Problem:
This demo, "BeforeAdvancing", creates a file using the "Before Advancing" clause that includes carriage return, line feed and form feed characters, (unlike a program using "after positioning".) The print program uses Byte-stream File Routines to read the report file, preserving the PC printer control characters, and providing control of the printer and font used to print the report.
Resolution:
INTRODUCTION
==========
This example illustrates how to use a report file created by a Cobol program using "before advancing" syntax.
SOURCE FILES:
==========
Program Files Description
---------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
osvsba.cbl opcw32ba.cbl
OPERATION:
========
The example consists of two programs. OSVSBA.CBL is the program that uses "before advancing" syntax. "Advancing" is available in all variations of the COBOL standard. When used on the PC this method of paper control results in the creation of "carriage return" (x"0D"), "line feed" (x"0A") and "form feed" (x"0C") characters to achieve the desired spacing. The report could be printed directly to the printer, or the report file could be copied to the printer. However, Main Frame style reports are likely to require more than 80 print positions per line of output, which is normally the default state for the PC printer. To avoid making manual adjustments to the printer settings, Osvsba.cbl writes the report to a sequential file. The only adjustment to the program that creates the report will be to revise the page limit control in the program as the PC printer is likely to print fewer lines per page than the Main Frame printer.
The second program, OPCW32BA.CBL, reads the file created by OSVSBA.CBL using Byte Stream I/O call-by-name routines that will preserve the spacing in the report file and print the report using PC_PRINTER... call-by-name routines. The "PC print control characters" in the file are passed directly to the printer resulting in a properly spaced report. The PC_PRINTER... routines give you control of which printer, as well as which font, is used to produce the report.
==========================================================
Keywords: demonstration, sample, example, demo, printing, beforeadvancing.zip
demo.ex
demo.me
demo.ne
demo.se
