HP OpenVMS Systems Documentation

Users can specify that a job be held in a queue before processing by specifying one of the following qualifiers with the PRINT, SUBMIT, or SET ENTRY command:

• /AFTER=time holds a job until the specified time.
• /HOLD holds a job indefinitely.

You can use the following commands to hold and release jobs:

Examples

1. The following example holds a job until the specified time and subsequently releases the job after that time:

   $ SET ENTRY 1121/AFTER=12-FEB-2000:17:30 $ SET ENTRY/NOAFTER

2. The following example holds a job until the end of the current day (00:00:00.00 o'clock) and subsequently releases the job before that time:

   $ SET ENTRY 1121/AFTER=TODAY $ SET ENTRY/NOAFTER

3. The following example holds a job indefinitely and subsequently releases it:

   $ SET ENTRY 1234/HOLD $ SET ENTRY 1234/RELEASE

To stop and requeue an executing print job, enter STOP/QUEUE/REQUEUE. This command suspends a currently executing job and requeues it to the specified queue. Other jobs remain pending in the queue until they are processed.

Examples

1. A job is executing in output execution queue BETA_LPB0 when the printer on which the queue is running jams. If no other jobs are pending in the queue, you might want to stop and requeue the job to a queue running on another printer. Because the printer in this example is jammed, you might also want to stop the queue. To do so, enter commands similar to the following ones:

   $ STOP/QUEUE/REQUEUE=BETA_LPA0 BETA_LPB0 $ STOP/QUEUE/RESET BETA_LPB0

   
   The first command stops the executing print job on BETA_LPB0 and requeues it to BETA_LPA0. The second command stops queue BETA_LPB0.
2. If you are requeuing a job on a batch queue, you must include the /ENTRY=n qualifier. For example:

   $ STOP/QUEUE/ENTRY=1251/REQUEUE=FRED_BATCH WILMA_BATCH

To hold an aborted job, specify the /HOLD qualifier using the following format:

The /HOLD qualifier places the aborted job in a hold state for later release with the SET ENTRY/RELEASE or SET ENTRY/NOHOLD command.

To change the scheduling priority of the aborted job, specify the /PRIORITY qualifier using the following format:

Specify the new priority as n.

14.7.2.5 Requeuing a Pending Job

To requeue a job that is pending in a queue to a different queue, enter SET ENTRY/REQUEUE. For example:

$ SET ENTRY/REQUEUE=LN03$PRINT 196

This command moves job 196 to the queue LN03$PRINT.

14.7.2.6 Deleting a Job

Follow this procedure to delete either a pending or an executing batch job:

1. Determine the entry number of the job by entering a command using one of the following formats:

   SHOW ENTRY/USER_NAME=username [entry-number]

   SHOW QUEUE/ALL_JOBS [queue-name]

   
   If you do not know the job name, user name, or queue name, enter the following command:

   $ SHOW QUEUE/BATCH/ALL_JOBS/BY_JOB_STATUS=EXECUTING

2. Delete the job by entering a command in the following format:

   DELETE/ENTRY=(entry-number)[,...]

Example

A user has noticed that a job is processing in an endless loop. The user is not the owner of the job and lacks sufficient privilege to stop it. The user enlists your aid as the system manager. You might enter the following command:

$ SHOW QUEUE/BATCH/ALL_JOBS/BY_JOB_STATUS=EXECUTING
Batch queue JADE_BATCH, available, on JADE::

  Entry  Jobname         Username             Status
  -----  -------         --------             ------
    312  ARTWORK         HUNTER               Executing

Batch queue OPAL_BATCH, available, on OPAL::

  Entry  Jobname         Username             Status
  -----  -------         --------             ------
    317  STOCKS          CHANDLER             Executing

Batch queue RUBY_BATCH, available, on RUBY::

  Entry  Jobname         Username             Status
  -----  -------         --------             ------
    888  TEMPO           ENGLISH              Executing
$ DELETE/ENTRY=317

Pausing an output queue lets you communicate with the print symbiont interactively. Enter STOP/QUEUE (without any qualifiers) to pause a queue. Once a queue is paused, you can perform the following operations:

• Specify the position at which a suspended job is to resume printing. For example, suppose a printer has a paper jam and the first several pages of a print job are destroyed. You can pause the queue and restart the job, resuming printing at the beginning of the file.
  For more information, see Section 14.7.2.7.1.
• Specify the number of pages and the type of data for aligning printer forms. For example, suppose a printer uses a paper stock that is a preprinted continuous-form paper. When you begin printing a job, you notice the paper is not correctly aligned, so output does not print in the correct space on the preprinted form. You can pause the queue and print sample data to help you correct the paper alignment.
  For more information, see Section 14.7.2.7.2.

By default, when you pause a queue and restart it, printing resumes in the current job at a checkpoint near where it left off. To specify the position at which the current job is to resume printing, pause the queue, then enter START/QUEUE with any of the following qualifiers:

When you must use more than one positioning qualifier with the same START/QUEUE command, file positioning is performed in the following order:

1. /TOP_OF_FILE
2. /FORWARD
3. /BACKWARD
4. /SEARCH

Examples

1. In the following example, STOP/QUEUE suspends the job that is currently printing on the printer queue JADE_PRINT and places that queue in the paused state. The START/QUEUE command releases the queue from the paused state. The /TOP_OF_FILE qualifier causes the job that was suspended to resume printing at the beginning of the file rather than at where it was interrupted.

