Chapter 11 - Managing Print Jobs
Introduction to Managing Print Jobs
This chapter explains how to connect users to a StreetTalk print service, and how to manage print queues and the jobs sent to the those queues. Refer to Chapter 9 for information about how to manage a StreetTalk print service.
Managing print jobs involves the following tasks:
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Make print services available to users ![]()
Control the StreetTalk print queue using SETPRINT ![]()
Control the Windows NT print queue from the Windows NT Server
DOS, OS/2, and Windows workstation users can send print jobs to Windows NT printers through StreetTalk print services.
Macintosh users cannot send print jobs to StreetTalk print services.
Printing from DOS and Windows Workstations
From DOS and Windows workstations, users can send jobs to Windows NT printers in three ways:
Network printer ports - Let DOS and Windows users access up to three StreetTalk print services simultaneously. An application maps the network printer port to a physical workstation printer port (LPT1, LPT2, LPT3). An application data file is actually sent to the network print service by the Banyan client software on the DOS or Windows workstation.
BPRINT command - Takes one or more file names and sends them all as a single job to a print service. BPRINT does not depend on the printer port redirection feature. For more information on BPRINT, refer to the User' s Guide for DOS and OS/2.
Note: You cannot send data to a DOS workstation printer port while printing is active on another port. If you try to send data to a second printer port, the system returns a 25th-line message to explain this situation.
OS/2
Like DOS and Windows users, OS/2 users can access StreetTalk print services, and use the BPRINT command. OS/2 workstations can also use printing features that are not supported under DOS or Windows. For more information on printing from OS/2 refer to Chapter 12 and to the User' s Guide for DOS and OS/2.
DOS, OS/2, and Windows users can send jobs to PAP-compatible and non-PAP-compatible Postscript printers; however, certain requirements must be met if the file is ASCII text or does not conform to Adobe 2.0 structuring conventions. Table 11-1 illustrates the requirements for DOS, OS/2, and Windows users sending jobs to Postscript printers. An example of a non-PAP-compatible Postscript printer is an HP LaserJet with a Postscript cartridge.
File Type | Postscript Printer | Administrator' s Tasks |
ASCII Text | Non-PAP-compatible |
Turn off banner page. |
ASCII Text | PAP-compatible | |
Postscript File (not Adobe 1.0 or 2.0 structure) | Non-PAP-compatible | |
Postscript File (not Adobe 1.0 or 2.0 structure) | PAP-compatible | |
Adobe 1.0 or 2.0 structure | Non-PAP-compatible | No additional requirements. |
Adobe 1.0 or 2.0 structure | PAP-compatible | No additional requirements. |
If your users have problems printing from DOS, OS/2, or Windows workstations to Postscript printers, check if their applications support Adobe structuring conventions.
Making Print Services Available to Users
After you create a print service, make it available to users by:
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Enabling the print queue. For information about enabling the print queue, refer to "Activating the Print Queue" in Chapter 9. ![]()
Adding users to the User List for the print service. By default, a new print service accepts jobs from all network users. For information about adding users to print service access lists, refer to "Modifying Access Lists" in Chapter 10. ![]()
Assigning print services to workstation printer ports.
To make a StreetTalk print service available to users, you must assign user workstation printer ports to that print service. Use the following methods to assign printer ports to a print service:
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Edit user profiles are assign printer ports on user workstations to appropriate print services. To make a printer available each time a user logs in, specify the appropriate printer in a SETPRINT statement in the user's profile. ![]()
Enter the SETPRINT command at the command prompt to assign one a virtual printer port to the appropriate print service. If another print queue is already assigned to the port, assigning the port to a new print service replaces the old assignment
You can use other methods to connect Windows 95/98 and Windows NT workstations to a StreetTalk printer. Refer to the VINES User's Guide for Windows for more information about printing from Windows 95/98 and Windows NT clients.
The sections that follow describe how to manage print service connections using the SETPRINT command.
