Re: Bundling Spool Files

[MacWheel99@xxxxxxx]

You might find this odd coming from someone who is struggling with RPG 7078 & 
OBJ locks, but there is some stuff I think I quite good at, ans some stuff I 
have yet to stumble over.

>  From:    WGreyvenstein@centurion.momentum.co.za (Warren Greyvenstein)
>  
>  Hello Everyone
>  
>  I have multiple spool files that are generated by different programs in a
>  batch job.  Each program generates a different type of statement for 
clients
>  (e.g. Commission statement, Tax statement etc.).  After the various spool
>  files have been printed, they are sorted by hand, and the appropriate
>  statements are bundled together for a client.
>  
>  Is there an "easy" way to programmatically bundle the spool files together,
>  so that the contents of the spool files will be printed in the correct
>  sequence?
>  
>  Any help will be appreciated.
>  
>  Warren

I have handled this sort of thing several different ways.

1. Setup a separate outq just for that batch, that is not connected to a 
printer, then when I move the data in that outq to the ultimate printer, it 
all ends up consecutively printing, irrespective of the timing of other stuff 
going to that printer q.  This is an extra step for the user, but easier than 
sorting print-outs.  But that scenario is that of 20 people sending stuff to 
1 printer & we want to minimize intermingling of output, not quite your 
scenario.

2. Everything for a particular user goes on hold, from many many different 
programs.  About an hour before end of work day, release 100% from on-hold & 
get all of one's reports for the day printed together, not intermingled with 
other people's stuff.  This case is an inventory clerk who needs to put audit 
trails in a reference binder.

3. Have the program start stop separate statements for the various customers 
or vendors that the forms need to go to, and communcate a parameter to the CL 
related to the customer or vendor being processed, with information on the 
spool line uniquely identifying customer.  This can be a pain because you 
need to control NEXT customer to process, but tell CL over-ride THAT 
customer-id BEFORE the program that outputs to it.

4. If the forms are all green bar, or 8 x 11, or otherwise can print 
continuous without operator attention.

Outer program dictate NEXT customer
Calls CL with NEXT customer number to override printer file
Calls RPG to do this that & next programs in batch with *INRT on
Returns to outer program for NEXT identification

There have to be an awful lot of separate customer bundles to justify this 
instead of doing it by hand ... we had a similar scenario that did justify 
it, in which we create 2,000 BPCS shop orders in one print run & they wanted 
the shop packet on each order structured so there would be no manual sorting 
before the work could go to shop floor.

Al Macintyre  ©¿©
http://www.cen-elec.com MIS Manager Programmer & Computer Janitor
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