Troubleshooting
Problem
This document provides instructions for creating a modified Printer Definition Table (PDT) file for the local print screen function on 132-column displays.
Resolving The Problem
This document provides instructions for creating a modified Printer Definition Table (PDT) file for the local print screen function on 132-column displays. Examples include a PDT file to print in landscape at 13.3 characters per inch (CPI) on HP LaserJet and compatible printers, a PDT file to print in portrait at 17.1 characters per inch (CPI) on IBM Proprinter and compatible printers, and a PDT file to print in portrait at 17.1 characters per inch (CPI) on Epson dot matrix and compatible printers.
| Caution: These instructions are provided as is. Any assistance with editing the PDF is done only with a consulting agreement. |
This document was last updated on 4 April 2014.
For more information on configuring a PC5250 display session to use a Printer Definition Table (PDT) file for the local print screen function, refer to the following Rochester Support Center knowledgebase document:
N1018539: Configuring a PC5250 Display Session for Local Print Screen or Host Print Screen Functions
Deciding on Which Printer Definition File (PDF) Source File to Modify
Note: Before proceeding, verify that the printer is capable of printing at 13.3 CPI.
The first step in creating a modified Printer Definition Table (PDT) file is deciding which Printer Definition File (PDF) source file to modify. If you are already using a PDT file when using the local print screen function in your PC5250 display session, then you can determine which PDT file you are using by going through File, Printer Setup, Select PDT. This is discussed in the sections titled Copying the Printer Definition File (PDF) Source File and Editing the Printer Definition File (PDF) Source File below.
Once you have decided which Printer Definition File (PDF) source file to modify, you can copy the PDF source file, then edit the PDF source using one of the following examples:
| o | Example 1: Modifying the hppcl5.pdf File to Print 132-Column Displays in Landscape and in a 13.3 CPI Font This example shows changes that can be made to the hppcl5.pdf source file to have the local print screen function print in landscape and in a 13.3 CPI font, which will allow a 132-column display to fit in landscape on Letter sized (8.5 x 11 inch) paper provided the printer supports scalable fonts. |
| o | Example 2: Modifying the hppcl5.pdf File to Print 132-Column Displays in Portrait and in a 17.1 CPI Font This example shows changes that can be made to the hppcl5.pdf source file to have the local print screen function print in portrait and in a 17.1 CPI font, which will allow a 132-column display to fit in portrait on Letter sized (8.5 x 11 inch) paper. |
| o | Example 3: Modifying the ibmppds.pdf File to Print 132-Column Displays in Portrait and in a 17.1 CPI Font This example shows changes that can be made to the ibmppds.pdf source file to have the local print screen function print in portrait and in a 17.1 CPI font, which will allow a 132-column display to fit in portrait on Letter sized (8.5 x 11 inch) or narrow (80-column) greenbar paper. |
| o | Example 4: Modifying the esc_p.pdf File to Print 132-Column Displays in Portrait and in a 17.1 CPI Font This example shows changes that can be made to the esc_p.pdf source file to have the local print screen function print in portrait and in a 17.1 CPI font, which will allow a 132-column display to fit in portrait on Letter sized (8.5 x 11 inch) or narrow (80-column) greenbar paper. |
After that, you will need to create the modified Printer Definition Table (PDT) file and select that PDT file in your PC5250 display session. This is discussed in the sections titled Creating the Modified Printer Definition Table (PDT) File and Selecting the Modified Printer Definition Table (PDT) File in a PC5250 Display Session below.
Note: If you aren't already using a PDT file with your PC5250 display session and cannot find a PDT file that corresponds to your printer, look in the printer manual to see what other types of printers it emulates. For example, there are no PDT files listed for the Lexmark Optra printers or the HP LaserJet 5, 6, 4000, or 8000 printers; however, because they all emulate the HP LaserJet 4 printer, you can use the hppcl5.pdt file. There were a number of additional PDT files available with earlier versions of iSeries Access for Windows that are no longer shipped with the latest versions of iSeries Access for Windows and IBM System i Access for Windows. For more information, refer to the following Rochester Support Center knowledgebase document:
N1019626: List of Printer Definition Table (PDT) Files for Use with PC5250
Copying the Printer Definition File (PDF) Source File
Once you have selected which PDF you want to modify, you will need to copy this PDF to a new name (for example, hppcl5_landscape.pdf). We do not recommend that you modify the existing PDF because it may get damaged or it may get overwritten by PC5250 fixes or upgrades that may occur in future. Use Windows Explorer to copy the selected PDF to a new PDF. The PDF files are located in the following directory depending on the Client Access/400 you are using:
| IBM System i Access for Windows | C:\Program Files\IBM\Client Access\Emulator\PDFPDT |
| IBM iSeries Access for Windows | C:\Program Files\IBM\Client Access\Emulator\PDFPDT |
Editing the Printer Definition File (PDF) Source File
It is recommended that you use Notepad to open the new PDF file by holding down the SHIFT key while right clicking on the file, then selecting Open with > Notepad. If you double click on the PDF file, then it will open in Adobe Reader instead of Notepad, which will not work. Also, if you see unreadable characters after opening the file, you may have copied the PDT file rather than the PDF file.
