mode can use one of these methods to convert data between EBCDIC and ASCII:
  • iconv utility (default method)

    The iconv utility converts data from one code page to another, from the code page that is used to create the document to the code page used by the printer. For more information about the iconv utility, see z/OS XL C/C++ Programming Guide. Print Interface and NetSpool also use iconv to convert data from EBCDIC to ASCII. IBM®suggests that you use iconv because you can specify attributes in the printer definition that are suitable for both Print Interface and IP PrintWay. By default, IP PrintWay uses this method.

  • TCP/IP translation tables
    For compatibility with previous releases, you can request that IP PrintWay use either the standard TCP/IP translation table that is supplied by IBM or a customized TCP/IP translate table that is created with the CONVXLAT program. For information about using translation tables and the CONVXLAT program, see z/OS Communications Server: IP Configuration Reference.
    Note: IBM suggests that you do not use TCP/IP translation tables because if you specify the attributes that are required for IP PrintWay to use the TCP/IP translation tables, you must create a separate printer definition if you want to use Print Interface to print on the same printer.

Procedure for specifying attributes

The procedure that you use depends on how you want IP PrintWay to convert data between EBCDIC and ASCII.

Using iconv to convert data between code pages

To use the iconv utility to convert data from the document code page to the printer code page:
  • In the IP PrintWay FSS definition, specify the source code page in the Document code page field. If no code page is specified, the default is IBM-1047.
  • In the IP PrintWay Options section of the printer definition, select Standard, Use FCB, or Translate only in the Formatting field. Standard is the default.
  • On the Processing panel of the printer definition, specify these fields:
    • Document code page: Leave this field blank. IP PrintWay uses the document code page that you specified in the FSS definition.
    • Printer code page: Specify the name of either an ASCII code page (such as ISO8859-1) or an EBCDIC code page (such as IBM-1047) that is supported by IBM. For code page names, see z/OS XL C/C++ Programming Guide.
      If you leave this field blank, the default action depends on the protocol selected in the printer definition:
      • Email protocol: IP PrintWay does not convert data from one code page to another.
      • LPR, direct sockets, or IPP protocol: IP PrintWay uses IBM-850 as the printer code page.
      If you use the ISPF panels to create an IP PrintWay printer definition, the panel, by default, displays either the default ASCII or the default EBCDIC code page that is specified in the system configuration definition, depending on the protocol that is selected in the printer definition:
      • Email protocol: The EBCDIC code page is displayed.
      • LPR, direct sockets, or IPP protocol: The ASCII code page is displayed.
    • Leave the Translation data set qualifier field blank.
    • Leave the Double-byte translate table fields blank.

Using the standard TCP/IP translation table

To use the standard TCP/IP translation table to convert from EBCDIC to ASCII:
  • In the IP PrintWay FSS definition, select the Old-style translation field. You do not need to select this field if you select a double-byte option in the Double-byte translate table field.
  • On the IP PrintWay Options panel of the printer definition, in the Formatting field: Select Standard, Use FCB, or Translate only. Standard is the default.
  • On the Processing panel, specify these fields:
    • Document code page: Leave this field blank.
    • Printer code page: Leave this field blank.
      Tip: When you leave this field blank, Print Interface does not translate data from one code page to another, for example from EBCDIC to ASCII. Therefore, your output might not print correctly. If you have a problem printing documents with Print Interface, create a second printer definition for this printer, and specify a printer code page or use the default ASCII code page that is displayed in this field when you use the ISPF panels to create an IP PrintWay printer definition.
    • Translation data set qualifier: Leave this field blank.
    • Double-byte translate table: To print DBCS data, select a double-byte option.

Using a customized or a DBCS TCP/IP translation table

To use a customized TCP/IP translation table or a DBCS TCP/IP translation table to convert data between EBCDIC and ASCII:
  • On the IP PrintWay Options panel in the Formatting field: Select either Standard, Use FCB, or Translate only option. Standard is the default.
  • On the Processing panel, specify these fields:
    • Printer code page: Leave this field blank.
      Tip: When you leave this field blank, Print Interface does not translate data from one code page to another, for example from EBCDIC to ASCII. Therefore, your output might not print correctly. If you have a problem printing documents with Print Interface, create a second printer definition for this printer, and specify a printer code page or use the default ASCII code page that is displayed in this field when you use the ISPF panels to create an IP PrintWay printer definition.
    • Translation data set qualifier: Specify the name of the table.
    • Double-byte translate table: To print DBCS data, select a double-byte option.