How to print

[Isaac Joshua Chua]

Hi guys! I would like to know how to print the exact file and in the exact printer in 4gl :)

[Eric Vercelletto]

Post by Isaac Joshua Chua
Hi guys! I would like to know how to print the exact file and in the exact printer in 4gl :)

Hi Isaac,

in native 4GL, use the REPORT functionality for printing. It is a a full REPORT WRITER functionality, including group by management and evolved functionality.
On unix platforms, the easiest way is to REPORT TO a file name (that can be a variable), and RUN an 'lp' based command with all its parameters, that you can build by a LET statement.

Please note that with x4GL languages such as Querix Lycia, the client can be on the Desktop (PC for instance) or a webclient, then you can use the client printers.

Does this help ?
Eric

[Isaac Joshua Chua]

Post by Eric Vercelletto

Post by Isaac Joshua Chua
Hi guys! I would like to know how to print the exact file and in the exact printer in 4gl :)

Hi Isaac,
in native 4GL, use the REPORT functionality for printing. It is a a full REPORT WRITER functionality, including group by management and evolved functionality.
On unix platforms, the easiest way is to REPORT TO a file name (that can be a variable), and RUN an 'lp' based command with all its parameters, that you can build by a LET statement.
Please note that with x4GL languages such as Querix Lycia, the client can be on the Desktop (PC for instance) or a webclient, then you can use the client printers.
Does this help ?
Eric

Hi Eric! thanks for that info, but I am using the REPORT function. I have a problem printing the file. We usually use a letter size paper but when I try to use a legal size, it prints like a letter size. Do you know how I can fix this?

[Everett Mills]

To account for going from letter to legal sized paper, you have to account for the longer page in your REPORT function. Look at the OUTPUT section and add (if it's not already there) PAGE LENGTH with a variable to hold 66 for letter sized paper or 84 for legal sized paper.

--EEM

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2015 3:49 AM
Subject: Re: How to print

Post by Eric Vercelletto

Post by Isaac Joshua Chua
Hi guys! I would like to know how to print the exact file and in

the exact printer in 4gl :)

Post by Eric Vercelletto
Hi Isaac,
in native 4GL, use the REPORT functionality for printing. It is a a

full REPORT WRITER functionality, including group by management and
evolved functionality.

Post by Eric Vercelletto
On unix platforms, the easiest way is to REPORT TO a file name (that

can be a variable), and RUN an 'lp' based command with all its
parameters, that you can build by a LET statement.

Post by Eric Vercelletto
Please note that with x4GL languages such as Querix Lycia, the client

can be on the Desktop (PC for instance) or a webclient, then you can
use the client printers.

Post by Eric Vercelletto
Does this help ?
Eric

Hi Eric! thanks for that info, but I am using the REPORT function. I
have a problem printing the file. We usually use a letter size paper
but when I try to use a legal size, it prints like a letter size. Do
you know how I can fix this?
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[Isaac Joshua Chua]

Thanks Everett! I might using 84 as the length. I have been using only 80 for that :)

[Isaac Joshua Chua]

Hi Everett! I tried the one you suggested and it is still the same. Do I need to do something with my lp?

[Everett Mills]

I don't think so. Unless you're running the printer at something other than six lines/inch.

--EEM

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2015 9:35 PM
Subject: Re: How to print
Hi Everett! I tried the one you suggested and it is still the same. Do
I need to do something with my lp?
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[Isaac Joshua Chua]

What is the normal number of lines per inches?

[Eric Vercelletto]

Post by Isaac Joshua Chua
What is the normal number of lines per inches?

Issac,


I have done this long time ago, but the best way I found to handle printers
was to create a table of printers, featuring all the basic and less basic escape sequences for each printer brand/type, for instance:
init_bold,end_bold,
init_italic,end_italic,
init_large,end_large,
init_small,end_small,
init_normal,end_normal, etc...

one you decide which printer you are going to use, load the escape sequences for this printer and assign them to variables with same names, then in your report
PRINT init_bold clipped,"This is the title",end_bold clipped
PRINT normal_clipped, my print stuff
PRINT more stuff
etc...

I think (my memory may betray me) that each printer has an escape sequence to initialize page length, so you can use this trick to initialize it the the size you want.

In addition, edit the printed file with vi or any editor, and check where (i.e. at wich line number) the '^L' or skip page characters are printed.
Skip page character is controlled by the OUTPUT section/page length value.

If you set 84 as PAGE LENGTH and your printer prints pages of 80, this will not work correctly, one skip page will be done at 80 (printer page length), and the 84th line skip page will never be done.

No sure about this, butyou could give a try.

To see the behaviour off what I say, you can also try to define a smaller PAGE LENGTH/OUTPUT SECTION value (say 60), and see how it behaves.

IHTH
Eric

[Isaac Joshua Chua]

Post by Eric Vercelletto

Post by Isaac Joshua Chua
What is the normal number of lines per inches?

Issac,
I have done this long time ago, but the best way I found to handle printers
init_bold,end_bold,
init_italic,end_italic,
init_large,end_large,
init_small,end_small,
init_normal,end_normal, etc...
one you decide which printer you are going to use, load the escape sequences for this printer and assign them to variables with same names, then in your report
PRINT init_bold clipped,"This is the title",end_bold clipped
PRINT normal_clipped, my print stuff
PRINT more stuff
etc...
I think (my memory may betray me) that each printer has an escape sequence to initialize page length, so you can use this trick to initialize it the the size you want.
In addition, edit the printed file with vi or any editor, and check where (i.e. at wich line number) the '^L' or skip page characters are printed.
Skip page character is controlled by the OUTPUT section/page length value.
If you set 84 as PAGE LENGTH and your printer prints pages of 80, this will not work correctly, one skip page will be done at 80 (printer page length), and the 84th line skip page will never be done.
No sure about this, butyou could give a try.
To see the behaviour off what I say, you can also try to define a smaller PAGE LENGTH/OUTPUT SECTION value (say 60), and see how it behaves.
IHTH
Eric

Hi Eric! I tried changing the page length and it still behaves like that. I tried it from 60-80 and it somewhat have the same results.

Regarding the usage of vi, we are trying to print it continuously. I use "cat" to fuse 2 output files. When I try to print it, it creates a gap. We want it to print continuously because we are printing in bulk. Also, the 1st output does not have a define length and it will be hard if we will remove "^L" every time and adjust the spaces between them.

Thanks for you info Eric :)

[Ian Goddard]

Post by Isaac Joshua Chua
What is the normal number of lines per inches?

It depends on your printer and its settings. 6 used to be the norm with
11" paper giving 66 lpp. However where metric paper sizes such as A4
are used lines per inch isn't a useful unit.