Defining Output Devices for Local UNIX
Printing
Use
You are working with the UNIX operating system and want to print on an output device without having to send the data over a network connection. The SAP spool server is to forward output requests directly to the host spooler in the same system (local printing). This configuration is the most reliable way of connecting a UNIX output device. To do this, you must create the corresponding device definitions for this output device in the SAP System.
Prerequisites
· The spool server and the host spool system must be on the same host.
A spool server is an SAP server that has a spool work process and therefore offers the spool service.
· Ensure that a spool server is running on the UNIX system
You can see
which servers in the system are spool servers in the list of
SAP
servers.
· Ensure that you can already print documents on the printer from your PC.
If this is not the case, install the printer on the UNIX system. You can find details about this in your UNIX documentation.
It is irrelevant whether the printer is directly connected or a shared network printer.
Procedure
Follow the procedure below to create a device definition for local UNIX printing:
...
1. Call transaction SPAD, and choose Output Devices.
2.
If you are not in change
mode, switch to this mode by choosing 
Change.
3. You can now do the following:
¡ You can create a new device definition by choosing Output Device → Create.
¡ You can use an existing device definition as a template.
To do this, click the entry for the output device that is to be used as a template, and choose Output Device → Create Using Template.
4. Specify the name of the output device and fill out the mandatory fields of the individual tab pages as follows:
|
|
Field |
Input |
|
Device Attributes Tab Page |
Device Type |
Enter the device type that is defined in the SAP System for the printer model, such as HPLJ4 for the HP Laser Jet 4. You cannot use the generic device type SWIN for printing from UNIX. |
|
|
Spool Server |
Select the SAP spool server that is running on the UNIX system. For additional information, see Spool Server . |
|
|
Device Class |
Select Standard printer. |
|
Host Spool Access Method tab page |
Access Method |
We recommend access method L. |
|
|
Host Printer |
Enter the name of the output device as it is specified in the host system. Pay attention to capitalization. |
4. Optional: Classify the device. To do this, choose Edit → Classification and then the appropriate output type classification for this device. Although classification of output devices is optional, it provides this advantage:
If you also classify your spool servers, the spool system checks that the device and server classifications match. This helps to ensure an optimal output configuration.
If you are preparing to assign a mass printer to a time-critical production server, then the spool system warns you of this disparity.
5. Optional for Experts: Define or select a command set for this device (access method L only).
If this device needs print and query commands that differ from the default commands, then you can specify a command set for use with this device.
To do so, do the following:
...
a. Choose Edit ® Command set.
If you have already defined an acceptable command set, then enter the identification letter of the set in the Command record ID field.
If you want to define a new command set, then enter a letter to name the set in the Command record ID field.
b. Double-click on the field.
c. In the next dialog box, enter the commands that are to be used with this device.
The command set can also be used in other access method L device definitions.
For information about the command parameter, see parameter settings.
Result
You can use the printer in the SAP System as soon as you have saved the device definition.
Example
The following example shows the definition of a printer that is to be used as an output device for local UNIX printing.
Device Attributes tab page:
Host Spool Access Method tab page:
As the host spool system and the spool server are on the same server, the name of the same server appears on both tab pages. In this example, the printer also has the same name both in the SAP System and in the operating system.
Local UNIX printing is the fastest and most reliable method to output SAP documents. However, you can also set up UNIX printers for remote PC printing. For more information, see Defining an Output Device for UNIX Remote Printing.
See also:
Defining Output Devices for UNIX Printing
