Auto-Select Trays from AS400

[ihatefinishers13]

I don't personally know much about utilizing or setting up printing from this type of server, but we've resorted to setting up separate software utilizing a separate server that the AS400 points to so it utilizes a normal windows print driver. This particular customer has only ever been able to print to tray one because the 400 seems to only support printing to a specific tray, and with Sharp and Epson MFP's, they ONLY print to the tray and don't auto switch when they run of paper. Has anyone found a printer type to alleviate this?

Thought about it if there were a printer setup that didn't send tray data over, but just the paper size it wanted, so it would just look to the machine and the machine would react like it's "auto".

Thoughts? Like I said, not too much experience with AS400s.

[slimslob]

One thing I have encountered in the past that will work with AS400 is the HP4000 printer or at least setting the Windows print server to use the HP4000 driver. Before you do, test with a Windows computer to verify the tray numbering sequence. If I remember correctly, tray 1 on the HP4000 is the bypass or manual feed tray. Also if possible check with the software people or their operating manual. Certain trays might be reserved for specific forms like checks.

Another driver I have had to use on some hospital AS400 systems is full PosfScrpt.

[PrintWhisperer]

For AS400 you can use a Workstation Customization Object (WSCO) to add PCL code to the (beginning of the) print job.
You would use a generic PCL driver which doesn¡¯t add a tray command, and need to properly structure the PCL code with the UEL and <esc> characters.
It¡¯s been 25 years ago, but I used this to send print jobs to the mailbox on Canon product (back in the day)

[Yyvan]

For AS400 you can use a Workstation Customization Object (WSCO) to add PCL code to the (beginning of the) print job.
You would use a generic PCL driver which doesn¡¯t add a tray command, and need to properly structure the PCL code with the UEL and characters.
It¡¯s been 25 years ago, but I used this to send print jobs to the mailbox on Canon product (back in the day)§¯§å§Ý§Ý§ã §¢§â§Ñ§Ó§Ý

For the WSCO solution, what kind of PCL code would be needed to tell the printer to 'auto-select' based on paper size? Is there a standard command for that, or does it vary by printer model?

[PrintWhisperer]

Almost every manufacturer uses different and varied tray selection assignments to match HP PCL Tray specific codes, so if you are trying to call a specific tray then you have to look that up with the OEM. <esc>&l5H may call tray 5 on an HP, tray 3 on one model of Canon and Tray 4 on another.

Auto select rolls to the device settings so it's an easier solution.

Most printers will emulate (obey the commands of) standard HP PCL. The standard code for 'Auto Select' is <esc>&l7H
The <esc> represents the 'escape' (ascii text) character, which cannot be typed directly from a standard windows keyboard layout and is not displayed in typical text viewers.

If you are going to write PCL strings you need to download Notepad++ which will allow you to work with the <esc> character.

https://notepad-plus-plus.org/

The WSCO will create a PCL header like the print driver would, but with your code. It needs to begin with a reset, either <esc>E or <esc>%-12345X to clear the device print environment of previous job settings.


So <esc>%-12345X<esc>&l7H would basically send the auto select and it'll match on size to the printers default settings behavior. Some devices have default rollover and auto select settings. (Tray Mapping in Fiery, Tray grouping in Kyocera, etc.)

Xerox has a good WSCO primer here:

https://www.support.xerox.com/en-us/content/53853

HP PCL ref:
https://developers.hp.com/hp-printer...-languages-pcl

PCL editing, conversion and tech reference:

https://www.pclviewer.com/resources/reference/

Happy Coding!

P.S. - Anything NOT defined in your WSCO PCL Header (Page Size, Font, etc.) will be set to the Default Printer Settings on the device. So if you want all jobs with unassigned settings to be LTR with Courier font, you set that on the printer default. Otherwise throw in a PCL command to set it.