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Printing directly from a host to a workstation printer (3270)

Configuring printer sessions (3270)
Printer definition files (3270)
Printer definition tables (3270)
Compiling a printer definition table (3270)

You can print host application files on a printer that is directly attached to your workstation or to a network printer.

On Windows platforms, Host On-Demand can use the native printer drivers provided by the workstation native operating system. On other platforms, Host On-Demand uses a printer definition table (PDT) to format data and send it to the printer as text and printer commands. A PDT can also be used on Windows platforms, but the native printer drivers on Windows platforms provide closer integration with the operating system. For example, you can choose a specific font used for print jobs.

PDTs provide great flexibility because you can customize them to produce the printed output you want without modifying the host application. PDTs also provide better printing performance than using the native printer drivers on Windows platforms. A PDT is customized by changing a printer definition file (PDF) and then compiling.

If you are using a Host On-Demand client downloaded from a server, the PDT needed for a printer session is stored on the server and downloaded with the client. If you are working with a locally-installed client, the PDT is stored on the client workstation.

For more information, refer to the Host Printing Reference.


A Host On-Demand 3270 printer session emulates an IBM 3287 printer in either LU Type 1 (SCS) or LU Type 3 mode. You do not have to specify which type of LU is supported by a particular session; the LU-type is configured at the host system and Host On-Demand detects the type automatically when the session is established.