Home > IT Answers > AS/400 > AS/400 Printer files programming
Nutangujar
895 pts.
 AS/400 Printer files programming
AS/400 print jobs, AS/400 printing
Hi,

is there any way to desing brand new printer file interactively like we do in SDA for display file/subfiles?

I've not designed any brand new printer file for RPG so far ...

please help..

thanks,

nutan.



Software/Hardware used:
AS400
ASKED: August 17, 2009  6:04 PM
UPDATED: August 20, 2009  8:45 AM
RELATED QUESTIONS
Answer Wiki:
Like SDA ... RLU but you probably won't like it. http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/iseries/v5r4/topic/books/c0926350.pdf and http://as400questions.blogspot.com/2009/07/tips-useful-rlu-commands.html and google AS/400 RLU Phil ------------------------------------------- yes - many programers don't use RLU - they just code their pritner files directly. The printed output tends to get way complicated and this tool isn't all that sophisicated. Of course we all cut and past from old printer files where we can. Phil this might be a good example http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/iadthelp/v7r0/index.jsp?topic=/com.ibm.etools.iseries.pgmgd.doc/c0925076314.htm
Last Wiki Answer Submitted:  August 17, 2009  7:42 pm  by  philpl1jb   44,190 pts.
All Answer Wiki Contributors:  philpl1jb   44,190 pts.
To see all answers submitted to the Answer Wiki: View Answer History.


RSS - Discussions Help
Discuss This Question:
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

 

Thanks Phil..

Is it better to directly write DDS/layout than to use RLU…
I’m completely new to this area…

Thanks,
Nutan

Nutangujar
 895 pts.
 

Thanks Phil..
that makes life easier.

Nutangujar
 895 pts.
 

The answer is….

It all depends..

There are people here who still write internal described printer files.

Tools like 2e, Lansa, Magic and so on provide a higher level.

RLU is the IBM approach – clunky and quirky

My own favoured approach leans towards Phils comment

- first write yourself some clean, understandable, well structured DDS for a printer file. Include in it the keywords you may only use ‘sometimes’
give it a structure for Header, Sub header, body text, sub footer, footer, end of report. Provide standard totals fields for .number of records and so on

- comment out a whole load of that stuff

Use it as your template for any printer files. Even at the cost of doing a bunch of moves in the code from your database fields to your standard fields

exsr print total

printtotal begsr
Eval PrtTotal = Total
Eval Col1 = ABCDE
Eval Col2 = DEFGH
write total

ensdr

- that kind of thing

But then , I still normally use 2e, so I never have to care about all this frothy detail of getting presentation stuff together – the database design is the thing – all else should flow from it on auto pilot.

Yorkshireman
 5,505 pts.
 

Strangely no one mentioned the Options in CODE 400 or using WDSC. The options for designing Printer files are pretty much like designing a screen and you get an instant look at how the printout will look like.

pdraebel
 2,250 pts.