NAF - Logical Printer - Function 31.2

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# NAF - Logical Printer - Function 31.2

A logical printer (LPF) defines the attributes that are to be applied to a report.

Using the `DEFINE PRINTER` statement, it is possible to modify the assignment - independent of the settings used during initialization or logon.

If you have modified the assignment using the `DEFINE PRINTER` statement (e.g. you have specified a new value for `OUTPUT`), the new assignment is not automatically reset at program end.

It is valid until a new assignment is made using the `DEFINE PRINTER` statement or until a new initialization (via logon) occurs (only when using Natural Security).

Print output can also be forwarded to other spool systems. This is controlled by a logical printer.

This document covers the following topics:

- Invoking Logical Printer

- Selecting a Logical Printer from a List

- Maintaining a Logical Printer

## Invoking Logical Printer

When you invoke this function, the Logical Printer window appears:

    Time 10:18:01        *** Natural Spool Administration ***      Date 2022-04-06
     User SAG                            M e n u                    File 7/411
                                           +------- Logical Printer 7/411 ----------+
            Administration                 !                                        !
                                           !  Enter name of                         !
            10 Reports / Queues            !                                        !
            11 Devices                     !       Logical Printer                  !
            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 of an existing logical printer, select a logical printer from a list of available printers or add a new logical printer to the spool file.

## Selecting a Logical Printer from a List

To select a logical printer from a list, in the selection window, enter

1. A partly-qualified name (e.g. `D*` to list all logical printers starting alphabetically from D),

2. An asterisk (*) to list all logical printers in the `NATSPOOL` system.

A list of logical printers is then shown in a window.

    Time 10:29:11        *** 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                   !   5  _  -------      5  _  ---0        !
           13 Applications                !   5  _  ---1         5  _  ---2        !
           14 Change Spool File           !   5  _  ---4         5  _  ---6        !
                                          !   5  _  ---8         5  _  --23        !
           Maintenance                    !      _  #RRI            _  BPM-----    !
                                          !      _  BRU1            _  CMPRT08     !
           30 Spool File Properties       !   6  _  DAELC107        _  DAEN0526    !
           31 Objects                     !      _  DAEN0541        _  DAEPRT10    !
           32 Mass Update                 !      _  DAEPRT12        _  DAEPRT13    !
           33 Hardcopy Allocations        !      _  DAEPRT45     6  _  FRIPRT17    !
           34 Transfer Objects            !      _  GRE10        1  _  H-------    !
                                          !   8  _  HHI-----        _  HHILPF      !
                                          +----------------------------------------+
     Mark on selection list.
     Command ===>
     Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9---PF10--PF11--PF12---
           Help  Menu  Exit                     --   +                       Canc

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

The `Fl` (flag) column indicates the usage of the logical printer. For the possible values in this column, see the online help.

Names containing a hyphen (-) are created for hardcopy allocation by using a mask to build up the corresponding name. See the spool file options.

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

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

## Maintaining a Logical Printer

If the specified logical printer exists, it is displayed. You can modify the individual parameters or delete the whole logical printer.

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

    Time 09:59:08        *** Natural Spool Administration ***      Date 2022-04-06
    User SAG                            M e n u                    File 7/411
       +---------------------------- Logical Printer ----------------------------+ +
       !   Modify                PROF1                  Delete (Y/N)         N   ! !
       !   -------------------------------------------------------------------   ! !
       !   Mark for selection of existing allocations (Destination/Form)     _   ! !
       !   Mark to show values for assigned allocation                       _   ! !
       !   -------------------------------------------------------------------   ! !
       !   Destination ....... STD_____       Form .....................     I   ! !
       !                                                                         ! !
       !   Duplicates ........ 0__            Disposition ..............     K   ! !
       !   Priority .......... 1__            Protected reports ........     N   ! !
       !   Retention period .. 9999  Days     for Dispositions      D  H  K  L   ! !
       !   using calendar ...  ________       (Y/N) ............... _  _  _  _   ! !
       !                                                                         ! !
       !   Type .............. NAF_____       linked to cluster .....   --       ! !
       !                                      Owner ................. N          ! !
       !   Notes                                                                 ! !
       !   ________________________________________________________________      ! !
       +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +
     Enter values for the logical printer.
     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

If you mark the field for selection of existing allocations, a list of all available allocations is displayed, and you can mark the desired allocation.

You can also display the values of the assigned allocation. To do so, mark the corresponding field.

The window above prompts you for the following parameters used to define the logical printer:

Parameter | Description
--- | ---
`Destination` | The name (maximum 8 characters) of the logical destination which, with Form, identifies all reports generated using this logical printer.
`Form` | A character which, with Destination, identifies all reports generated using this logical printer.
`Duplicates` | A numeric value giving the number of copies of the report which are to be printed.
`Disposition` |
An alphanumeric character which indicates the initial status of the report after it has been produced. Possible values are:
`D` | Keep the report on file in a printable status, that is, print it either when the physical printer is ready or upon an explicit request. After the report has been printed, it is deleted from the spool file.
`H` | Hold the report on file. To print the report, the user has to change the Disposition to a valid value different from `H`, see Function 10.
`K` | Keep the report on file in a printable status, that is, print it either when the physical printer is ready, or upon an explicit request. After the report has been printed, the Disposition is set to `L`.
`Priority` | A numeric value (`0-255`) giving the order in which the reports will be printed. A higher value means higher priority.
`Protected Reports` |
Reports created for a logical printer with type NAF can be protected. Possible values are:
R | Only the user who created the report can display it.
P | Only the user who created the report can purge it.
S | Only the user who created the report can start it.
G | Only the user who created the report can display or start it.
N | No protection.
`Retention period` | The number of days that the report is to be held on the spool file. The value 9999 indicates unlimited retention. The retention period can be limited to certain types of Disposition: in addition to the values `D`, `H` and `K` (see above), the value `L` (for printed reports with Disposition `K`) is also supported.
`using calendar` | When using the retention period, you can also specify the name of a calendar to take into account weekends and holidays.
`Type` |
`NAF` | The report is for NAF and is stored on the NAF spool file.
`NOM` | The report is for Entire Output Management and is stored on the NOM container file.
`Notes` | A short description of the logical printer.

The attributes `Duplicates`, `Priority` and `Disposition` can also be set dynamically by using the `DEFINE PRINTER` statement.

Note
The `Duplicates` attribute in the `DEFINE PRINTER` statement corresponds to the specification in the `COPIES` clause. In both cases, this refers to the number of copies to be printed.

### On this page

- Invoking Logical Printer
- Selecting a Logical Printer from a List
- Maintaining a Logical Printer