Removing a Printer from the System with the SP-KILL Command

Use this procedure to remove (delete) a printer from the system. This procedure uses the SP-KILL command, which cancels any active print jobs in addition to removing the printer. Note that if a print job is being printed, you must use the SP-KILL command twice: first to cancel the print job, then to remove the printer.

NOTE

When it is necessary to cancel a print job from within Windows while it is being queued in the print Spooler, Rocket highly recommends first cancelling the print job from TCL (SP-KILL command), and only then cancelling the print job from the Windows Printers utility. This cancels the print job with respect to its original source (the MultiValue environment). Note that all mvBase print jobs originate within the MultiValue environment. This includes mvBase print jobs queued on Windows printers and for which Windows printer drivers are required. If you do not use this sequence, you run the risk of having to restart the Windows print Spooler.

See the Stopping A Printer with the STOPPTR Command procedure for information on stopping print jobs without deleting printers.

Perform these steps to remove a printer from the system configuration and to cancel a print job (when required).

  1. First, to cancel an active print job, type this command at TCL from SYSPROG:

  2. SP-KILL printer

    Parameter(s)

    printer

    Printer on which the print job is queued.

  3. Remove the printer by typing this command at TCL from SYSPROG:

  4. SP-KILL D printer

    printer

    Printer you want to remove.

    SP-KILL can be used to remove a printer regardless of its state. Removal is recommended, however, only when the printer is inactive. The SP-KILL command has the following format:

    Format

    SP-KILL [options]

    Parameter(s)

    options

    Can be any of the following:

    A

    Cancels only those print files that were created on the account you are logged on to.

    B

    Cancels all print files on the Spooler. You must have SYS2 privileges to cancel print files created on other accounts.

    Dn

    Removes printer n from the system.

    Fn [-m]

    Removes the specified print files from the queue and makes them into hold files. Files that are currently being printed are not removed from the queue.

    N

    Suppresses the ABORT! message on cancelled print jobs currently being printed.

    n

    Specifies a printer number.

    n-m

    Specifies a range of printers.

    O

    Removes the file that is currently being printed from the queue and makes it a hold file.

    Example

    The following sequence of actions removes system Printer 1 from the system.

  5. Type this command at TCL:

  6. STOPPTR 1

    The system displays this message:

    PRINTER #1 SET TO STOP AND IS INACTIVE.

  7. Type this command at TCL:

  8. LISTPTR 1

    The following message displays on the screen:

    PRINTER ASSIGNMENTS                                                        13:28:55

    TYPE

    PRINTER NUMBER

    OUTPUT QUEUES

    PAGE SKIP

    DEV OR PROCESS #

    STATUS

    SERIAL

    1

    1, 6

    0

    7

    STOPPED

  9. Type this command at TCL:

  10. SP-KILL D1

    The system displays:

    SERIAL PRINTER # 1 HAS BEEN DELETED, AND ITS PROCESS SENT TO LOGON.

    The message indicates that a serial printer has been removed and its process is now available for use as a logon line.

See Also

Using mvBase Printers

Overview of Printer Operation

Starting a Printer with the STARTPTR Command

Restarting a Printer with the STARTPTR Command

Checking the Status of Printers with the LISTPTR Command

Stopping a Printer with the STOPPTR Command