Testing Print Definitions

After adding or modifying a print definition, you should test it by selecting the TEST option (option 5) on the Print Definition panel. If a message appears that tells you the printing was successful, you should verify that the output is at the intended printer before you allow users to access that printer.

The TEST option also tests the print function defined in the FUNCTION option. (You can test the print function directly through the FUNCTION option.) When you select the TEST option, you see:

Figure 1. Printer – Test the Print Definition

ICQAPE90                  Test the Print Definition
Command ===>

Enter or change the data set to be printed.  To exit press END.

   Project           ===> ________
   Group             ===> ________
   Type              ===> ________
   Member            ===> ________   Optional if data set is partitioned

Or other partitioned or sequential data set:
   Data Set Name      ===> ________________________________

Type the name of a data set to be printed. The data set must be cataloged and not password-protected. When you press the Enter key, the print function is invoked to print the specified data set at the printer.

Use the first four fields to identify a data set and a specific member in it. For example to print JONES.TEST.DATA(MARCH05), type:

PROJECT    ===>  jones
FILE NAME  ===>  test
FILE TYPE  ===>  data
MEMBER     ===>  march05

Use the last field to specify a data set with more than or fewer than three qualifiers. For example:

Other data set
===> 'jones.test.data.memo(march05)'_______

This field overrides whatever is in the other fields on the panel.

After you press the Enter key, you see the following panel with information about the test. If an error occurred, error messages are displayed and you can press the HELP PF key to obtain more information.

Figure 2. Printer – Print Function Test Results

ICQAPE91               Print function test results
Command ===>

     The test of the print function is completed.  In case of an
     error, please take note of the error message (if any) and the
     information below for the system programmer.

     Printer location..
     Print format......
     Print function....
     Return code.......
     Print data set....
     Invocation........

When you leave the Print Function Test Results panel, you return to the panel from which you selected the TEST option.