Options To Print Spooled File Text In Color

Troubleshooting

Problem

This document provides information about printing spooled file text in color.

Resolving The Problem

i5/OS has limited support for printing color text, but has the following options:

o	Use the DDS COLOR keyword. There is a limited number of colors to use. It was originally intended for an IBM 4224 IPDS printer (which had color ribbons). The DDS keyword can be used to generate an AFPDS spooled file. The AFPDS spooled file can then be printed on an HP PCL5-capable color laser printer that is configured using Host Print Transform (HPT) YES and a Manufacturer Type and Model (MFRTYPMDL) that supports color, such as HPCOLORLJ or LEXMARKC750. You can also use Infoprint Server for iSeries (product 5722IP1) to convert the AFPDS spooled file to a PDF that includes color text. Note: There are other manufacturer types and models that can work with color.
o	Use an in-house or third-party application that generates a USERASCII spooled file that contains an HP PCL5C (PCL5 with color extensions) data stream. In this case, the OS/400 would be able to send the ASCII data to the printer, and it would print in color. Because it is a USERASCII spooled file, the iSeries will not transform it but will pass it through to the printer.
o	There is one high end very expensive IPDS printer that can do color printing using a new DDS keyword that allows the color combinations (for example, *RGB for red green blue) to be specified. HPT does not support this new keyword. Therefore, the printer must be configured as an IPDS device description.
o	HPT can use the PDF WSCST QSYS/QCTXPDF to convert a spooled file into a PDF at print time. This will support color with both the DDS color keyword, and also full color color page segments and overlays. When this option is used, it is recommended to change the spooled file attributes to specify the exact PDF size to be generated. An example would be: OVRPRTF DEVTYPE(AFPDS) PAGESIZE(11 8.5 UOM) PAGRTT(0) UOM(*INCH)
o	If color text is desired, but a customer is not familiar with DDS, they may be able to create the color text as part of a color overlay. This will only work if the text is always to be printed in the same place.

Notes:

o	Color support is available to PCL color laserjet technology printers via MFRTYPMDL values including, but not restricted to, HPCOLORLJ, IBM4308, and *LEXOPTRAC. However, the actual color support is limited from a customer standpoint. This color support only allows you to print color text. Color image is not supported. You cannot print color barcodes, either. HPT has never supported the printing of Graphics Object Content Architecture (GOCA) objects, so it follows that printing of color GOCA is not supported.
o	Even with color text, there are restrictions. Under Presentation Text Object Content Architecture (PTOCA), there are 2 types of color controls. The older PT1 Set Text Color PTOCA command is the control that HPT supports. HPT does not support the newer PT3 Set Extended Color command. If you use the BOX or LINE DDS keywords, and you specify the *COLOR subfunction with the PT1 type color, this actually generates text controls, and HPT will honor the color lines and boxes. Drawing the lines and boxes with the PT3 type color will not work.
o	Lastly, if you use a workstation customizing object that specifies to use RASTER mode, color will not print.

For more information, refer to Informational APAR II13564: HOST PRINT TRANSFORM RESTRICTIONS, V5R3M0 and V5R4M0 ().

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Historical Number

28502903

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Document Information

Modified date:
07 August 2024

UID

nas8N1019339

o	Use the DDS COLOR keyword. There is a limited number of colors to use. It was originally intended for an IBM 4224 IPDS printer (which had color ribbons). The DDS keyword can be used to generate an AFPDS spooled file. The AFPDS spooled file can then be printed on an HP PCL5-capable color laser printer that is configured using Host Print Transform (HPT) YES and a Manufacturer Type and Model (MFRTYPMDL) that supports color, such as HPCOLORLJ or LEXMARKC750. You can also use Infoprint Server for iSeries (product 5722IP1) to convert the AFPDS spooled file to a PDF that includes color text. Note: There are other manufacturer types and models that can work with color.
o	Use an in-house or third-party application that generates a USERASCII spooled file that contains an HP PCL5C (PCL5 with color extensions) data stream. In this case, the OS/400 would be able to send the ASCII data to the printer, and it would print in color. Because it is a USERASCII spooled file, the iSeries will not transform it but will pass it through to the printer.
o	There is one high end very expensive IPDS printer that can do color printing using a new DDS keyword that allows the color combinations (for example, *RGB for red green blue) to be specified. HPT does not support this new keyword. Therefore, the printer must be configured as an IPDS device description.
o	HPT can use the PDF WSCST QSYS/QCTXPDF to convert a spooled file into a PDF at print time. This will support color with both the DDS color keyword, and also full color color page segments and overlays. When this option is used, it is recommended to change the spooled file attributes to specify the exact PDF size to be generated. An example would be: OVRPRTF DEVTYPE(AFPDS) PAGESIZE(11 8.5 UOM) PAGRTT(0) UOM(*INCH)
o	If color text is desired, but a customer is not familiar with DDS, they may be able to create the color text as part of a color overlay. This will only work if the text is always to be printed in the same place.

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