But IBM's AS/400 printing environment has changed with network integration into the AS/400 environment and the emergence of TCP/IP. The standard TCP/IP print command LPR (Line Printer Requester) is implemented as a remote printer writer in OS/400. This enables to convert SCS (SNA Character String) and AFP into ASCII or PCL 5 (via Host Print Transform HPT function) and send the resulting data streams directly to a network attached printer. Since PJL (Page Job Language) commands are implemented in the Océ 9200 and Océ 8400 PPC printer, SOCKET printing is also possible. Naturally, SCS conversion into ASCII or PCL 5 is also supported. Page range printing, copies and retour communication are the main advantages of SOCKET printing, which are not supported by the LPR mechanism.

 

This Information Bulletin describes traditional AS/400, AS/400 TCP/IP SOCKET and AS/400 TCP/IP LPR/LPD printing. Mainly two environments from an AS/400 system are important, namely the office environment (PCL 5) and the line printer environment (ASCII). The configuration of OS/400 TCP/IP SOCKET or LPR/LPD for these different environments is described step by step in the chapter "Instructions".