N_UP printing: printing multiple pages on a sheet

With PSF, you can print up to four pages on a sheet printed in simplex mode, or up to eight pages on a sheet printed in duplex mode, by creating a new form definition containing the PPFA N_UP subcommand. To create an application such as the one described in this topic, you need a printer that supports N_UP printing, such as an InfoPrint printer. You can use the PPFA program to create the required form definition.

As an example, you might want to print pages one and two of a letter side by side on a single sheet of paper, and then print pages three and four on a second sheet, thus printing a four-page letter on two sheets of paper, as shown in Figure 40. You might also want to specify different overlays or page segments for each page. For example, page one of your letter might contain a company logo, and page four a signature. To avoid printing pages too small to read, you might want to print on a 3935 or a 3900-0W1 printer, either of which can print data up to 17 inches wide.

Figure 40. Printing four pages on two sheets

To create a job similar to that diagrammed in Figure 40, begin by using PPFA to create a form definition that specifies:

• The N_UP subcommand
• The ACROSS printing direction
• The PORTRAIT page presentation
• A font of the correct size to allow your text to fit in the page area

The Page Printer Formatting Aid: User’s Guide describes the types of N_UP printing you can perform, shows the command syntax, and provides numerous examples for basic N_UP printing as well as the commands and syntax for enhanced N_UP printing. For the N_UP 2 form definitions supplied with PSF, see Table 14.

//AFPUSER JOB...
//STEP1 EXEC PGM=USERA
//OUTPUT1 OUTPUT PAGEDEF=nuppdef,FORMDEF=nupfdef
//PRINT DD SYSOUT=A,OUTPUT=(*.OUTPUT1)
/*