Datamax Printers & The IBM AS-400
This is the initial release of the Datamax Corp. White Paper for connecting our printers to IBM AS/400
midrange computer systems.
One item that is important to someone who is setting up printing solutions for the AS/400 is
"IBM AS/400 Printing V" redbook. Information on this book is available at http://www.redbooks.ibm.com.
This document is available on line, in hardcopy, and on CDROM. The list price is $50.00 USD for the
hardcopy.
Hardcopy Information - IBM # SG24-2160-00, ISBN 0738403393.
CDROM Information - IBM # SK2T-2849-07
The hardcopy is also available at http://www.fatbrain.com/documentation/redbooks/
Another resource from IBM is http://www.printers.ibm.com.
Datamax printers can be connected to the AS/400 in various ways.
All of our printers have an RS-232 serial port and can be connected to a PC that is processing data
from an AS/400.
Newer models have a parallel port and can connect to the AS/400 terminals using the parallel
interface. Printers that have a bi-directional parallel port should be set such that the port is unidirectional. The Titan 6200, I-Class and W-Class have bi-directional parallel ports. The Titan 6200
must have firmware version 5.02 or greater. Please see the printer's operator's manual for details
on how to set the parallel port properties.
Other models have a twinax/coax interface that allows connection to the AS/400. Models with
twinax/coax option are the Prodigy Max, DMX 600/800, Titan 6200, I-Class, and W-Class.
The newest interface that AS/400s use is Ethernet. Our printers can be connected to various
Ethernet print servers using either parallel or serial connections. See the redbook for complete
details.
On versions of OS/400 V3R7 and above include an automatic configuration utility. With this function
turned on and the printer connected to the AS/400 using either parallel or twinax, the AS/400 will detect the
device and automatically configure the printer device and output queues.
To turn on auto configuration, use; WRKSYSVAL QAUTOCFG. Once this is done, connect the printer.
For terminals, turn on the terminal. The AS/400 should then create the printer device.
Please review your system documentation for further details of the auto configuration utility.
Datamax Printers & The IBM AS-400
Datamax Corporation
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Datamax Printers & The IBM AS-400
To manually install a printer, use the command CRTDEVPRT. The first screen that comes up is shown
below. The device class depends on how it is connected to the system. The recommended device type is
5256 and the model can be 1,2, or 3.
The following screens show the rest of the configuration that is necessary. Please refer to the Redbook for
details of the items listed.
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Datamax Printers & The IBM AS-400
The following screens show details of varying the printer on and starting the writer.
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Datamax Printers & The IBM AS-400
Please refer to the IBM Redbook for details.
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Datamax Printers & The IBM AS-400
The following section shows what the DEVICE DESCRIPTION looks like after an automatic
configuration.
Display Device Description
5769SS1 V4R3MO 980729
S445BD6A
Device description . . . . . . . . :
Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :
Category of device . . . . . . . . :
DEVD
OPTION
PRT03
*ALL
*PRT
Device class . . . . . . . . .
Device type . . . . . . . . .
Device model . . . . . . . . .
Advanced function Printing . .
Port number . . . . . . . . .
Switch setting . . . . . . . .
Online at IPL . . . . . . . .
Attached controller . . . . .
Form feed . . . . . . . . . .
Separator program . . . . . .
Library . . . . . . . . . .
Printer error message . . . .
Message queue . . . . . . . .
Library . . . . . . . . . .
Host Print transform . . . . .
Manufacturer type and model .
Paper source 1 . . . . . . . .
Paper source 2 . . . . . . . .
Envelope source . . . . . . .
ASCII code page 899 support .
Image configuration . . . . .
Workstation customizing object
User-defined object . . . . .
Object type . . . . . . . .
Data transform Program . . . .
User-defined driver program .
Dependent location name . . .
Allocated to:
Job name . . . . . . . . . . .
User . . . . . . . . . . . .
Number . . . . . . . . . . .
Text . . . . . . . . . . . .
DEVCLS
TYPE
MODEL
AFP
PORT
SWTSET
ONLINE
CTL
FORMFEED
SEPPGM
*LCL
5256
2
*NO
0
1
*YES
CTL01
*CONT
*NONE
*LIBL
*INQ
QSYSOPR
*LIBL
*NO
User-defined options
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PRTERRMSG
MSGQ
TRANSFORM
MFRTYPMDL
PPRSRC1
PPRSRC2
ENVELOPE
ASCII899
IMGCFG
WSCST
USRDFNOBJ
Page
1
09/06/99 11:56:05
*MFRTYPMDL
*MFRTYPMDL
*MFRTYPMDL
*NO
*NONE
*NONE
*NONE
*NONE
USRDTATFM *NONE
USRDRVPGM *NONE
DEPLOCNAME *NONE
*NONE
TEXT
CREATED BY AUTO-CONFIGURATION
USRDFNOPT
-----------------User-defined options-----------------***** E N D 0 F L I S T I N G *****
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Datamax Corporation
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Datamax Printers & The IBM AS-400
The above sections discuss the AS/400 configuration for our printers. Once the printer is connected you
must then have software to create the label formats that our printer will recognize. This can be done either
by custom programming or using some commercial software packages. One current package is from T.L.
Ashford. 525 West 5th St., Suite 124, Covington, KY 41011. Phone 800-541-4893, Fax 606-291-1804.
Email - sales@tlashford.com. Web - http://www.tlashford.com.
For custom programming our programmer's manual can be found on our web site at
http://www.datamaxcorp.com. For further assistance you can contact our technical support department via
our web site or at 407-523-5540 or fax at 407-523-5542.
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