Re: trimming trailing blanks in spooled output...

[PaulMmn <PaulMmn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Al--

If you're on v5r4, you can now save the -contents- of an output 
queue!  This will let you use SAVOBJ and write the output queues 
concerned to tape!  Chances are, they never really -look- at the 
reports from over a year ago, so maybe you can sneak them onto tape 
while no one's looking!

Ah, yes... auditors...  Offer them a tape copy.  I assume you've 
explained exactly how big the reports are.

re: longevity of media--  Tape wins.  As far as I know, "burn it 
yourself" CDs are only good for 5 years or so... we have tapes more 
than 10 years old that are (mostly) still readable.  I 'assume' that 
burn-your-own DVDs have similar life to CDs.

Thumbnail drives may not have the capacity--  and some cheaper ones 
can get fried--  I have one toasted one myself.

re: reading in the future--  Our month end backups include all of our 
data files plus program files plus a copy of the operating system. 
So at any time in the future we can grab any convenient piece of 
iSeries hardware that's big enough and restore the computer as it was 
at that moment in time--  including the programs needed to use the 
files.

re: keeping reports-- this is something the accountants, legal 
department, and auditors dictate.  In some cases, we keep extra stuff 
that no one has asked for just because it seems likely to be useful. 
Now that we can save the contents of output queues this becomes a lot 
simpler!

As far as distributing reports to other systems--  we can always 
CPYSPLF to a PF, specifying *FCFC for the carriage control 
information, then distribute a flat file and let the receiving system 
reprint it.

There are also simple programs that will convert a spooled file to a 
PDF file, which can then be distributed.

re: files eating space--  every good file needs a good purge 
program--  the old records are migrated to a 'purged' file, which is 
then saved to tape and the space reclaimed.  Our auditing department 
determines how much we need to keep on line.  Thank goodness the 
price of disk space (even on the iSeries) keeps dropping!

--Paul E Musselman
PaulMmn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx