Page formatting for SCS data streams

In some cases, SCS data streams used in LU type 1 sessions depend on a page format that has been preset for the SNA network printer. To simulate this page format, NetSpool lets the administrator specify page-formatting values in the Printer Inventory. The administrator can specify default values for line length, page length, margins, and tabs. If the administrator does not specify a default page-formatting value, NetSpool uses hard-coded default page-formatting values.

If the print data stream contains the SCS commands Set Horizontal Format (SHF) and Set Vertical Format (SVF), the page-formatting values in these commands take effect immediately and remain in effect for all subsequent print data sets on the same session. If no SHF or SVF command occurs in the print data stream, NetSpool uses the default page-formatting values. For more information about the SCS SHF and SVF commands, see NetSpool support for SCS code points.

The page-formatting values are:

MPP=linelength | 80

Specifies the maximum presentation position, that is, the line length. Specify zero or any integer from 1 through 255, inclusive. Zero, the default, uses the device line length, which NetSpool implements as 80 columns.

LM=leftmargin | 1

Specifies where the left margin starts. Specify zero or any integer from 1 through MPP, inclusive. Zero, the default, uses the architectural default of column 1.

RM=rightmargin | 0

Specifies where the right margin starts. Specify zero or a number from the left margin (LM) to the line length (MPP), inclusive. Zero, the default, uses the architectural default of the MPP value.

HT=(tab1,tab2 ... ) | 0

Specifies positions of horizontal tabs. The first tab is always the same as the left margin (LM) value and does not need to be specified. Each tab can be zero or greater than or equal to LM, or less than RM. Zero, the default, is valid and ignored. The application data stream can add additional tab stops but cannot remove default tab stops.

MPL=pagelength | 1

Specifies the number of the maximum presentation line, that is, the maximum number of lines to be printed on the page. Specify zero or any integer from 1 through 255, inclusive. Zero, the default, uses the architectural default of 1 line.

TM=topmargin | 1

Specifies where the top margin (also channel 1) starts. The top margin is also used as the line number for Select Vertical Channel 1. Specify zero or any integer from 1 through the page length (MPL), inclusive. Zero, the default, uses the architectural default of line 1.

BM=bottommargin | 0

Specifies where the bottom margin starts. Specify zero or any integer from top margin (TM), which is also channel 1, to the page length (MPL), inclusive. Zero, the default, uses the architectural default of MPL. A bottom margin of 1 suppresses automatic form feed when the application spaces past the bottom margin.

VT=(tab1,tab2, ...) | 0

Identifies the position of vertical tabs (also channels 2–12). The first tab is always the same as the top margin value (TM) and does not need to be specified. The first 11 vertical tabs are also used as the line numbers for Select Vertical Channel 2 through 12. Each tab must be either zero or greater than or equal to top margin (TM), which is also Channel 1, and less than or equal to the bottom margin (BM), inclusive. Zero, the default, is valid and ignored. The application data stream can add additional tab stops but cannot remove default tab stops.

If the default page-formatting values are not appropriate for all target printers, the administrator must define appropriate values in one or more printer definitions in the Printer Inventory.

Tips:

In the ISPF panels that the administrator uses to create a printer definition, the fields for setting SCS page-formatting values are under the heading SCS Conversion.
The SCS page-formatting values in the printer definition do not apply when NetSpool formats 3270 input data. Instead, when NetSpool formats 3270 data, it uses page-formatting information that is specified in the 3270 data stream, in the Write Control Character (WCC).
When the administrator selects the NetSpool Convert to PCL formatting option, the administrator can also specify page orientation (portrait and landscape), page density, and line density values for both SCS and 3270 data streams in the Printer Inventory. For SCS data streams only, the administrator can also request that NetSpool automatically determine the appropriate page orientation on a page-by-page basis. In the ISPF panels, the fields for setting these page-formatting values are under the heading NetSpool PCL Conversion.