Displaying and Modifying Files Waiting to Print

If spool queues are open for the device, each print request that you make creates a spool file. If the printer is available, the spool file prints immediately. If the printer is unavailable, whether printing something else or needing attention, the spool file is positioned in a waiting state in the spooler. During this time, and even when the spool file is printing, you can display the spool file and modify printer specifications, such as how many copies to print.

To list files waiting to print

To display a list of the spooled files and their status, use the LISTSPF command.

   :LISTSPF Return

   :LISTSPF

   SPOOLID  JOBNUM   FILEDES   PRI  COPIES  DEV  STATE RSPFN OWNER

   #O830    J1       $STDLIST    2       1  LP   READY       PAY.SYS

   #O851    J19      $STDLIST    1       1  LP   DEFER       Q2.PUB



   INPUT SPOOL FILES         OUTPUT SPOOL FILES

   ACTIVE  = 0               CREATE   = 0;             READY    = 1;

   OPEN    = 0               DEFER    = 1;             SELECTED = 0;

   READY   = 0               DELPND   = 0;             SPSAVE   = 0;

                             PRINT    = 0;             XFER     = 0;

                             PROBLM   = 0;



   TOTAL IN FILES   = 0;     TOTAL OUT FILES   = 2;

         IN SECTORS = 0;           OUT SECTORS = 4357;



   OUTFENCE = 7

   OUTFENCE = 7 FOR LDEV 113

This screen displays the following information:

The unique spool file identifier (SPOOLID).
The job or session identifier (JOBNUM).
File designator (FILEDES).
Input or output priorities of the spool file (PRI).
The total number of copies of the spool file to be printed (COPIES).
The LDEV, device name, or device class that is the destination of the spool file (DEV).
The current status of the spool file (STATE), for example, READY, CREATE, ACTIVE, OPEN, PRINT.
The column under each letter R (restartable), S (SPSAVE has been specified), P (spool file is private), F (spool file has a forms message), and N (spool file is not complete) contains the respective letter as a flag indicating something about the spool file.
The fully qualified name of the creator of the spool file (OWNER).
The list of spool files in their various states (INPUT SPOOLFILES and OUTPUT SPOOLFILES).
The total number of input and output spool files (TOTAL IN FILES and TOTAL OUT FILES).
The current global outfence setting (OUTFENCE =), and any device that has specific outfences of spooled printers.

To examine output before it prints

You can check the results of a submitted job before it prints by using EDIT/3000.

Use the LISTSPF command to determine the spool file identification number (SPOOLID). This identification number will be used as the output file name in step 4.
Type:
:RUN SPIFF.PUB.SYS Return /
Text the output file into the editor. Note that output files are in the OUT group of the HPSPOOL account:
>T Onnnn Return

List the portion of the file that you want to see:

   >L 1/20 Return



   >L LAST-25/LAST Return

End the editor when you are finished reviewing the file:
>EXIT Return :

To change the number of copies of a spool file

To change the number of copies of a spool file requires the use of the SPOOLF command, and the ;ALTER and ;COPIES= parameters. You provide the number of copies that you want to print.

Enter LISTSPF to display the queued spool files. Use the owner column and SPOOLID column to find the spool file number.
Enter the SPOOLF command, the output spool file number (SPOOLID), and the ;ALTER and ;COPIES= parameters. In the following example, the number of copies for job number 13 is changed to 3:
:SPOOLF O13;ALTER;COPIES=3 Return
Enter LISTSPF to verify that the change has been made:
:LISTSPF Return

To change the priority of a spool file

Occasionally you may want to change the order that your spool file is scheduled to print. You may wish to print the spool file ahead of the files queued, or you may wish to defer the printing altogether. Use ALTER and PRI= parameters of the SPOOLF command to change the printing priority.

Enter LISTSPF to display how your spool file is currently queued (PRI), and to determine your spool file identification number (SPOOLID).
Enter the SPOOLF command with the ;ALTER and ;PRI= parameters. In the following example, the priority for SPOOLID is changed to 12.
:LISTSPF Return :SPOOLF O13;ALTER;PRI=12 Return
Enter LISTSPF to verify that the change has been made.

To save a spool file after it prints

Ordinarily, the spool file is deleted from the printing queue once it has printed. To keep the spool file after it prints, use the ALTER; and ;SPSAVE parameters of the SPOOLF command. Saving the spool file in this manner saves you the time of running the original print program again if you want to produce the same report.

   :SPOOLF O13;ALTER;SPSAVE Return

Displaying and Modifying Files Waiting to Print

Technical documentation

» Table of Contents

» Glossary

» Index

To list files waiting to print

To examine output before it prints

To change the number of copies of a spool file

To change the priority of a spool file

To save a spool file after it prints