Print to file

Currently we use the program to send invoice data from our AS400 to a local PC in text format. We then send the data over to a third party for printing and mailing of the invoices. The transfer from iSeries to PC is done manually and we are looking to automate the process and could use some ideas on how to do this. We are looking to write the data to a text file and then FTP it to the third party.

Andy,

We have an article at http://www.frogmorecs.com/arts/configure-lpdsvc.html which explains how to prepare Windows for printing from an AS400.

You will need to use an external program or script to handle the ftp side of things but this could be called from Print Distributor after it has written the file.

Ok, I need to clarify my question. As I described above, this is how we currently run the process. The issue we are having is that when we attempt to send the spool files from the AS400 over to the PC they do not always seem to so. We have to send them multiple times in order for them to show up on the PC. Is this a known problem or something you can help us resolve.

we do not actually print the file in house, they are sent from the AS400 over to the PC and then FTP'ed from there.

Do you see any error messages in the Print Distributor log?

No it does not. The error log is blank with the exception of multiple notes stating that the trial period is expired.

If the trial period has expired then it will not process any documents.

the software is purchased, we have been using it for a couple of years.

When the files are created on the AS400 and then released to the Windows PC they do not always go. We have to send them multiple times to get them to appear on the PC. This is the problem we are trying to solve.

If you open the printer from the printers folder on Windows and pause it do the jobs arrive on the virtual printer or are they disappearing before that?

When I release the file from the AS400 they are sent to a folder on the local c: drive in text format.

But we seem to have to release the files more than once before they appear in the folder on the PC. We send 7 files to this PC each morning.

How are they getting from the AS400 to the PC?

The AS400 sends the files to the PC which contains Printer Distributor, we have the program set to print to file instead of hard copy.

THe problem is that when teh files are released from the 400 the program does not always convert them to file. They have to be reset from the 400.

If you open the printer from the printers folder on Windows and pause it do the jobs arrive on the virtual printer or are they disappearing before that?