NAF - Allocation Table - Function 31.3

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# NAF - Allocation Table - Function 31.3

Allocations must be defined so that a relation is established between the reports and the physical printers to which the reports can be routed. An allocation is identified by the parameters which were defined for the logical printer (Destination and Form).

When a report is generated, `NATSPOOL` uses the associated allocation to start the printing activity on the first physical printer with status `FREE` (the Disposition value for that report must be either `K` or `D`). If the allocation is not found, or if none of the allocated physical printers is in `FREE` status, the report is kept on the spool file.

This document covers the following topics:

- Invoking Allocation Table

- Selecting an Allocation from a List

- Maintaining an Allocation

## Invoking Allocation Table

When you invoke this function, the Allocation Table window appears:

    Time 10:53:49        *** Natural Spool Administration ***      Date 2022-04-06
    User SAG                             M e n u                   File 7/411
                                           +------ Allocation Table 7/411 ------ ---+
            Administration                 !                                        !
                                           !  Enter name of                         !
            10 Reports / Queues            !                                        !
            11 Devices                     !      Destination / Form.               !
            12 Abstracts                   !                                        !
            13 Applications                !  or                                    !
            14 Change Spool File           !                                        !
                                           !      *    for Selection                !
            Maintenance                    !                                        !
                                           !      ?    for Help                     !
            30 Spool File Properties       !                                        !
            31 Objects                     !      .    for End                      !
            32 Mass Update                 !                                        !
            33 Hardcopy Allocations        !      -------------------------         !
            34 Transfer Objects            !      / ________ / _                    !
                                           !                                        !
                                           +----------------------------------------+
      Enter values.
      Command ===>
      Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9---PF10--PF11--PF12---
            Help  Menu  Exit  User  Logic Alloc Print Heade Appli       NTCC  Canc

In this window, you can specify the name an existing Destination/Form, select a Destination/Form from a list of Destinations/Forms available or add a Destination/Form to the spool file.

## Selecting an Allocation from a List

To select an allocation from a list, enter one of the following:

- a partly-qualified name (e.g. `B*` to list all allocations starting alphabetically from B*),

- an asterisk (*) to list all allocations in the `NATSPOOL` system.

A list of allocations is then shown in a window.

    Time 11:16:46        *** Natural Spool Administration ***      Date 2022-04-06
    User SAG                             M e n u                   File 7/411
                                          +-------------Select with *--------------+
           Administration                 !  New start value ......... _________   !
                                          !  -----------------------------------   !
           10 Reports / Queues            !  Fl Cm  Name        Fl Cm  Name        !
           11 Devices                     !  -- --  ---------   -- --  ---------   !
           12 Abstracts                   !      _  BS2PID  H       _  CAYIMS  A   !
           13 Applications                !      _  DAEPRT10A       _  DAEPRT10H   !
           14 Change Spool File           !      _  DAEPRT12A       _  DAEPRT13A   !
                                          !      _  DAEPRT45A       _  DARMSTD A   !
           Maintenance                    !      _  DARMSTD 1       _  DARMSTD 2   !
                                          !      _  DARMSTD 3       _  DARMSTD 4   !
           30 Spool File Properties       !      _  DARMSTD 5       _  DARMSTD 8   !
           31 Objects                     !      _  DDR1171 A       _  DDR1490 A   !
           32 Mass Update                 !      _  DHCDEST H       _  DR1171  H   !
           33 Hardcopy Allocations        !      _  GRE10   H       _  HC      H   !
           34 Transfer Objects            !      _  HCDEST  H       _  HHI     A   !
                                          !      _  HHIDEST A       _  HHIPID  H   !
                                          +----------------------------------------+
     Mark on selection list.
     Command ===>
     Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9---PF10--PF11--PF12---
           Help  Menu  Exit                     --   +                       Canc

The allocations which were used for the initialization of the current Natural session are highlighted in the window.

In the `Cm` column, you can enter one of the following codes:

Code | Description
--- | ---
`C` | Copy allocation.
`D` | Delete allocation.
`R` | Rename allocation.
`.` | Exit function.
`X` or any other character | Display allocation for modification or deletion, see below.

## Maintaining an Allocation

If the specified Destination/Form exists, the allocation is displayed. You can modify the list of allocated physical printers, specify a header page for the report or delete the whole allocation.

Note
If you specify a name that does not yet exist, you can add a new allocation. In this case, the Delete option is not provided in the window.

    Time 11:13:03        *** Natural Spool Administration ***      Date 2022-04-06
    User SAG                            M e n u                    File 7/411
       +-------------------------- Allocation Table -----------------------------+
       !  Modify                 DARMSTD A              Delete (Y/N)         N   !
       !  --------------------------------------------------------------------   !
       !  Owner............... N                linked to Cluster ... TESTCLUS   !
       !  --------------------------------------------------------------------   !
       !  Header Page      ________                             Queue Status A   !
       !  Statistics (Y/N) Y                  Add/Modify Time values ....... N   !
       !  --------------------------------------------------------------------   !
       !  Physical Printer(s)                              Printer Selection _   !
       !                                                                         !
       !       Name    Ty.       Name    Ty.      Name    Ty.      Name    Ty.   !
       !  _  1 P007____ M   _  2 P002____ B  _  3 P003____ A  _  4 MK1_____ B    !
       !  _  5 MK2_____ A   _  6 MK3_____ B  _  7 MK4_____ A  _  8 MK5_____ B    !
       !  _  9 MK6_____ A   _ 10 MK7_____ B  _ 11 MK8_____ A  _ 12 MK9_____ B    !
       !  _ 13 MK10____ A   _ 14 MK11____ B  _ 15 MK12____ A  _ 16 MK13____ B    !
       !  --------------------------- Notes ----------------------------------   !
       !  ________________________________________________________________       !
       +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
     Enter name of printer.
     Command ===>
     Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9---PF10--PF11--PF12---
           Help  Menu  Exit                                                  Canc

The window prompts for a list of up to 16 physical printers to which reports with the given destination and form can be routed. If you mark the field for printer selection, a list of all available physical printers is displayed, where the desired physical printer(s) may be marked by number. The number indicates the position in the list of physical printers in the screen above.

When you enter an asterisk (*) to the left of the printer name, the attributes for this printer are shown.

The first printer is the main printer (indicated by M in the type column). For this printer, the type cannot be modified.

When you define more than one physical printer, you have to define the type of printer. The following types can be defined for Printers 2 to 16:

Type | Usage
--- | ---
`A` | Alternate printer. Will be used if all other printers are already active or in `INOP` status.
`B` | Backup printer. Will only be used if all other printers are in `INOP` status.

In addition, you can specify the following:

- The name of a header page for the report to be printed or an asterisk (*) to select the header page from a list.

- The queue status. All reports for an allocation are called "queue". The queue status can be set to `A` (activated, all reports will be printed, if possible) or `D` (deactivated, all reports are collected on the spool file until the queue is activated).

- Whether you require statistics (`Y/N`). When you specify `Y`, the number of pages, lines and reports for this allocation are collected and can be maintained by using Function 20. When `Y` is specified, an additional field appears (Add/modify time values). When you specify `Y` for this additional field and press Enter, the Time Window appears in which you can restrict this function to a user-defined time range.

When an allocation (between a logical and a physical printer) is added to the spool file by a user, `NATSPOOL` checks whether the corresponding physical printer is present on the spool file. If the printer is not present, it is added automatically. In other words, it is not necessary to execute Function 31.4.

### On this page

- Invoking Allocation Table
- Selecting an Allocation from a List
- Maintaining an Allocation