Managing Print Service Connections Using SETPRINT
You can use the Banyan SETPRINT command to manage a client's connections with StreetTalk print services. The syntax of the SETPRINT command is as follows:
SETPRINT pcport [state] [/P:servicename] [/FORMS:paperformat] [/D:delay | /ND] [/B:bannertext | /NB] [/M | /NM] [/S:hh:mm | /NS]
The /D switch sets the End Spooling Delay. If your application is slow in sending data to the printer port, setting a short spooling delay can cause a data stream to be erroneously broken up into many small jobs. The default End Spooling Delay should suffice for most situations, but you may need to lengthen it if jobs are continuously interrupted.
Refer to the Command Reference for descriptions of other parameters used with the SETPRINT command.
Three versions of the SETPRINT command exist:
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Profile ![]()
Command line ![]()
Menu
Certain restrictions apply to using each version. For example, the profile command is only used to connect to print services. You cannot list or disconnect print service connections using the profile command. When you place a SETPRINT statement in a profile, the only valid parameters are pcport and /P.
The command line and menu versions of SETPRINT do not allow you to establish persistent connections to print services. The command line version also does not allow you to search for print services by name.
OS/2
You can use SETPRINT parameters and menus at an OS/2 workstation. SETPRINT applies globally to all sessions on the workstation. For this reason, you should wait until a print job completes before you use SETPRINT to change network printers. As soon as the print job completes, you can use SETPRINT to select a new network printer.
For more information about printing from OS/2 workstations, refer to Chapter 12 and Managing Workstations.
Using SETPRINT as a Profile Command to Connect to a Print Service
To consistently connect a user to a print service every time that user logs in, you can add a statement to the user profile that assigns a print service to a workstation printer port. Use the /T switch in the user profile to protect specific print queues from being de-assigned by a user. To allow a user to de-assign a protected print queue and modify the job profile of print jobs sent to it, remove the /T switch from the user profile.
Example: Specifying a Print Service in a User Profile
Placing the following command in the user profile connects the printer port LPT1 of a user's workstation to the print service printer@Adm-NT-01@servers every time they log in:
setprint LPT1 /p:printer@Adm-NT-01@servers
Establishing a Temporary Connection Between a Client and a Print Service
Use SETPRINT to temporarily assign a StreetTalk print service to a workstation printer port. You assign a print service to a port using either of the following methods:
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Specifying the port number and print service name on the SETPRINT command line ![]()
Selecting the port number and print service from the SETPRINT menu
When running SETPRINT from the command line, use as many of the switches as required for the temporary setting.
To Assign a Print Service to a Printer Port from the Command Prompt
To connect LPT1 of a Banyan client to the StreetTalk print service with the name printer@Adm-NT-01@servers, enter the following at the command prompt:
setprint lpt1 /p: printer@Adm-NT-01@servers
The connection to the print service specified lasts for the login session.
To Assign a Print Service to a Printer Port from the SETPRINT Menu
1. From the command prompt, enter SETPRINT. The Select Print Queue screen appears.
2. Select a printer port. The Print Queue Command menu appears.
3. Select Assign a Different Print Queue. The Select Print Queue Screen appears.
4. Enter the name of the new queue by doing one of the following:
- Enter the full StreetTalk name of the new print queue and press ENTER.
- Press F2 to display a list of print queues on the network, and choose a queue by pressing ENTER. Press F10 to return to the Select Print Queue screen, and then press ENTER to change the queue.
The Print Queue Command menu appears with the new print queue name in the Print Queue field.
Disconnecting a Client from a Print Service
If you no longer want a particular print queue assigned to a virtual printer port, you can delete the assignment.
