Forcing Spooled Files to Print in Landscape Rather Than Portrait Using Host Print Transform (HPT)

Resolving The Problem

If the attributes of a spooled file indicate that it is larger than will fit in portrait on 8.5 x 11.0 inch (letter sized) paper, Host Print Transform (or HPT) will generally print that spooled file in landscape using a compressed font (assuming the page rotation is either set to *AUTO or *COR). This function of HPT is called Computer Output Reduction (or COR). However, if the page size is 8.5 x 11.0 inches or smaller, or if the page rotation is 0 or 180 degrees, the spooled file will print in portrait.

This document provides instructions for forcing IBM OS/400 or IBM i5/OS spooled files to print in landscape on 8.5 x 11.0 inch (letter sized) paper whenever HPT would normally print in portrait.

This is done by retrieving and modifying a Workstation Customization Table (WSCST) and changing the values in the Paper Orientation (PRTORIENT) tags.

This document was last updated on 24 October 2013.

Caution: These instructions are provided as is. Any assistance with editing the Workstation Customization Table must be done through a consulting agreement.

Basic Steps for Creating and Using a Workstation Customization Object

The following are the basic steps for creating and using a Workstation Customization Object (WSCST). Regardless of the particular issues you are attempting to resolve, these steps must always be taken. This information is intended to provide a 'quick start' to creating a WSCST object for users who have at least some familiarity with creating them and with configuring printers.

Note: Additional, in-depth details for creating a WSCST object can be found in the following document:

N1010140: Instructions for Modifying a Workstation Customizing Object (WSCST)

The following are the basic 'quick start' steps.

Step 1: Retrieve the WSCST source code. Type the following command on the operating system command line:

Important Note: Use the Manufacturer type and model (MFRTYPMDL) that is appropriate for your printer. Also, the Source member (in the following example, HP4) is a name that is appropriate to your customizing object. This is what you will be calling your workstation customizing object in Step 3.

RTVWSCST DEVTYPE(*TRANSFORM) MFRTYPMDL(*HP4) SRCMBR(HP4)
         SRCFILE(QGPL/QTXTSRC)

Press the Enter key.

Step 2: Edit the source code by using PDM or SEU:

o	To use PDM, on the operating system command line type the following: WRKMBRPDM FILE(QGPL/QTXTSRC) MBR(HP4) Press the Enter key. Select Option 2 to edit.
o	To use SEU, on the operating system command line type the following: STRSEU SRCFILE(QGPL/QTXTSRC) SRCMBR(HP4) Press the Enter key.

Make any changes necessary to the WSCST object source code. Refer to the following section Forcing HPT to Print Spooled Files in Landscape Rather Than Portrait to make your changes, then save and exit. Continue with Step 3.

Step 3: Create the WSCST object using the CRTWSCST command. On the operating system command line type the following:

Important Note: Match the SRCMBR name from Step 1 to the WSCST object name that is created in this step.

CRTWSCST WSCST(QGPL/HP4) SRCFILE(QGPL/QTXTSRC)

Press the Enter key.

Step 4: Add the WSCST to the printer configuration by using the Change Device Print command (CHGDEVPRT), the Change Output Queue command (CHGOUTQ), or by changing the PC5250 printer emulation session configuration.

o	To add the WSCST to a device description, on the operating system command line type the following: CHGDEVPRT DEVD(device_name) TRANSFORM(*YES) MFRTYPMDL(*WSCSTLETTER)           WSCST(QGPL/HP4) Press the Enter key.
o	To add the WSCST to a remote output queue description, on the operating system command line type the following: CHGOUTQ OUTQ(queue_name) TRANSFORM(*YES) MFRTYPMDL(*WSCSTLETTER)         WSCST(HP4) Press the Enter key.
o	To add the WSCST to a PC5250 printer emulation session, do the following: a In the PC5250 printer session, click on Communication > Configure. b Click on the Setup button. c In the Configure PC5250 Printer Emulation window, select the box next to Transform Print Data to ASCII on the iSeries and select the Printer Model value of *WSCST. d In the same window, specify the name of the WSCST in the Customizing Object parameter and the library where it is found in the Library parameter (for example, Customizing Object HP4 and Library QGPL). e Click OK three times. f Click File > Save to save the configuration.

Note: If any changes are made to the WSCST object source code after the CRTWSCST command has been issued, it is necessary to issue the CRTWSCST command again. The printer writer must be ended and restarted for the changes to take effect.

Forcing HPT to Print Spooled Files in Landscape Rather Than Portrait

Search for the member name you used and type a 2 option (Edit) next to it and press the Enter key. Next, find the PRTORIENT entry in the table (you can type PRTORIENT on the SEU command line and press the F16 key). This entry tells HPT what controls to use for the different printer orientations.

The PRTORIENT entries in the workstation customization table are what tell HPT which controls to use for the different printer orientations. The following table shows the original settings for an HP LaserJet 4 and the settings needed to force all output to print in portrait (HPT will no longer be printing in landscape even if specifically requested in the spooled file attributes):

Default Settings for HP LaserJet 4	Modified Settings for HP LaserJet 4
:PRTORIENT  ORIENT=PORTRAIT  DATA ='1B266C304F'X. :PRTORIENT  ORIENT=LANDSCAPE  DATA ='1B266C334F'X. :PRTORIENT  ORIENT=RTT180  DATA ='1B266C324F'X. :PRTORIENT  ORIENT=RTT270  DATA ='1B266C314F'X.	:PRTORIENT  ORIENT=PORTRAIT  DATA ='1B266C334F'X. :PRTORIENT  ORIENT=LANDSCAPE  DATA ='1B266C334F'X. :PRTORIENT  ORIENT=RTT180  DATA ='1B266C314F'X. :PRTORIENT  ORIENT=RTT270  DATA ='1B266C314F'X.

To create the WSCST object and implement it, perform Steps 3 and 4 (above).