Before you start any IP PrintWay configuration tasks, you should examine the method that you use to direct your jobs to the correct printer. You should also examine the method that you use to identify the correct START command on your Xerox printer. This helps you determine how to configure your system. Your existing JCL might use routing methods that are similar to any of the methods that these examples describe. Each method has a separate customization example, that you can use as a guide to set up your new printing environment through IP PrintWay and Infoprint XT:

Method one: CLASS=X

You might use just the CLASS parameter to route your Xerox jobs to specific Xerox printers. You defined your Xerox printers to z/OS as JES local printers, with one JES printer for each Xerox printer. The starting environment, which is the combination of JDL and JDE that you use on the Xerox START command, is fixed. The individual jobs might modify the starting environment through the use of dynamic job descriptor entries (DJDEs), depending on their requirements.

For the procedure to create this environment, see Setting up an environment that uses the CLASS parameter.

Method two: FORMS=FORM,CLASS=X

You might use a combination of the FORMS and CLASS parameters in your JCL. You use the CLASS value to determine the printer, and the FORMS value to determine the starting environment. In the work selection criteria for your Xerox printer, you specify that the CLASS value must match exactly, but that the FORMS value can vary. In this environment, the printer processes all queued jobs that specify a particular form. When it finishes processing all jobs of that type, and a job that specifies a different FORMS value is the next job to print, a message alerts the operator of the change in forms. At that time, the operator enters the new START command at the printer console. This method works well, but does have a limit on the number of values that you can use for the CLASS parameter. This is a limitation imposed by the operating system.

For the procedure to create this environment, see Setting up an environment that uses a fixed CLASS and varying FORMS. You can also modify this environment to support more than one CLASS value. See Setting up an environment that uses multiple CLASS values and varying FORMS.

Method three: FORMS=FORM,DEST=PRTnnn

Another common routing method is to use a combination of the FORMS parameter and the DEST parameter. The DEST value determines which printer to use, and the FORMS value determines the starting environment. This is more flexible, because the limit on the number of destinations (printers) is much larger than the limit on the number of classes that you can specify.

For the procedure to create this environment, see Setting up an environment that uses DEST and FORMS parameters.