BARR/SPOOL manual

Preface

This manual describes how to install and use BARR/SPOOL software on your PC. Additionally, it explains the fundamentals of print spooling. Barr Systems offers a variety of options for the spooling of files.

BARR/SPOOL is the core software for print spooling of files from PC, LAN, and NetWare sources. Options added to BARR/SPOOL expand the possible file sources. BARR/PRINT for TCP/IP enables files from a UNIX host to be placed in the print spool. Files from DEC/VMS hosts can be added using the BARR/PRINT for LAT option. And the PRINT/TWINAX option allows spooling of files from midrange systems, such as the AS/400.

BARR/SPOOL drives parallel, serial, and LAN-based printers. Additional options support other types of printers. PRINT370 added to BARR/SPOOL enables you to drive up to six S/370 channel-attached printers from a PC. PRINT/TWINAX allows you to emulate 5250-series printers.

Whether you have technical or non-technical experience, the purpose of BARR/SPOOL is to help you to efficiently and effectively manage the printing of files. Concise installation and operation instructions in this manual guide you every step of the way.

Features

Print Speed – BARR/SPOOL can be used with a variety of printers. Print speeds on single and multiple printers range from 30 characters-per-second to beyond 40,000 lines-per-minute (lpm). BARR/SPOOL drives even the fastest laser printers at maximum efficiency.

Multiple Printers – BARR/SPOOL supports up to eight printer streams on any combination of parallel, serial, or channel printers. The parallel ports have the DOS names LPT1, LPT2, and LPT3. The serial ports have the names COM1, COM2, COM3, and COM4. Additional printer streams can be assigned to disk and screen. You can at any time assign the spool printers to any of the DOS devices.

Special Forms Support – Printing on special forms such as checks and invoices is a popular use of BARR/SPOOL. BARR/SPOOL also provides high-speed printing support for the Dataproducts and Centronics Vertical Form Units (VFU).

Ease of Operation – Many features simplify and extend the uses of BARR/SPOOL — making it easy to learn and simple to operate. The software is menu-driven. It shows you what to do at each stage. Operator instructions, prompts, and messages appear whenever you need to know about special conditions or make decisions. Introductory menus lead you into the program.

Simultaneous Use of DOS and BARR/SPOOL – While BARR/SPOOL is at work, you can enter a DOS session and use all of its features. This means you can enter data while simultaneously printing.

Package Contents

Your BARR/SPOOL package includes the following software, hardware, and documentation.

If you purchased Barr option software or hardware, refer to the option manuals for a list of additional items that are enclosed.

BARR/SPOOL Software – The BARR/SPOOL software disk includes program files and reference files.

BARR/SPOOL Manual – The BARR/SPOOL manual provides instructions for installing and operating the PC software.

Systems Integration Notes – This document provides descriptions of other software and hardware products you may want to use with BARR/SPOOL. It includes prices plus vendor names, addresses, and phone numbers.

Other Manuals – If additional Barr software and/or hardware options were purchased for use with BARR/SPOOL, the corresponding manuals are included.

Equipment Checklist

In addition to the Barr package, you need the equipment listed below.

PC – The minimum requirements are a personal computer with either an ISA, an EISA, or a Micro Channel bus.

Additional requirements vary depending on your application, the environment at your site, peak workloads, and other considerations. After evaluating your performance needs, you may discover that your site needs a 386\25-33 or 486 machine.

Contact Barr Systems Technical Support if you need a recommendation on which type of PC to use.

Memory Requirements – The PC running BARR/SPOOL should have at least 640 kilobytes of memory. Extended memory is supported by Barr products and can be used to enhance performance.

Barr products do not use the expanded memory feature of memory managers or expanded memory drivers. (Barr software can use extended memory.)

Disk Space Requirements – BARR/SPOOL should be installed on your PC hard disk.

