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The native mode spooler (NMS) is an MPE/iX subsystem used to manage and control print files and printing devices. Spool is an abbreviation for simultaneous peripheral operation online. A spooler allows numerous user processes requiring a printer to run simultaneously. This means that many programs may share a single printer. Generally, users perform eight functions to control standard files on an MPE/iX system: create, list, print, alter, browse, copy, rename, and purge. The MPE/iX native mode spooler provides an easy, powerful way for you to perform the same functions with spool files because it has made them regular, visible files. Starting with Release 5.5 of MPE/iX, you can use the spooler to control printing on devices that are directly attached to an HP 3000 as well as on devices that are attached via a network. Most of the information in this manual pertains to both non-network and network printers. Chapter 3 deals exclusively with network printing and explains the configuration and operation of network printers in detail. System requirements and restrictions | |
The native mode spooler is part of the fundamental operating system (FOS) which you install on the HP 3000 with the INSTALL or UPDATE utility. It runs on any Hewlett-Packard Precision Architecture HP 3000 systems that have been updated to MPE/iX version A.40.00 (release 2.1 or later). Network printing requires Release 5.5 or later of MPE/iX. A note on device configuration | |
Your system manager is responsible for properly configuring the output devices that are managed by the native mode spooler program. Configuring channel-attached printers or plotters using the NMMGR utility is not explained in this manual. For information, refer to the System Startup, Configuration, and Shutdown Reference Manual (32650-90042), the HP 3000/iX Network Planning and Configuration Guide (36922-61023) and the Configuring Systems for Terminals, Printers, and Other Serial Devices (32022-61000). To configure a network printer, read Chapter 3 in this manual. Spooler commands, utilities, and user capabilities | |
To control spool files and spooled devices, you use an assortment of MPE/iX command and three utilities, SPIFF, SPFXFER and PRINTSPF. Each of these commands and utilities is briefly described in the table below. The degree of control you have over the spooler and spool files depends primarily on the user capabilities you have been assigned, or whether or not you have access to the console. The four different levels of capability include system manager (SM), operator (OP), account manager (AM), and general user capabilities. The spooler commands behave differently and display different information depending upon the capabilities of the person issuing a command. Chapter 2, which explains spooler management tasks, points out such differences. Table 1-1 Summary of Spooler Commands and Utilities | Command | Definition |
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| BUILD | Creates and immediately allocates a new empty file on disk. You may use the filecode parameter of this command to specify the type of file. Three of these codes, appropriate to spool files, have been reserved, one each to designate an output spool file, an input spool file, and a checkpoint file for an output spool file. You may also use the SPOOL option of the BUILD command to create an output spool file that is not linked to the spool file directory SPFDIR. | | COPY | Copies a nonprivate output spool file to another, new file which is not linked to the spool file directory SPFDIR. | | FILE | Declares the file attributes to be used when a file is opened, which may override programmatic or system default file specificiations. Use the FILE command to declare the type of file, to create an output spool file that is not linked to the spool file directory, to mount special forms, to declare a spool file private, and to have the spooler save an output spool file after all copies have been printed. | | FORMSALIGN | Initiates a forms message dialog with the system operator when the current spool file includes a special forms message. You issue this command for a specific LDEV or a device class. | | JOB | Defines a job and allows you to specify if the output spool file the job produces is private, and if it is saved after all copies have been printed.
| | LISTEQ | Displays all active file equations for a job or session so that you can find out if a job's output spool file is private or will be saved. | | LISTF | Displays a list of one or more files for the system, account or group. The spool files you see listed depend upon your capabilities. System managers (SM capability) can view all files on the system. To list input and output spool files, issue a LISTF for IN.HPSPOOL and OUT.HPSPOOL respectively. | | LISTFILE | Displays a list of one or more files in hierarchical directories. | | LISTSPF | Produces a listing of input and output spool files. | | OPENQ | Opens the spool queue for a specifiedlogical device, device name, or all devices of a device class. | | OUTFENCE | Defines the minimum priority that an output spool file must have in order to be printed. | | PRINTSPF | Displays the data and the special overhead area of each record of a spool file. | | PURGE | Deletes a file (including a spool file) from the system. | | RENAME | Allows you to change the identity (file name, lockword, and/or group name) of a spool file to which you have access and that is not linked to the spool file directory. | | RESTORE | Copies nonprivate, native mode output spool files from backup media to an MPE/iX system that also has the native mode spooler. | | SHOWDEV | Reports the status of a specific device or all devices in a single device class (such as LP). | | SPFXFER | Transports spool files between MPE/iX systems that have the native mode spooler and MPE system that do not. | | SPIFF | Allows you to list, manipulate, and transfer spool files. | | SPOOLER | The general command you use to control spooler processes. This includes starting, stopping, suspending and resuming a spooler, and enabling and disabling spooling for a specified LDEV or device class | | SPOOLF | Allows a qualified user to alter, print, or delete one or more output spool files. | | STORE | Copies nonprivate, native mode output spool files to backup media for transfer (via the RESTORE command) to another MPE/iX system that also has the native mode spooler. |
For detailed documentation on the commands, refer to chapter 4. For details on the utilities, refer to chapter 5. |
