Printing data sets

You can use the Print Utility to print supported data sets or members in a selected format. Concatenated like and unlike sequential data sets are supported. Note that, under some conditions (with tape data sets), File Manager may not be able to detect unlike data set attributes and still invoke DFSORT for print processing. Such invocation may fail as DFSORT does not allow for unlike concatenation of data sets. In such cases, you can disable DFSORT with the NOSORT function to allow for successful processing of concatenated data sets with unlike attributes.

You can print data by record, by block (non-VSAM) or control interval (VSAM), or by field using a template. You can select records for printing using any (or none) of these:
  • The start key (VSAM only).
  • Skip and print count fields.
  • Criteria and record type selection defined in a template.

You can use a template to:

  • Select the records you want to print
  • Select the fields you want to print
  • Specify the number of columns allocated to each field when printing in TABL format
  • Suppress leading zeros for numeric fields
  • Modify field headings

In SNGL print format, additional record information (redefined fields, field reference number, field type and length values, picture clause, start location, structure) can be printed depending on the Edit/Browse options. Numeric fields can be left-justified depending on the options.

An example showing how the print output in SNGL print format can vary (depending on the Edit/Browse options) is shown in Printing a single record.

You can also use a DFSORT™ or REXX procedure, contained in a specified PDS member, to further enhance the Print Utility.

The Print Utility can be run in foreground or as a batch job.

To print a data set:

  1. From the Primary Option Menu panel, select 3. Utilities.
  2. From the Utilities Menu panel, select 2. Print. The Print Utility panel shown in Figure 1 is displayed.
  3. Perform either of these actions
    • Specify the data set or PDS member that contains the data you want to print, using a combination of the Data set name, Member, and Volume serial entry fields.
    • To select a range of members based on selection criteria, specify the data set name or name pattern for a PDS or PDSE and optionally the member name or pattern, and select the Advanced member selection option.
    Note: If you enter details in the Member field and select the Advanced member selection option, File Manager populates the Member name field on the subsequent Advanced Member Selection panel with the same value.
  4. Select the data that you want to print, at either the record level or field level:
    • For record-level selection, use the following entry fields on the Print Utility panel:
      Start key
      The starting key or slot location for a VSAM file
      Skip count
      The number of records to be skipped before processing begins
      Include
      The number of physical records that to be included in a repeating sample from a data set. Both Include and Repeat Skip fields must have non-zero values for sampling to take effect.
      Repeat skip
      The number of physical records to be skipped in a repeating sample from a data set. Both Include and Repeat Skip fields must have non-zero values for sampling to take effect.
      Print count
      The number of records to be printed
    • For field-level selection, use a template.

    If you specify both record-level and field-level selection, File Manager first selects data at record level, then at field level.

  5. Specify your processing options to control the way in which the data is selected and printed.

    You can specify:

    • The print format
    • If a template is to be used
    • Block or control interval printing
    • If you want to edit a template
    • Batch or foreground processing
    • A procedure to be called by the Print Utility
  6. If your data is in a sequential data set or PDS or PDSE member, is in ISPF PACK format and you have not specified an I/O exit, you can select an ISPF Packing option.
    1. Unpack
    Select this option when you want File Manager to unpack the data before any user processing or printing occurs.
    2. None
    Select this option when you do not want File Manager to detect the ISPF PACK format and to operate on any packed data in its packed format.

    This is the only valid option when your data is not a sequential or PDS data set, or when the Use I/O exit option has been used.

    3. Skip
    Select this option when you want File Manager to detect data in ISPF PACK format and stop any processing or printing for the data set or member.
  7. Additional print formatting options are available after selecting the Additional print options option. These options allow for the printed output to contain additional information about record structure, as well as controlling the inclusion of records when their length does not match the layouts of the template records.
  8. Press Enter.

    If you selected the Advanced member selection option, File Manager displays the Advanced Member Selection panel:

    1. Specify the selection criteria to select the members you want to print and press Enter.
    2. If you have left the Member name field on the Advanced Member Selection panel blank or have entered an asterisk (*) or a mask, File Manager displays the Member selection panel. In this case, select the members you want to print (either by typing an S in the Cmd field, or with the SELECT primary command) and press Enter.

    File Manager sends the output to the location specified in your Set Print Processing Options.

If you have sent the output to a print data set, you can view the data set using Print Browse (option 3.9). While you are using Print Browse, you can use the PURGE primary command to clear the print data set. To transfer the contents of the print data set to a SYSOUT class, press the Print function key (F4).

By using a print data set in this way, you can avoid print width truncation that might occur with TABL format printing.

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