Using the WSCO
Mapping Paper Trays from AS/400 to PCL
A media source in an AS/400 printer file is indicated as a source drawer. Data description specifications (DDS)
use the DRAWER keyword. The printer PCL command indicates the media source as a tray. AS/400 and PCL do
not always use the same parameter value to refer to the same thing. DRAWER 1 may not map to TRAY 1.
The default settings for drawer to tray mapping are shown in the following table. The corresponding PCL code is
also included. For example: the AS/400 printer file Source Drawer 2 selects tray 3 on the 3450 and the 4500, but
selects tray 2 on the 4025 and the M20i. The PCL code for the 3450 drawer 2/tray 3 is “8” or ESC&l8H, for the
4500 drawer 2/tray 3 is “5” or ESC&l5H.
The WorkCentre products’ default settings for paper type and color are plain and white. If the AS/400 file attribute
for Source Drawer is set for a specific WorkCentre input paper tray, make sure the tray description on the WCP is
set to match the default type, which is plain. On the WCP, if the type parameter is other than the default type, the
spool file pulls media from a tray that has the default type (plain), or is held for resources depending on the WCP
model.
VersaLink and AltaLink products have standardized PCL5 tray parameters. Most models now include options to
add additional media trays. In order to provide maximum flexibility, the AS/400 Work Station Customization
Objects (WSCO) now contain all the tray selection parameters for mapping the AS/400 “Drawers” to Trays on the
printer.
As an example, if the printer does not have a tray 4 and the AS/400 spool file is set for DRAWER 4, the printer
will use the default tray. Unless the user has changed it, the default tray is set to AUTO TRAY Switch. This
means that the printer will pull from a tray whose paper size matches the paper specified in the spool file.
Typically, this is “Letter” (8.5 by 11 inches). On the other hand, if the spool file is set to DRAWER 9, the WSCO
will not generate a tray call at all, and again, the printer will use the default, selecting a tray that contains the
paper specified in the spool. In addition, tray 5 in the printer is actually the Bypass Tray. So, if the spool file has
Drawer 5 or Envelope or Drawer 10 specified, the printer will select the Bypass Tray. The WSCO’s do not have
DRAWER 7, 8, or 9 defined.
To provide the greatest flexibility, these WSCO’s all include Color Support. If the spool file specifies “color,” and
the printer supports color, the spool will print in color. The spool will print in black and white if the printer does not
support color printing.
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