Including components in printer definitions

Because a Printer Inventory might contain hundreds or thousands of printer definitions, changing information in many printer definitions can be time-consuming. Therefore, you might want to create additional objects in the Printer Inventory called components and include them in printer definitions. Consider creating components when several printer definitions share the same attributes. To use components:

1. Specify the shared attributes in a component, instead of specifying the same attributes in many printer definitions.
2. Include the component in all printer definitions to which those attributes apply.

When you change the attributes in a component, all printer definitions that include that component pick up the new attributes.

Creating components is optional. Some printer definitions in the Printer Inventory might include components, while other printer definitions might not. Whether or not you use components, you can use the Printer Inventory Definition Utility (PIDU) to make changes to many printer definitions at one time. For information about PIDU, see Using the PIDU program to manage the Printer Inventory.

When you create components, you do not need to specify every attribute in that component. Instead, you might want to specify some attributes in the printer definitions. For example, the Protocol component contains an attribute that defines the host name or IP address of the remote printer. Because the host name or IP address is usually unique for each remote printer, you could omit the host name or IP address from the component and instead specify it in the printer definition.

When you include components in a printer definition, you can override some of the attributes specified in the components by specifying a different value in the printer definition itself. For example, if one printer definition requires a longer retention time on the JES spool, you can override the attribute that specifies the retention time in the printer definition itself. You do not need to create a new component. Notice, however, that if you override an attribute in a printer definition, when you change the same attribute in the component, the printer definition does not pick up the new attribute.

You can create these types of components (one type for each section of a printer definition): Allocation, Processing, NetSpool Options, NetSpool End-of-File, IP PrintWay™ Options, and Protocol.

Tip: Another reason to create components is so that job submitters who use JCL can override printer attributes specified in the printer definition. Job submitters can specify a component name in the PRTOPTNS parameter of the OUTPUT JCL statement. The printer attributes specified in components with that name override the printer attributes specified in the printer definition. For more information, see Creating components for the PRTOPTNS JCL parameter.

Example of components for IP PrintWay printer definitions

Figure 2 shows an example of components that you can include in IP PrintWay printer definitions. After the figure is a description of the components.

Figure 2. Components for an IP PrintWay printer definition

1. Allocation component: Both IP PrintWay printer definitions shown include the same Allocation component. In this component, you could specify the work-selection criteria defined for the IP PrintWay FSA (basic mode) or in the IP PrintWay job selection rule (extended mode). For example, if IP PrintWay selects jobs in output class P, specify class P in this component.

   You might need to specify some allocation attributes in the printer definitions themselves. For example, if job submitters need to select these printer definitions using the CLASS, DEST, or FORMS parameters on an OUTPUT JCL statement, the value for the DEST or FORMS attribute must be unique for each printer definition. Because this value is unique, do not specify it in the component. Instead, specify the DEST or FORMS value in the printer definition itself. For more information, see Using DEST, CLASS, and FORMS to select a printer definition.

2. Processing component: Both IP PrintWay printer definitions include the same Processing component. In this component, you could specify the data formats that the printer's print queues can accept. For example: line data, text data, and PCL data. You could also specify whether you want the printer's LPD to print a page header.
3. NetSpool End-of-File components: Each IP PrintWay printer definition includes a different NetSpool End-of-File component. In these components, you could specify different end-of-file rules for NetSpool to use.

   Only printer definitions that are configured for use with NetSpool need to include a NetSpool End-of-File component. However, you can include a NetSpool End-of-File component even if NetSpool is not configured.

4. IP PrintWay Options component: Both IP PrintWay printer definitions include the same IP PrintWay Options component. In this component, you could specify a retry time and a retention time for unsuccessfully transmitted data sets. You could also specify the name of an IP PrintWay exit program.
5. Protocol components: Each IP PrintWay printer definition includes a different Protocol component. In the first Protocol component, you could specify attributes for the LPR protocol, while in the second Protocol component, you could specify attributes for the VTAM® protocol.

   Because the host name or IP address (for the LPR and direct sockets protocols), the URL (for the IPP protocol), the logical unit name (for the VTAM protocol), and the email addresses (for the email protocol) are typically unique, do not specify these values in the component. Instead, specify the IP address, URL, logical unit name, and email addresses in each printer definition that includes the component.

Example of components for PSF printer definitions

Figure 3 shows an example of components you can include in PSF printer definitions. After the figure is a description of each component and printer definition.

You can include the same components in different types of printer definitions. For example, IP PrintWay and PSF printer definitions can share the NetSpool End-of-File components, if the same NetSpool end-of-file rule is appropriate.

Figure 3. Components for a PSF printer definition

1. Processing component: Both PSF printer definitions include the same Processing component. In this component, you could specify the data formats that the PSF printers support and the data transforms that you want to use.
2. NetSpool End-of-File component: Each PSF printer definition includes a different NetSpool End-of-File component. In these components, you might specify different end-of-file rules for NetSpool to use.

   Only printer definitions that are configured for use with NetSpool need to include a NetSpool End-of-File component. However, you can include a NetSpool End-of-File component even if NetSpool is not configured.