   $ STOP/QUEUE JADE_PRINT $ START/QUEUE/TOP_OF_FILE JADE_PRINT

2. In the following example, START/QUEUE resumes output on printer SYS_LPA0 after advancing 15 pages from the beginning of the file:

   $ START/QUEUE/TOP_OF_FILE/FORWARD=15 SYS_LPA0

To print alignment data to aid in aligning printer forms, pause the queue, then enter START/QUEUE with the /ALIGN qualifier in the following format:

The following options control the number of alignment pages and type of alignment data:

You can use the /ALIGN qualifier with any of the file positioning qualifiers described in the previous section. File positioning is performed before alignment data is printed. After the alignment is complete, the queue enters a paused state until you restart it by reentering START/QUEUE. Printing resumes from the point that alignment data started; that is, the task is backspaced over the pages printed for alignment.

Example

The command in the following example requests masked alignment for four pages of output. In this example, the file for the job that was being printed when the queue was paused is backspaced two pages before alignment is performed. Four pages of alignment mask characters are printed. Then the output for the current job is positioned backward four pages, and the queue pauses.

$ START/QUEUE/BACKWARD=2/ALIGN=(MASK,4) SYS_LPA0

The following sections can help you solve common queue problems:

The following steps can help you determine the cause of general printer problems:

1. Enter a command in the following format to determine the status of the queue with which the printer is associated:

   SHOW QUEUE/FULL queue-name

   
   Table 14-5 lists and describes queue statuses.

2. Enter the SHOW LOGICAL/FULL SMBSRVSHR command to determine whether the logical name SMBSRVSHR is assigned, and, if it is assigned, its access mode (SUPERVISOR_MODE or EXECUTIVE_MODE). In most cases, this logical name should not be defined. However, if SMBSRVSHR is assigned, deassign it by entering the DEASSIGN SMBSRVSHR command with the /USER_MODE, /SUPERVISOR_MODE, or /EXECUTIVE_MODE qualifier.
3. If a print request returns a fatal error or does not print, perform the following steps:
   1. Stop the queue by entering STOP/QUEUE/RESET.
   2. If the output device is spooled, despool it using the SET DEVICE/NOSPOOLED command.
   3. Copy the file you are attempting to print by entering the COPY command in the following format:

      COPY input-filespec output-filespec

      
      If the COPY command does not produce output, a PRINT request will not work.

4. If the problem is on a queue using the LATSYM symbiont, try using the default symbiont, PRTSMB, and see if the problem persists. You can use the PRTSMB symbiont for printers on LAT ports. However, only one queue at a time will be able to send jobs to the printer.
   To determine whether a queue is using the LATSYM symbiont, enter SHOW QUEUE/FULL. If the queue is using the LATSYM symbiont, the display shows the following words: /PROCESSOR=LATSYM.
   To change the queue's symbiont to PRTSMB, perform the following steps:
   1. Stop the queue by entering STOP/QUEUE/RESET.
   2. Restart the queue by entering START/QUEUE/NOPROCESSOR.
   If a PRINT request succeeds when the queue is using PRTSMB, the problem is with LATSYM or with the LAT driver LTDRIVER.
5. Attach a terminal at the end of the cable that is being used for the printer. If the data shows up on the terminal, the Hold Screen key works, and no data is lost, the problem is probably with the printer (an incorrect setting, for example). If the problem exists with the terminal, it might be caused by the cable, the hardware interface port, or a hardware port setting.

If a job does not execute when expected, the job might have a pending or holding status. The SHOW QUEUE/FULL/ALL_JOBS command displays the status for all jobs on a queue.

If the job is in a holding status, see Section 14.7.2.3 for information about holding and releasing a job.

If the job is in the pending state, the /FULL qualifier enables you to see the reason why the job is ineligible to execute. (Use a 132-character wide display to make sure that all the information is displayed.)

For example:

$ SHOW QUEUE/FULL/ALL_JOBS/BY_JOB_STATUS=PENDING

Generic printer queue REG$GENERIC
 /GENERIC=(REG$Q1,REG$Q2,REG$Q3)/OWNER=[SYSTEM]/PROTECTION=(S:M,O:D,G:R,W:R)
  Entry  Jobname         Username     Blocks  Status
  -----  -------         --------     ------  ------
    684  PROBLEMS         CHURCHILL     3118  Pending (check execution queues)
         Submitted  7-MAR-2000 17:49 /FORM=DEFAULT /NOTIFY /PRIORITY=100
         File: _$5$DUA174:[CHURCHILL]PROBLEMS.TXT;2
Printer queue REG$Q1, stopped, on LONDON::NPA1, mounted form DEFAULT
 /BASE_PRIORITY=4/DEFAULT=(FEED,FORM=DEFAULT)/OWNER=[SYSTEM]
 /PROTECTION=(S:M,O:D,G:R,W:R)
  Entry  Jobname         Username     Blocks  Status
  -----  -------         --------     ------  ------
    687  PM$SPEECH       CHURCHILL      3558  Pending (queue stopped)
         Submitted  7-MAR-2000 17:51 /FORM=DEFAULT /NOTIFY /PRIORITY=100
         File: _$5$DUA174:[CHURCHILL]PM$SPEECH.TXT;1 (checkpointed)

A job enters the pending status whenever the job is not eligible to execute. Table 14-8 lists common causes and solutions for a pending status.