Automatically Answering Load Form Type and Verify Alignment Messages

Message CPA3394 "Load form type '&4' device &5 writer &1" is typically issued by a printer writer when the writer is started for the very first time or when the Form type (FORMTYPE) parameter specified in the attributes of the spooled file currently being printed is different than the FORMTYPE parameter specified in the previous spooled file that was printed. For example, if the PRT01 writer prints a spooled file that has FORMTYPE(*STD) specified and is about to print another spooled file that has FORMTYPE(CHECKS) specified, the writer will issue message CPA3394 "Load form type 'CHECKS' device PRT01 writer PRT01" prior to printing the second spooled file.

This message is issued to let the system operator know that special forms may need to be loaded into the printer before printing the next spooled file. However, when printing on a laser printer with pre-printed forms or when using an electronic form (such as an *AFPDS overlay), this message may no longer be necessary. The system can be set up to automatically answer message CPA3394 with a "G" (Go with the new form type), an "I" (Ignore the new form type but still print the spooled file), or a "C" (Cancel the writer) depending on the writer name, output queue name and library, form type, device name specified in the message. The system can also be set up to require a reply by the system operator depending on the same criteria.

The Display Message Description (DSPMSGD) command can be used to find out details on a specific message including the message file and library, the message text, the field data, the reply specifications (and they meanings), any specify reply values, and the message attributes. This information can be used to determine what criteria can be used when creating a reply list entry. The following DSPMSG command can be used to display information on message CPA3394:

DSPMSGD RANGE(CPA3394)

• Selecting Option 1 (Display message text) shows the Message and Cause and also show that field &1 is the writer name, fields &2 and &3 are the output queue, and library, &4 is the form type, and &5 is the device name.
  
  This also shows the possible choices for replying to message CPA3394. This message is typically replied with a "G" (Go) to load and use the new form type. However, the Message reply (RPY) parameter in the Add Reply List Entry (ADDRPYLE) command can also be set to *RQD to require an explicit reply to the message by a system operator or system administrator rather than having the system automatically reply to the message.
  
  Note: Message CPA3394 can also be answered with "H" (Hold) to put the spooled file in HLD (Held) status. If this reply is used with a system reply list entry, the spooled file will be held every time it is released and, therefore, it will never be allowed to be printed.

• Selecting Option 2 (Display field data) shows details on fields &1, &2, &3, &4 and &5, including the data type and length.
  
  By combining this information, you can determine the starting position of any piece of information passed back through the message. Field &1 always starts at position 1 and adding the length of a field to its starting position will give you the starting position of the next field. Therefore, the complete field information for message CPA3394 is:

Message CPA4002 "Verify alignment on printer &3" is issued only by printer writer printer device descriptions that have the Form feed (FORMFEED) parameter set to *CONT or *CONT2 (when it is configured for a continuous form printer). This message is issued when the writer is started for the very first time, and when the page length of the spooled file currently being printed is different than the page length of the previous spooled file that was printed. The page length is determined by the page length portion of the Page size (PAGESIZE) parameter and the Lines per Inch (LPI) parameter that are specified in the spooled file attributes. For example, if the PRT01 writer prints a spooled file that has PAGESIZE(66 132) and LPI(6) specified and is about to print another spooled file that has PAGESIZE(51 132) and LPI(6) specified, the page length is going from 11.0 inches (66 lines per page / 6 lines per inch = 11.0 inches) to 8.5 inches (51 lines per page / 6 lines per inch - 8.5 inches). Therefore, the writer will issue message CPA4002 "Verify alignment on printer PRT01" prior to printing the second spooled file.

This message is issued to let the system operator know that different forms may need to be loaded into the printer before printing the next spooled file. However, when printing on a laser printer, or when the actual paper size does not matter (such as for a test print), this message may not be necessary. The system can be set up to automatically answer message CPA4002 with a "G" (Go with the new page length), an "I" (Ignore the new page length but still print the spooled file), or a "C" (Cancel the writer) depending on the printer device name specified in the message. The system can also be set up to require a reply by the system operator depending on the same criteria.

The Display Message Description (DSPMSGD) command can be used to find out details on a specific message, including the message file and library, the message text, the field data, the reply specifications (and their meanings), any specify reply values, and the message attributes. This information can be used to determine what criteria can be used when creating a reply list entry. The following DSPMSG command can be used to display information on message CPA4002:

DSPMSGD RANGE(CPA4002)

• Selecting Option 1 (Display message text) shows the Message and Cause and also shows that field &3 is the device name and &4 is the first line for the file.
  
  This will also show the possible choices for replying to message CPA4002. This message is typically replied with an "I" (Ignore) to continue printing with the current alignment, but the Message reply (RPY) parameter in the Add Reply List Entry (ADDRPYLE) command can also be set to *RQD to require an explicit reply to the message by a system operator or system administrator rather than having the system automatically reply to the message.
   
• Selecting Option 2 (Display field data) shows details on fields &1, &2, &3, and &4, including the data type and length.
  
  By combining this information, you can determine the starting position of any piece of information passed back through the message. Field &1 always starts at position 1 and adding the length of a field to its starting position will give you the starting position of the next field. Therefore, the pertinent field information for message CPA3394 is:

1. Message CPA3394 uses only field &3 and &4 even though the field numbers go up to &28. Information on fields &1 and &2 are required to determine the positioning of fields &3 and &4 so they are listed in the above table. However, fields &5 through &28 are not needed and are, therefore, not shown in this table.
2. The offsets within the message may vary by release. It is possible that you may see something different from this example for message CPA4002. You also may find that, after an upgrade, a Reply List Entry no longer works properly. If so, check the message description to see if the offset for the parameter used in the Reply List Entry changed.

The system can be set up to automatically respond to these messages using system reply list entries. The Work with Reply List Entries (WRKRPYLE) command can be used to work with the system reply list entries, and F6 (Add) or the Add Reply List Entry (ADDRPYLE) command can be used to add a system reply list entry.

Before typing the Add Reply List Entry (ADDRPYLE) command, do the following:

Once that has been decided, use the Add Reply List Entry (ADDRPYLE) command to add your reply list entries. Note that using the ADDRPYLE command will allow you to use the F9 (Retrieve) key to retrieve the last command used. Then, press F4 (Prompt) to prompt that command so it is easier to add multiple reply list entries.

Example Reply List Entries for Message CPA3394

• Example reply list entry to automatically answer message CPA3394 with "G" (Go) for a specific writer name

The inquiry message reply parameter (INQMSGRPY) on the job description must be set to *SYSRPYL to let the system know that it needs to look at the system reply list. Printer writers use the QSPLPRTW job description and also use the QSPLAFPW job description if configured as a *IPDS printer device with the Advanced function printing (AFP) parameter set to *YES. Remote writers use the QSPLRMTW job description.

The system ships the QSPLPRTW, QSPLAFPW, and QSPLRMTW job descriptions with the INQMSGRPY parameter set to *SYSRPYL. However, if adding a system reply list entries does not take effect, these job descriptions should be checked to ensure they all have the INQMSGRPY parameter set correctly. This can be done using the following Work with Job Descriptions (WRKJOBD) command:

WRKJOBD JOBD(QSPL*)

Select Option 5 (Display) or Option 2 (Change) on each of these job descriptions. Or, the job descriptions can be set using the following Change Job Description (CHGJOBD) commands:

CHGJOBD JOBD(QSPLPRTW) INQMSGRPY(*SYSRPYL)
CHGJOBD JOBD(QSPLAFPW) INQMSGRPY(*SYSRPYL)
CHGJOBD JOBD(QSPLRMTW) INQMSGRPY(*SYSRPYL)