-
Example 1: Modifying the hppcl5.pdf File to Print 132-Column Displays in Landscape and in a 13.3 CPI Font
This example shows changes that can be made to the hppcl5.pdf source file to have the local print screen function print in landscape and in a 13.3 CPI font, which will allow a 132-column display to fit in landscape on Letter sized (8.5 x 11 inch) paper provided the printer supports scalable fonts.
Search for the string P10, then add a new line after it that adds a macro called P13, for example:
Default Setting for hppcl5.pdf P10 EQU 1B 26 6B 30 53 /* 10 Pitch-Characters/Inch */ Modified Setting for hppcl5.pdf P10 EQU 1B 26 6B 30 53 /* 10 Pitch-Characters/Inch */
P13 EQU 1B 28 73 30 70 31 33 2E 33 68 30 73 30 62 34 30 39 39 54
/* P13 = 13.3 CPI Courier */
Note: This sets up a new P13 macro that sends an HP PCL5e Font String to request a 13.3 CPI Courier font. This is the same PCL5e command or escape sequence that is shown in the section titled "Example for a Courier 13.3 CPI Font" in the following Rochester Support Center knowledgebase document:
N1010138: Breakdown of HP PCL5 Font Strings
Next, search for the string END_MACROS which marks the end of the PC5250 macros section, then add a new line before it that adds a macro called LND. This is the same PCL5e command or escape sequence that the hppcl5.pdf file specifies later on for SET_LANDSCAPELEFT_ORIENT. For example:
Default Setting for hppcl5.pdf SFG EQU 1B 28 73 /* */
END_MACROSModified Setting for hppcl5.pdf SFG EQU 1B 28 73 /* */
LND EQU 1B 26 6C 31 4F /* Landscape left orientation */
END_MACROS
Note: The LND macro can be setup to use landscape right orientation by setting it to use the value specified for SET_LANDSCAPERGHT_ORIENT, "EQU 1B 26 6C 33 4F".
Search for the string MAXIMUM_PAGE_LENGTH, then set the MAXIMUM_PAGE_LENGTH to 048, the MAXIMUM_PRINT_POSITION to 132, and the DEFAULT_CPI to 013 to setup the PDF/PDT to print in landscape at 13.3 CPI. For example:
Default Setting for hppcl5.pdf /**********************************************************************/
/* Session Parameters */
/**********************************************************************/
MAXIMUM_PAGE_LENGTH=060 /* Printed lines per page */
MAXIMUM_PRINT_POSITION=080 /* Printed characters per line */
INTERV_REQ_TIMER=001
HORIZONTAL_PEL=0720 /* */
VERTICAL_PEL=0720 /* */
DEFAULT_CPI?=010
DEFAULT_LPI?=006Modified Setting for hppcl5.pdf /**********************************************************************/
/* Session Parameters */
/**********************************************************************/
MAXIMUM_PAGE_LENGTH=048 /* Printed lines per page */
MAXIMUM_PRINT_POSITION=132 /* Printed characters per line */
INTERV_REQ_TIMER=001
HORIZONTAL_PEL=0720 /* */
VERTICAL_PEL=0720 /* */
DEFAULT_CPI?=013
DEFAULT_LPI?=006
Search for the string START_JOB, then modify it to specify the LND macro. For example:
Default Setting for hppcl5.pdf /**********************************************************************/
/* Control Codes */
/**********************************************************************/
START_JOB=CUL CBP EC1 /* Switch to ECMA-94 Latin 1 */
/* character set */Modified Setting for hppcl5.pdf /**********************************************************************/
/* Control Codes */
/**********************************************************************/
START_JOB=CUL CBP EC1 LND /* Switch to ECMA-94 Latin 1 */
/* character set, landscape */
Search for the string SET_12_CHARACTERS_PER_INCH, then add a new line after it that adds a setting for SET_13_CHARACTERS_PER_INCH, for example:
Default Setting for hppcl5.pdf SET_10_CHARACTERS_PER_INCH=P10
SET_12_CHARACTERS_PER_INCH=P12Modified Setting for hppcl5.pdf SET_10_CHARACTERS_PER_INCH=P10
SET_12_CHARACTERS_PER_INCH=P12
SET_13_CHARACTERS_PER_INCH=P13
- Example 2: Modifying the hppcl5.pdf File to Print 132-Column Displays in Portrait and in a 17.1 CPI Font
This example shows changes that can be made to the hppcl5.pdf source file to have the local print screen function print in portrait and in a 17.1 CPI font, which will allow a 132-column display to fit in portrait on Letter sized (8.5 x 11 inch) paper.
