AIX Printer Tips: Catalog Message Files in Virtual Printers

This document applies to AIX Version 4.x.

Colon File Fields
Example 1: :331:mL::[devices.cat,71,134;Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 5Si/5Si MX]
Example 2: /usr/local/cat/bull924.asc::638:_u:S[E015]I[1810516]EnR[pioattr1.cat,1, 780;pinwheel,sheetfeed=5,1]:5
Field	Description	Example 1:	Example 2:
Message Catalog Field	This is the full path name of the message catalog; when blank, usually refers to pioattr1.cat	Use pioattr1.cat	/usr/local/cat/bull924.cat
Catalog Number	# in pioattr1.cat, etc	331	638
Attribute Name	Name of attibute for lsvirprt chvirprt	ml	_u
Limits Field	For smit menus and command line flags	Not Used	S[E015]I[1810516] EnR[pioattr1.cat,1,780; pinwheel,sheetfeed=5,1]
Attribute Value	Value assigned to attribute	[devices.cat,71,134; Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 5Si/5Si MX]	5

Messages Shown in Preceding Table

1. The message catalog name is given in the first field.
2. The message number from the catalog in the first field is used when the attribute is listed from lsvirprt or chvirprt.
3. A message catalog and message number can be specified in the limits field. This can affect the smit text and can also be used to generate smit popup lists based on the message text. When this is used, the smit panels can be shown in the user's language.
4. A message catalog and message number can also be used to include the value of the attribute. This would normally only be done for things like printer names.

For example, to display the default message catalog, use this command:

• dspcat pioattr1.cat

1 : 18 Double-High Print. (!: no;  +: yes)
1 : 19 Italics print (!: no;  +: yes)
1 : 20 (not used) Font file name
1 : 22 Name To Replace Host Name On Burst Page
1 : 23 (not used) Font ID
1 : 24 Font ID (overrides pitch and type style)
1 : 25 Font ID.  Use internal fonts if blank.
1 : 27 Restore the Printer at the End of the Print Job? (!: no;  +: yes)
1 : 29 Condensed Print (!: no;  +: yes)
1 : 30 Wrap Long Lines (!: no;  +: yes)
1 : 31 (not used) Page format flag

• dspcat pioattr1.cat 1 780

pinwheel,sheetfeed

Line inside of the test.msg file	Comments
$ file: test.msg	just treated as a comment
$delset 1	removes old definitions
$set 1	start set 1
1 Comment one\nline two of message	Message Text
2 Message two	Message Text
$delset 2	Remove old Defs
$set 2	start set 2
1 Message one of set	Message Text
$end of file: test.msg	Last line in file, probably a comment

Now generate the catalog file.

• gencat output source
• gencat test.cat test.msg

1. Create a Message File
2. Create a Catalog File
3. Display the Catalog with dspcat
4. Place the file in /usr/local/cat
5. Add the entry to a custom colon file
6. See the results with lsvirprt

1. Create a Simple Message File

Create the file test.msg containing the following:

$ file: test.msg
$set 1 device description
1 1=Blue paper, 2=Red Paper, 3=checks
$set 2
1 Set 2 Message 1
$ end of file: test.msg

2. Create a Catalog File

• gencat test.cat test.msg

3. Display the Catalog with dspcat

• dspcat ./test.cat

1 : 1 1=Blue paper, 2=Red Paper, 3=checks
2 : 1 Set 2 Message 1

4. Copy the Catalog to /usr/local/cat

• mkdir /usr/local if needed
• mkdir /usr/local/cat if needed
• cp test./cat /usr/local/cat

5. Add the entry to a custom colon file

• cd /var/spool/lpd/pio/@local/custom (AIX 4.1)
• cd /var/spool/lpd/pio/custom (AIX 3.2)
• vi >queue:queue_dev<: for queue you want to change
• Change _u value to /usr/local/cat/test.cat:1:_u::1

6. See results with lsvirprt

• lsvirprt
• Select queue that you changed.
• Enter u or attribute you changed.

Name    Description                                          Value
_u      1=Blue paper, 2=Red Paper, 3=checks                  1