To Delete a Print Service Assignment from the SETPRINT Menu
1. From the command prompt, enter SETPRINT. The Select Print Queue screen appears.
2. Choose a printer port. The Print Queue Command menu appears.
3. Choose De-assign the Print Queue. The system confirms that the printer port is no longer assigned to a print queue.
4. Press ESC to return to the Select Print Queue screen.
Managing Jobs in the Print Queue
StreetTalk Print accepts jobs from Banyan clients and passes them to a Windows NT print queue. A StreetTalk print service submits one job at a time to the Windows NT printer and waits for its completion before submitting another request. This sequence lets Banyan clients retain control of print jobs (for example canceling jobs, placing jobs on hold, or reprinting jobs). Printed jobs are deleted from the print queue after a certain period of time. For information about how to specify the length of time jobs remain in the queue, refer to "Modifying Job Profiles" later in this chapter.
Unless you have operator or administrator privileges, you can control only your own print jobs.
You can manage print jobs as follows:
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View job status details ![]()
Put a job on hold ![]()
Reschedule a job ![]()
Cancel a job ![]()
Reprint a job ![]()
Reposition a job in the queue ![]()
Change a job' s paper format ![]()
Modify a print job profile
Viewing Jobs in the Print Queue
Use the SETPRINT menu to view information about jobs currently in a print queue. SETPRINT displays the jobs as they are currently ordered in the print queue and the status of each job (Table 11-2). As an administrator or operator of the print service, you can select a command from the top of the menu to change the status of any print jobs listed.
SETPRINT only displays jobs sent by Banyan clients to the specified StreetTalk print service; SETPRINT never displays jobs sent to the Windows NT print queue by non-Banyan clients. If another StreetTalk print service sends jobs to the the same Windows NT print queue, you must assign the print queue to that other print service to view jobs in its queue.
Jobs scheduled to print at a specific time appear at the end of the queue list. The jobs remain there until it is time for them to print. Jobs scheduled to print as soon as possible are labeled ASAP.
The size of the job displayed in the screen may differ slightly from the actual size of the file submitted. SETPRINT adds the size of some job headers to the size of the file when displaying the size of the job.
Status | Indicates that |
Printed1 | Print job completed. |
Printing | Print job accepted and printing. |
Queued | Job in the queue will print as soon as possible (ASAP), or will print at a user-specified time. |
Rejected1,2 | Job is corrupted, or an internal error occurred. Cancel the job, and call your Banyan technical support representative. |
On Hold | Print job placed on hold. |
Printer busy | Job reached the top of the queue and the job's format matches the format of the destination printer. Because the printer is busy, the job is not yet printing. |
Paper format NA | Job reached the top of the queue and an attempt to match the job format to available destination printer formats failed. Change either the job' s format or the format of a destination printer to print the job. |
Canceled1 | Job was removed from the queue (by selecting CANCEL in the Control Printer/Jobs menu). |
1 Jobs
that are printed or canceled are removed from the queue listing
when the configured timeout expires. Canceling a print job that
is printed, rejected, or canceled removes the job from the queue
immediately. 2 Rejected jobs must be manually canceled to be removed from the print queue. |
To View Jobs in a Queue
1. From the command prompt, enter SETPRINT. The Select Print Queue screen appears.
2. Select a printer port. The Print Queue Command menu appears.
3. Select List Jobs in the Current Print Queue. The Control Printer/Jobs menu appears, listing all jobs in the queue. The status entries in the State field tell you what has happened to the print job. Table 11-2 explains the status messages
Viewing Additional Information About a Job
You can also display additional information about a particular job, including the destination name, description, currently configured paper format, and current status. The status is a number that indicates three possible conditions. Table 11-3 explains the status numbers.
Status | Indicates | Printer Status |
0 | No problems | Printer is functioning normally. |
1 | Printer is busy | Printer is currently printing another job, or may be out of paper. |
2 | Printer is offline or not responding |
It may be that: - System has just come up and the printer is still warming up - Software at the destination printer failed - Printer (as opposed to the software driving it) failed |
To View Job Status Details
1. From the command prompt, enter SETPRINT. The Select Print Queue screen appears.
2. Select a printer port. The Print Queue Command menu appears.
3. Select List Jobs in the Current Print Queue. The Control Printer/Jobs menu appears.
4. Choose SHOW details. The cursor moves to the job list.
5. Choose a print job. The Job Status Details screen appears.
6. When you are finished viewing the job information, press ESC to return to the Control Printer/Jobs menu.
Putting a job on hold temporarily deactivates it so that it does not print when i. You can put a job that is currently printing on hold. Putting a printing job on hold occupies the printer until you release the job from hold or cancel it. After you place a job on hold, it remains in the queue until you reprint it, take it off hold, or cancel it.