Search for the string MAXIMUM_PRINT_POSITION, then set the MAXIMUM_PRINT_POSITION to 132, and set the DEFAULT_CPI to 017 to setup the PDF/PDT to print in at 13.3 CPI. For example:
Default Setting for hppcl5.pdf /**********************************************************************/
/* Session Parameters */
/**********************************************************************/
MAXIMUM_PAGE_LENGTH=060 /* Printed lines per page */
MAXIMUM_PRINT_POSITION=080 /* Printed characters per line */
INTERV_REQ_TIMER=001
HORIZONTAL_PEL=0720 /* */
VERTICAL_PEL=0720 /* */
DEFAULT_CPI?=010
DEFAULT_LPI?=006Modified Setting for hppcl5.pdf /**********************************************************************/
/* Session Parameters */
/**********************************************************************/
MAXIMUM_PAGE_LENGTH=060 /* Printed lines per page */
MAXIMUM_PRINT_POSITION=132 /* Printed characters per line */
INTERV_REQ_TIMER=001
HORIZONTAL_PEL=0720 /* */
VERTICAL_PEL=0720 /* */
DEFAULT_CPI?=017
DEFAULT_LPI?=006
Note: The hppcl5.pdf source file and the hppcl5.pdt table are by default setup to print in portrait.
- Example 3: Modifying the ibmppds.pdf File to Print 132-Column Displays in Portrait and in a 17.1 CPI Font
This example shows changes that can be made to the ibmppds.pdf source file to have the local print screen function print in portrait and in a 17.1 CPI font, which will allow a 132-column display to fit in portrait on Letter sized (8.5 x 11 inch) or narrow (80-column) greenbar paper.
Search for the string MAXIMUM_PRINT_POSITION, then set the MAXIMUM_PRINT_POSITION to 132. For example:
Default Setting for ibmppds.pdf /**********************************************************************/
/* Session Parameters */
/**********************************************************************/
MAXIMUM_PAGE_LENGTH=066 /* Printed lines per page */
MAXIMUM_PRINT_POSITION=080 /* Printed characters per line */Modified Setting for ibmppds.pdf /**********************************************************************/
/* Session Parameters */
/**********************************************************************/
MAXIMUM_PAGE_LENGTH=066 /* Printed lines per page */
MAXIMUM_PRINT_POSITION=132 /* Printed characters per line */
This will set up the PDF/PDT file to allow a maximum of 132 characters per line, so the PC5250 display session will not wrap at column 80. The printer hardware may still wrap after column 80 if it is still setup to print at 10 characters per inch, but PC5250 will no longer wrap at column 80.
Note: If you want to print the 132-column print screen in a 17.1 CPI font so the print screen will fit on a narrow-carriage dot matrix or line printer, or on a wide-carriage dot matrix or line printer that has narrow-carriage continuous form/tractor feed paper or Letter sized (8.5 x 11 inch) paper, then add the DEFAULT_CPI and DEFAULT_LPI settings to default the PDF/PDT file to printing at 17.1 Characters Per Inch (CPI) and 6 Lines Per Inch (LPI). For example:
Modified Setting for ibmppds.pdf /**********************************************************************/
/* Session Parameters */
/**********************************************************************/
MAXIMUM_PAGE_LENGTH=066 /* Printed lines per page */
MAXIMUM_PRINT_POSITION=132 /* Printed characters per line */
DEFAULT_CPI?=017
DEFAULT_LPI?=006
- Example 4: Modifying the esc_p.pdf File to Print 132-Column Displays in Portrait and in a 17.1 CPI Font
This example shows changes that can be made to the esc_p.pdf source file to have the local print screen function print in portrait and in a 17.1 CPI font, which will allow a 132-column display to fit in portrait on Letter sized (8.5 x 11 inch) or narrow (80-column) greenbar paper.
