PowerAide: How to Schedule Print Queues for Automatic Processing

Print queues can be scheduled to launch automatically using the PowerShift Job Scheduler (JOBS). You will run the Print Queue Scheduler (PQJOB) and Document Output Parameters Maintenance (TDOC) programs to set options. This topic has these subtopics:

Set Print Queue Scheduler Options
Set Up a Job Stream for a Print Queue
Set Document Output Parameters

Set Print Queue Scheduler Options

  1. Run the Print Queue Scheduler (PQJOB) program. Optionally run Program Options Maintenance (XROPT) to create different sets of PQJOB options (e.g., if different people are to be notified of different print queue processing).

  2. Set Program options:

    Default user ID—Select the default user ID (the person who might typically run these registers in manual mode). The program uses this user ID to find the email address to send the notification. The user must have a valid email address set in User Maintenance (UIM).

    Output device for email notification—The program sends the print queue results to the user ID specified in the previous option. This option specifies what device to use for that email notification so you can control its output (PDF or delimited file attachment or an HTML table in the email body). This device must be an email device in Output Device Maintenance (XDM).

    Note
    Saved Selection options are ignored by the Print Queue Scheduler.

Set Up a Job Stream for a Print Queue

Use the Job Schedule Maintenance (JOBS) program to set up a job stream name and the scheduling frequency.

  1. Run Job Schedule Maintenance (JOBS). Click Add.

  2. Enter a Job stream name. Example: Invprint

  3. Enter the Report description. Example: Automated invoice print

  4. Select the days you want to start the process.

  5. Enter the Start time.

  6. Click the List Jobs button. Click Add.

  7. Accept the sequence number and enter a report description.

  8. Click the Job Options button.

  9. Scroll down to select and highlight the print queue processing options you saved, and then click the Job stream button to add these options to the job stream.

  10. Click OK to save the sequence. Add more sequences or clear the supplied sequence and press Tab to exit.

  11. Click Exit to save the job stream.

Set Document Output Parameters

Run Document Output Parameters Maintenance (TDOC) to select a document print queue for an automatic run and assign the job stream name.

  1. Select the document to be scheduled for an automatic run (e.g., SLS INVOICE).

  2. Select Allow automatic scheduling?

  3. Select the Job stream name. The selected name, created in JOBS, links this print queue to the frequency/days run settings.

It is recommended that documents be sent to a reserved spooler, or emailed to a user, rather than using a physical printer device (to avoid errors like an offline printer or a paper jam). If using a spooler, it should be checked periodically to prevent a spooler full error.