To Put a Print Job on Hold
1. From the command prompt, enter SETPRINT. The Select Print Queue screen appears.
2. Choose a printer port. The Print Queue Command menu appears.
3. Choose List Jobs in the Current Print Queue. The Control Printer/Jobs menu appears.
4. Choose ON HOLD. The cursor moves to the job list.
5. Choose the job you want to put on hold. The job's state changes to On Hold.
Reactivate a job that is on hold by taking it off hold. The job prints when it reaches the top of the queue.
To Take a Print Job Off Hold
1. From the command prompt, enter SETPRINT. The Select Print Queue screen appears.
2. Choose a printer port. The Print Queue Command menu appears.
3. Choose List Jobs in the Current Print Queue. The Control Printer/Jobs menu appears.
4. Choose OFF HOLD. The cursor moves to the job list.
5. Choose the print job to take off hold. The status of the job changes to Printing or Queued.
Reschedule a print job to specify when you want it to print. You cannot reschedule a job while it is on hold.
To Reschedule a Print Job
1. From the command prompt, enter SETPRINT. The Select Print Queue screen appears.
2. Choose a printer port. The Print Queue Command menu appears.
3. Choose List Jobs in the Current Print Queue. The Control Printer/Jobs menu appears.
4. Choose RESCHEDULE. The cursor moves to the job list.
5. Choose the print job to reschedule. The Reschedule Job screen appears. The time the job is currently scheduled to print appears in the Scheduled field.
6. Enter a new time in the hh:mm format (hours:minutes) according to the 24-hour clock. For example, if you want the job to print at 8:30 in the evening, enter 20:30.
If the time you send the job is later in the day than the time you schedule the job to print, the job will not print until the next day. For example, if you schedule a job to print at 13:00 and do not send the job until 14:00, the job will print the next day at 1:00 p.m.
Cancel a print job to remove it from the queue.
To Cancel a Print Job
1. From the command prompt, enter SETPRINT. The Select Print Queue screen appears.
2. Choose a printer port. The Print Queue Command menu appears.
3. Choose List Jobs in the Current Print Queue. The Control Printer/Jobs menu appears.
4. Choose CANCEL. The cursor moves to the job list.
5. Choose a print job to cancel. The canceled job is deleted from the queue.
Reprint a job for the following reasons:
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Activate a job previously put on hold ![]()
Print another copy of a completed job ![]()
Print a canceled print job that is still in the print queue
To Reprint a Print Job
1. From the command prompt, enter SETPRINT. The Select Print Queue screen appears.
2. Choose a printer port. The Print Queue Command menu appears.
3. Choose List Jobs in the Current Print Queue. The Control Printer/Jobs menu appears.
4. Choose REPRINT job. The cursor moves to the job list.
5. Choose the print job to reprint. The status of the job changes to Printing or Queued.
Repositioning Jobs in the Queue
Administrator or operators of a print service can reposition jobs to the beginning or the end of a print queue.
To Reposition a Job in the Queue
1. From the command prompt, enter SETPRINT. The Select Print Queue screen appears.
2. Choose a printer port. The Print Queue Command menu appears.
3. Choose List Jobs in the Current Print Queue. The Control Printer/Jobs menu appears.
4. Choose one of the following:
- MOVE to TOP of queue.
- MOVE to BOTTOM of queue.
The cursor moves to the job list.
5. Choose the print job to move. The print job moves to the specified position in the queue.
Changing Paper Formats for a Print Job
You can change a print job's paper format while the print job is still in the print queue. Change the paper format for a job when it does not match the formats currently available for the destination service.