To achieve optimum performance when print spooling or performing other disk-intensive tasks, we suggest using a hard drive with fast access and fast transfer times. The size of hard drive needed depends on the storage needs at your site. When determining how much storage is needed, estimate that 2,000-5,000 bytes of storage are required per page of data or that it is possible to store 200-500 pages of data per megabyte of hard-drive capacity.

DOS – The PC and the host computer each have operating systems — programs that direct the flow of data and sort out details to free the user from complexity. The primary operating system for the PC, and the one that BARR/SPOOL requires, is DOS. BARR/SPOOL is compatible with DOS 3.0 or later versions.

Using This Manual

Organization – The order in which chapters are presented in this manual reflects the logical sequence of BARR/SPOOL installation and operation. Each chapter is an independent unit that can be used for reference.

You need only to be familiar with the most basic features of print spooling to operate BARR/SPOOL. Chapter 1 presents basic print spooling concepts. Refer to the glossary at the back of the manual for a description of terms and acronyms that appear in the text.

Technical Support

If you have any difficulties installing or using BARR/SPOOL please contact Barr Technical Support.

Barr Phone Numbers – Toll-free technical support is available for Barr software and hardware products. Call Barr Systems, Inc. at 800-BARR-SYS or 352-491-3100 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time.

Support Requests – Here are some things you can do to help the Technical Support staff serve you as quickly and effectively as possible:

• Serial number. If you purchased an adapter, please be sure to have the serial number of your Barr adapter on hand when you call. When faxing a support request, be sure to include the serial number in your fax. There are three possible ways to obtain the serial number: from the front of the adapter box, from a sticker on the adapter edge that is visible from the rear of the PC, or from the back of the adapter, where it is handwritten.

• Problem number. If you are calling about a previously reported problem, tell the Support Analyst your assigned problem number. If you are calling about a new problem, be sure to note the problem number for future reference.

• Version number. Determine the version number (e.g., 94A1) of the Barr software you are using. Check the version number displayed on the second screen of the Installation Description, on the console portion of the Operation screen at software startup, or on the Quit menu during software operation. Provide the software version number to the Support Analyst.

• Problem Description. Be prepared to supply details about your problem. The Support Analysts also may ask you to supply information about your host computer, PC, or printers.

• Diagnostics. When asked to provide a line trace, memory dump, or other diagnostic information, please respond as quickly as possible. Your quick response helps us solve the problem in a timely manner and underscores your level of concern.

• Schedule for return calls. If you are frequently away from the phone, please advise our staff of the best possible time we can reach you.

Trademarks

Barr –  The BARR logo is a registered trademark, and BARR/RJE, BARR/TAPE, PRINT370, T1-SYNC, and PC-SYNC are trademarks of Barr Systems, Inc.

Others – IBM is a registered trademark, and PC AT, PS/2, Micro Channel, NetBIOS, System/370, Token Ring, and AS/400 are trademarks of International Business Machines. DEC, VAX, VMS, LAT, and DECnet are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation. Xerox and Ethernet are trademarks of Xerox Corporation. Dataproducts is a trademark of Dataproducts Corporation. MS-DOS is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Novell and NetWare are registered trademarks of Novell, Inc. UNIX is a trademark of Unix Systems Laboratories. PostScript is a trademark of Adobe Systems, Inc. QEMM is a registered trademark of Quarterdeck Office Systems.

All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Acknowledgments

Barr Systems wishes to thank the following people for their suggestions for improvements to the BARR/SPOOL manual.

• Mark Byrd, Hewitt Associates LLC, Lincolnshire, IL

• Rick Foley, Siemens Nixdorf Printing Systems, Boca Raton, FL

• Dale Fulk, Electronic Data Systems, Indianapolis, IN

• Graham Roberts, ACTNET, Rivonia, South Africa

• Red Sigle, Electronic Data Systems, San Diego, CA

• Clive Stirling, Mentecaptus, Epsom Surrey, England

References

These selected publications are listed to guide you in choosing appropriate documentation. Refer to the listed publications that apply to your systems environment.

The publication number listed for the manuals relates to the version number of the related software. The number for your publication may be different, depending on the version of your software.