How do I print with HP JetDirect Cards?

I finally got some output from the AS400 to a HP4 (connected via a JetDirect card) via TCP/IP. I read somewhere that, when creating the remote outq on the AS400, you can specify some control-parm on the "remote outq name"-field. For example 'raw'. Could anyone tell me more about the different options and what they do ? JetDirect card) via TCP/IP. I read somewhere (was it on this newsgroup?) that, when creating the remote outq on the AS400, you can specify some > control-parm on the "remote outq name"-field. For example 'raw'. Could anyone tell me more about the different options and what they do?

RESPONSE
The TCP/IP print boxes usually have two (or more) different queues, one named raw and another text. The difference between these two is that for the first, no processing on the data is done. Normally, the raw queue is used to avoid interpretation of codes by the card/box that are for the printer itself.

First, I'm a PC/UNIX guy, but I was asked to figure out some AS/400 stuff. With the help of a friend, I managed to get a few HP TCP/IP printers working. Once I got one working, all the AS/400 people wanted to know how I did it. So I painstakingly created this document to tell them how. Those who know this stuff, I would appreciate some comments. You newbies, just go ahead and use this for reference. Oh, our main app is MAPICS XA R4.

Thank you,

Bob Heathcote 

ADDING HP JETDIRECT PRINTERS TO AS/400

This is a log of values entered into the AS/400 for an HP4000N LaserJet printer using TCP/IP. For this example, the printer resides in the shipping office and has been previously assigned an IP address of 10.10.3.14. The printer will be known to the AS/400 as PPSSHIP. Ninety percent of these values are defaults, but they have been noted here for completeness. The interfaced used was IBM Client Access 400 for Windows 95/NT.

1. Logon with green screen to AS/400 as QSECOFR or equivalent.

2. At command prompt, type "ADDTCPHTE"

3. Press the F11 key to view the system parameter names for each field.

4. For INTNETADR parameter, type the IP address of the HP JetDirect print server (i.e. 10.10.3.14) and press the tab key twice to move to the next field.

5. For HOSTNAME parameter, type the name you want to assign the printer (i.e. PPSSHIP) and press the tab key twice to move to the "Text description" field. 

6. For TEXT parameter, type a description for the printer (i.e. "Purosil LaserJet 4KN Shipping Office") and press the Enter key. 

7. You are returned to the the AS/400 Main Menu and you should now be able to "ping" the printer by its name (i.e. "ping ppsship"). 

8. At the command prompt, type "CRTOUTQ". 

9. Press the F11 key to view the system parameter names for each field. 

10. For OUTQ parameter, type the printer name (i.e. PPSSHIP) and press the tab key to move to the next field. In the field "Library", type "QUSRSYS" and press the TAB key to move to the next field. 

11. For MAXPAGES parameter, type "*NONE" and press the tab key to continue. 

12. For SEQ parameter, type "*FIFO" and press the tab key to move to the next field. 

13. For RMTSYS parameter, type the printer name (i.e. PPSSHIP) and press the F10 key. 

14. For RMTPRTQ parameter, type the printer name (i.e. PPSSHIP) and press the Page Down key. 

15. For AUTOSTRWTR parameter, type the number one (1) and press the tab key to move to the next field. Tip: Use the space bar to clear existing values.

16. For MSQG parameter, type "QSYSOPR" and "*LIBL” for the Library name, then press the tab key to move to the next field. 

17. For CNNTYPE parameter, type "*IP" and press the tab key to move to the next field. 

18. For DESTTYPE parameter, type "*OTHER" and press the Enter key to continue 

19. For TRANSFORM parameter, type "*YES" and press the Enter key.

20. With your cursor in the field for parameter MFRTYPMDL, press the F4 key to get a list of printers. In this example I will use the HP5SI which is very close to the same as the newer HP4000N printers. From the "Specify Value for Parameter MFRTYPMDL" screen Type "*HP5SI" in the "Manufacturer type and model" field and press the Enter key. Press tab to move to the next field.

21. For WSCST parameter, type "*NONE" and press the tab key to move to the next field. 

22. Leave the Library field blank and press the tab key to move to the next field. 

23. For IMGCFG parameter, type "*NONE" and press the tab key to move to the next field. 

24. For SEPPAGE parameter, type "*YES". 

25. For USRDFNOPT parameter, type "*NONE" and press the tab key to move to the next field. 

26. For USRDFNOBJ parameter, type "*NONE" and leave the Library and Object type fields blank. Press the tab key to move to the next fields. 

27. For USRDRVPGM parameter, type "*NONE" and leave the Library field blank. Press the tab key to move to the next field. 

28. For TEXT parameter, type “Purosil LaserJet 4KN Shipping Office” and press the tab key to move to the next field. 

29. For DSPDTA parameter, type "*NO" and press the tab key to move to the next field. 

30. For JOBSEP parameter, type the numeral zeros (0) and press the tab key to move to the next field. 

31. For OPRCTL parameter, type "*YES" and press the tab key to move to the next field. 

32. For DTAQ parameter, type "*NONE" and leave the Library field blank. Press the Page Down key to move to the next page. 

33. For AUTCHK parameter, type "*OWNER" and press the tab key to move to the next field. 

34. For AUT parameter, type "*USE"" and press the Enter key to complete the data entry process for CRTOUQ command. 




First, if you are going to talk about adding enties in the host table you may want to mention that it doesn't need to be done if you have a DNS server on your network that has an entry for the printer. (I'm only mentioning this because when I looked at your post, I had to figure out what the ADDTCPHTE command was, I've never had to use it outside of the initial host and loopback entries ;-) I would just try pinging the printer and if that doesn't work, tell them to get help.

While using a remote OUTQ in conjuction with LPR/LPD as you have done here was the only way to connect to TCP/IP printers on older versions of OS/400 it is no longer the best way to connect HP laserjet printers. The newer releases of OS/400 (v3r7 and up) include a built in printer driver for HP and IBM laser printers. You actually need to use CRTDEVPRT command to create a device desciption for the printer. 

Using the built-in driver provides many benifits such as page range printing, better reporting of the printer status, ect. 

Lastly, even if you can't use the built in HP or IBM driver and have to use the remote OUTQ. It is benifitial to create a dummy device description to go with it.


For more information: Check out the IBM AS/400 Printing V Redbook (SG24-2160-00). 

It has all the info you need to set up any printer on the 400. You can access the IBM redbooks via the web at: http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooksonline.html.