Printing 101

Here is a review of some basic terminology and print management concepts, to help individuals new to managing some areas of 400 stuff.

Spool

A spooled file (sometimes called a spooled output file) is a file that holds output waiting to be printed. At any given time, multiple spooled files can be waiting to print.

• • You see only your own spooled files unless you have job control (*JOBCTL) or spool control (*SPLCTL) special security authority.
  • On the S/36 there was only one spool file with all output for all users.

Printer Writer

• A printer writer is a system program that writes spooled files to a printer.
  • On S/36 a spool writer prints output that is saved in the spool file.

Output Queue

• An output queue contains a list of spooled files that are waiting to be printed. There can be multiple output queues.
  • On S/36, a spool file is equivalent to an AS/400 output queue
  • On S/38 only one spool file was available and it contained all outpuyt waiting to be printed.