SNA Print Service Doesn't Support SVF with 5250 Printing

• Microsoft SNA Server, versions 3.0, 3.0 SP1

SYMPTOMS

The LU 1 SCS Set Vertical Format (SVF) function is not supported for 5250 printing. When the 5250 PPD receives an SVF code, it just ignores it.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in SNA Server 3.0 and 3.0 Service Pack 1 (SP1). This problem was corrected in the latest SNA Server version 3.0 U.S. Service Pack. For information on obtaining this Service Pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

S E R V P A C K

MORE INFORMATION

After the fix is applied, when the Print Server receives the following sequence of bytes in a 5250 data stream, it should recognize and process the bytes as a "Set Vertical Format" request (the SVF code):

0x2bc2nnvv

The byte nn counts the number of bytes to the end of the SVF code (including the count byte); the byte vv defines the maximum number of lines that can be printed on a page (max printable lines [MPL], 0-255).

The fix allows the 5250 PPD to call into the virtual printer DLL to pass the new MPL value that it receives in an SVF code contained in the data stream. The virtual printer DLL was also changed to issue a Form Feed (FF) whenever the row indicated by the MPL is reached.

Note that if the number of lines indicated by the MPL is greater than the number of lines that will physically fit on the page (given current font size, LPI, and so on), it is ignored.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbnetwork snaprintservice kbfix3.00.sp2
Version : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0 SP1
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug