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Status Not under consideration
Workspace IBM i
Categories Print
Created by Guest
Created on Mar 4, 2021

Create a parameter that would force a prompt for a pass code to allow a specific spooled file to print.

We want to send a Secure Print passcode to a Xerox D110 printer that would allow a specific job to print (in this case, a spooled file containing checks).
To achieve that, we modified a WSCST using instructions we got from our Xerox vendor.

We can hardcode the passcode in a program in the INITPRT section of the program, using a hexadecimal value.

It looks like this (see PMR TS005143985 for a better view of it in the program):

:INITPRT
/* Ec% - 12345X */
DATA = '1B252D3132333435580D0A'X
/* @PJL JOB MODE=PRINTER */
'40504A4C204A4F42204D4F44453D5052494E5445520D0A'X
/* @PJL SET HOLD=STORE */
'40504a4c2053455420484f4c443d53544f52450D0A'X
/* @PJL SET HOLDKEY="1234" */
'40504a4c2053455420484f4c444b45593d2231323334220D0A'X
/* EcE (Initialize Printer) */
'1B45'X.

However, we would like to be able to pass a dynamic passcode to the HOLDKEY, as opposed to the passcode being hardcoded as above. Can we define variables inside the WSCST script just like we can do in a CL or RPG program and pass a parameter, that would prompt the user to enter a passcode of his/her choosing?

We would like for the user to be able to submit the job, then specify and enter a passcode of his/her own choosing each time the checks are to be printed.

Thank you,
Mark Hedl
mdhedl@nmerit.net


Use Case:

We would like for the System i user to be able to submit a job, then specify and enter a passcode of his/her own choosing (via a prompt on the screen) each time a specific spooled file is to be printed. This would be a way of securing the printing of that spooled file.


Idea priority Medium
  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Nov 30, 2021

    .The structure of the *WSCST objects, and the manner in which its information is retrieved do not facilitate implementing secure printing in this manner.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Mar 31, 2021

    There is no support in WSCST objects to allow program variables to be passed in. A hook would be needed in the data stream, itself. For example, switching to a specific FONT id could be used to pass this information to a WSCST object. Since these PJL controls must the precede the data stream, it is not possible set up such a trigger.

    I did dream up an idea for adding some "Job control" tags to WSCST objects to better support the capabilities of these multi-function printers. It was discarded before we got to the feasibility stage of the design. I do not recall if it could allow a print time prompt for a passcode.

    The only viable solution at this point would be to provide personal WSCST objects for each user containing their preferred hard-coded passcode. This may not be practical for many customers.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Mar 12, 2021

    Due to processing by IBM, this request was reassigned to have the following updated attributes:
    Brand - Servers and Systems Software
    Product family - Power Systems
    Product - IBM i
    Component - Print
    Operating system - IBM i
    Source - None

    For recording keeping, the previous attributes were:
    Brand - Servers and Systems Software
    Product family - Power Systems
    Product - IBM i
    Component - Db2 for i
    Operating system - IBM i
    Source - None