Search for the string MAXIMUM_PRINT_POSITION, then set the MAXIMUM_PRINT_POSITION to 132. For example:
Default Setting for esc_p.pdf /**********************************************************************/
/* Session Parameters */
/**********************************************************************/
MAXIMUM_PAGE_LENGTH=066
MAXIMUM_PRINT_POSITION=080
DEFAULT_CPI?=010
DEFAULT_LPI?=006Modified Setting for esc_p.pdf /**********************************************************************/
/* Session Parameters */
/**********************************************************************/
MAXIMUM_PAGE_LENGTH=066
MAXIMUM_PRINT_POSITION=132
DEFAULT_CPI?=010
DEFAULT_LPI?=006
This will set up the PDF/PDT file to allow a maximum of 132 characters per line, so the PC5250 display session will not wrap at column 80. The printer hardware may still wrap after column 80 if it is still setup to print at 10 characters per inch, but PC5250 will no longer wrap at column 80.
Note: If you want to print the 132-column print screen in a 17.1 CPI font so the print screen will fit on a narrow-carriage dot matrix or line printer, or on a wide-carriage dot matrix or line printer that has narrow-carriage continuous form/tractor feed paper or Letter sized (8.5 x 11 inch) paper, then change the DEFAULT_CPI setting from 010 to 017 to default the PDF/PDT file to printing at 17.1 Characters Per Inch (CPI) and 6 Lines Per Inch (LPI). For example:
Modified Setting for esc_p.pdf /**********************************************************************/
/* Session Parameters */
/**********************************************************************/
MAXIMUM_PAGE_LENGTH=066
MAXIMUM_PRINT_POSITION=132
DEFAULT_CPI?=017
DEFAULT_LPI?=006
Creating the Modified Printer Definition Table (PDT) File
Once the changes have been made in the new Printer Definition File (PDF) source file, save the changes, and close the file, then use the following step-by-step instructions to convert the Printer Definition File (PDF) source file to a Printer Definition Table (PDT) file:
| 1. | Bring up the PC5250 display session. |
| 2. | Select File > Printer Setup on the menu bar for the PC5250 display session to bring up the Printer Setup dialog box. |
| 3. | Select Use PDT, and click on the Select PDT button to bring up the Select PDT file panel. |
| 4. | Click on the Convert PDF... button to bring up the Convert PDF to PDT panel. |
| 5. | Select the Printer Definition File (PDF) source file, click on the Convert button, and confirm that the PDF File Converter panel shows that the table compilation was successful. |
| 6. | Press the Close button on the Convert PDF to PDT panel to return to the Select PDF file panel. |
Selecting the Modified Printer Definition Table (PDT) File in a PC5250 Display Session
Once the Printer Definition File (PDF) source file has been successfully converted to a Printer Definition Table (PDT) file, then use the following step-by-step instructions to select the modified Printer Definition Table (PDT) file:
| 1. | If you are just finishing the instructions in the section titled "Creating the Modified Printer Definition Table (PDT) File", press the F5 (Refresh) key on the Select PDT file panel. If selecting the modified Printer Definition Table (PDT) file on another PC5250 display session, then bring up that display session, select File > Printer Setup on the menu bar to bring up the Printer Setup dialog box, select Use PDT and then click on the Select PDT button to bring up the Select PDT file panel. |
| 2. | Select the modified Printer Definition Table (PDT) file from the list. |
| 3. | Click OK to exit the Printer Setup panel. |
| 4. | Select File > Save to save the changes to the PC5250 display session profile. |
[{"Type":"MASTER","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB57","label":"Power"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU058","label":"IBM Infrastructure w\/TPS"},"Product":{"code":"SWG60","label":"IBM i"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF012","label":"IBM i"}],"Version":"6.1.0"}]
Historical Number
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Document Information
Modified date:
18 December 2019
UID
nas8N1012514