RE: SAV/RST spool files function in OS/400

Dave Leland wrote:

>This entire discussion started with 
>you wanting a SAV/RST function 
>from IBM (see subject line), and 
>claiming that IBM should be able 
>to easily do it.  

Ken Graap started the thread.  I chipped in with reply number 22...  Honest!

>I was countering that by making the 
>statement that it would not be that easy
>if done right.  

I completely concur.  Your points about restoring the job structure (which
is what the spooled files are a part of) are something to ponder.

>Now your part of the discussion has 
>turned into something entirely different.  
>What do you really want/need?  A 
>SAV/RST function or a spool file 
>archiving function with all the 
>capabilities you discuss below?

I'm in favour of a spool file extract function; one which is similar to a
SAV, but allows the programmer access to the datastream.  It isn't
completely different - see below.

>I assure that what you are asking for 
>would never be included in a
>SAV/RST function that IBM provided.

Again, I agree with you.  Ken's original note was (in part) "To start off
the discussion.... I was asked for an opinion by IBM and passed along the
following after thinking about it for a  few minutes...."  I chipped in my
thoughts when the discussion moved toward "why not use CPYSPLF or the
existing APIs?"    As is all to normal for me, I wasn't clear in what I was
trying to get across.  Let me try one more time, then I'll be quiet
(promise!)

SAV/RST spooled file.  Why?  1) Moving to a different physical system/disk
array and don't want to lose the contents of the OUTQ's.  2) Want to take
existing spooled output and "do something" with it programmatically
(email/FAX/HTML-ise/send to spreadsheet)  

Ken's note directly addressed number 1: "The current limitation with
recovery though is the losing of some of the original attributes of the
spool file since the spool files aren't really restored, they are recreated.
This is the main problem I'd like to see a base OS SAV/RST function for
spool files address... "
I am trying to address number 2 - program access to spooled file data.  I
can use a program to "read" database files, data areas, user spaces, device
descriptions, file descriptions, etc.  Everything except AFP spooled files.
It really isn't that important I guess, since nobody else chimed in with a
similar need.  And that's a good enough reason for me to end my part of the
discussion.
Thanks for all your insights Dave - and your patience!  I'm sorry to have
tied up the list with this.

Buck Calabro
Aptis; Albany, NY
"We are what we repeatedly do.
 Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." --Aristotle


Billing Concepts Corp., a NASDAQ Listed Company, Symbol: BILL
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