To Change Paper Formats
1. From the command prompt, enter SETPRINT. The Select Print Queue screen appears.
2. Choose a printer port. The Print Queue Command menu appears.
3. Choose List Jobs in the Current Print Queue. The Control Printer/Jobs menu appears.
4. Choose CHANGE format. The cursor moves to the job list.
5. Choose a print job. The Choose a Paper Format screen appears.
Only the paper formats available on that particular print queue appear. For more information about how to view all of the paper formats defined for a print service, refer to "Modifying Job Profiles" which follows.
6. Choose a new paper format. The Control Printer/Jobs menu appears and the new paper format is listed in the Format column.
You can define job profile settings for all your print jobs or for one particular job. If you make temporary changes for a particular job, you must manually change the settings back to their original state after you complete the job.
Any changes that you make are limited by the configuration of the print service. For example, if the service configuration does not allow the banner page to be printed, you cannot override this setting by specifying a banner page in the job profile.
Table 11-4 describes the available job profile parameters.
Parameter | Description | Enter |
Print Banner Page: | Prints the user's name on a separate page for each print job. By default, banner pages of jobs sent to PAP printers appear after the jobs print, while banner pages of jobs sent to any other printers appear before the jobs print. You cannot change the default for PAP printers; however, you can change the default for other printers in the Enable Strings screen through the Configure Print Service menu. | YES or NO |
Banner title: | Document title appears under the user name on the banner page. | The title |
Paper format (Press F5): | Picks a destination printer based on the paper format assigned to the destination printer. | F5 to choose a paper format |
End Spooling Delay (Sec.): | Specifies the number of seconds that should elapse with no additional data being sent before a job is sent to the print queue. The default time is 10 seconds. | New time (in seconds) |
Alternate Recipient: | Specifies another recipient for the banner page. This field is useful if you print a file for another user. | User' s name you want to appear, or leave blank for your name |
Show status messages: | Turns messages on and off. The messages appear in the 25th line of your screen, and provide the name of destination printer, and job completed. | ON or OFF |
Default print time (HH:MM): | Schedules all jobs or a specific job. The default is ASAP. | Specific time in the 24-hour, hh:mm format, or ASAP |
Delete from queue after printing (min.): | Time your job remains in the queue before it is removed. | New time (in minutes) |
1. From the command prompt, enter SETPRINT. The Select Print Queue screen appears.
2. Choose a printer port. The Print Queue Command menu appears.
3. Choose Modify Job Profile. The Modify Job Profile screen appears.
4. Use the arrow keys to move among the different fields. Enter new values.
5. When you are finished changing values, press F10. The Print Queue Command menu appears.
Controlling Jobs from the Windows NT Server Console
StreetTalk Print accepts jobs from Banyan clients and passes them to a Windows NT print queue. A StreetTalk print service submits one job at a time to the Windows NT printer and waits for its completion before submitting another request. This sequence lets Banyan clients use Banyan print management tools (SETPRINT or the Windows Print Manager) to retain control of print jobs (for example cancelling jobs, placing jobs on hold, or reprinting jobs). After a job is passed to the Windows NT print queue, you have only minimal control over it from the Windows NT print manager.
The Windows NT Print Manager displays jobs that originate from both Banyan clients and non-Banyan clients. The print manager identifies jobs that originate from a Banyan client as StreetTalk print jobs (Figure 11-3).
The Windows NT Print Manager displays only one print job at a time for each StreetTalk print service.
After a job appears in the Windows NT print queue, you can perform the following operations on it:
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Pause ![]()
Resume ![]()
Restart ![]()
Cancel
If you cancel a job, the next job in the StreetTalk queue is sent to the Windows NT queue. When viewed from the Banyan print management tools (SETPRINT or the Windows Print Manager), StreetTalk print jobs cancelled from the Windows NT Print Manager appear with the status Printed.