Forcing Output to Print from Drawer 2 Using a Printer Definition Table (PDT)

Resolving The Problem

This document provides instructions for printing from drawer 2 using a Printer Definition Table (PDT). This is done by copying and modifying a Printer Definition File (PDF) and then converting it to a new Printer Definition Table (PDT).

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

Deciding on the Appropriate Printer Definition Table (PDT)

First, you must find out which Printer Definition File (PDF) to copy and modify. If you are already using a PDT with your PC5250 printer session profile, do the following:

1.	Bring up the PC5250 printer session.
2.	Select File, Printer Setup on the menu bar.
3.	From the Printer Setup dialog box, click on the Select PDT button.
4.	From the Select PDT file dialog box, look to see which PDT file is being used.

If you do not know which Printer Definition File (PDF) to copy and modify, do the following:

1.	Bring up the PC5250 printer session.
2.	From the File pull-down, select Printer Setup on the menu bar.
3.	From the Printer Setup dialog box, put a check in the Use PDT box (if it is not grayed out and if it is not yet checked), and click on the Select PDT button.
4.	From the Select PDT file dialog box, look through the list of PDT files to see what PDT files are available.
5.	Compare this list to the user's guide for your printer to decide which is the best choice for your printer.
6.	When in doubt, configure your printer to use a PDT file before copying and modifying a PDT to verify that it prints correctly. Once you have decided which PDT works for your printer, proceed to the next step.

Note: If you bring up the Printer Setup dialog box and find that the Use PDT box is grayed out, you are using Host Print Transform (HPT) with this printer session. You can turn off Host Print Transform and change to using a comparable PDT file or you can continue to use Host Print Transform and follow the instructions in the following document:

N1010162: Forcing Output to Print from Drawer 2 Using Host Print Transform (HPT)


Copying the Printer Definition File (PDF)

You are now ready to retrieve the Printer Definition File (PDF). This gives you the source code used to create the Printer Definition Table (PDT) used with PC5250. It is strongly recommended that you copy an existing PDF to a new name, make your changes, and then create a PDT with the same new name. This way, you do not need to worry about your file being overwritten via PTFs, Service Packs, upgrades, or reinstallation of PC5250 any time in the future. In addition, if any problems occur with your modified PDF/PDT, you have the original PDF/PDT to use and modify.

The PDF files are located in the following directory depending on the Client Access/400 you are using:

IBM 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
Client Access Express for Windows	C:\Program Files\IBM\Client Access\Emulator\PDFPDT
Client Access/400 for Windows 95 and Windows NT	C:\Program Files\IBM\Client Access\Emulator\PDFPDT
Client Access/400 for Windows 3.1	C:\PCOMWIN\PDFPDT
Client Access/400 Optimized for OS/2	C:\PCOMOS2\PDFPDT

Use Microsoft Windows Explorer, File Manager, Microsoft MS-DOS prompt, IBM OS/2 window, or other means to find the appropriate PDF source file and copy it to a new file. For example, if you are using a HP LaserJet 4 printer, you may want to copy the HPLJ4.PDF file to HP4TRAY2.PDT (for Windows 3.1 or OS/2) or HPLJ4 Using Tray 2.pdf (for Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows NT 4.0).

Modifying the Printer Definition File (PDF)

Edit the PDF source file using a text editor such as Notepad (for Windows 3.1, Windows 95, or Windows NT 4.0) or the OS/2 System Editor.

Find the SELECT_DRAWER1 entry in the table. This entry tells PC5250 what control to send when drawer 1 is selected in the spooled file. The following table shows the original settings for a HP LaserJet 4 and the settings needed to force output to come from drawer 2, regardless of which drawer is selected in the spooled file:

Default Settings for HP LaserJet 4	Modified Settings for HP LaserJet 4
SELECT_DRAWER1=1B 26 6C 31 48 SELECT_DRAWER2=1B 26 6C 34 48 SELECT_DRAWER3=1B 26 6C 32 48 SELECT_ENVELOPE=1B 26 6C 33 68 31 4F	SELECT_DRAWER1=1B 26 6C 34 48 SELECT_DRAWER2=1B 26 6C 34 48 SELECT_DRAWER3=1B 26 6C 34 48 SELECT_ENVELOPE=1B 26 6C 33 68 31 4F

Creating the Modified Printer Definition Table (PDT)

Once the Printer Definition File (PDF) source has been edited and saved, you are ready to create a new Printer Definition Table (PDT). This is done doing the following:

1.	Bring up the PC5250 printer session.
2.	From the File pull-down, select Printer Setup on the menu bar.
3.	From the Printer Setup dialog box, put a check in the Use PDT box (if it is not grayed out and if it is not yet checked), and click on the Select PDT button.
4.	From the Select PDT file dialog box, click on the Convert PDF button.
5.	From the Convert PDF to PDT dialog box, find the modified PDF file (for example, HP4TRAY2.PDF) in the list. Click on the file to select it, and click on the Convert button.
6.	From the PDF File Converter dialog box, verify that the table compilation was successful, and click on the Close button.
7.	From the Convert PDF to PDT dialog box, click on the Close button.
8.	From the Select PDT file dialog box, verify that the new PDT file (for example, HP4TRAY2.PDT) is selected, and click on OK.
9.	From the Printer Setup dialog box, click on OK.
10.	From the File pull-down, select Save on the menu bar to save the PC5250 printer session profile
11.	Print a few spooled files to verify that PC5250 prints correctly.