Defining a synonym for the print function key in VM

Here is a customization technique that allows a user to print an object without exiting QMF. The first two steps of this technique show how to define a command synonym for printing; the final step shows how to customize your Print function key. This technique can be used to invoke a local print utility when the Print function key is pressed.

1. Create a REXX exec that locally prints the current object. Here is a sample, called PRTQMF, using the QMF callable interface:

   /* PRTQMF REXX EXEC for local print utility called MPRINT */
   CALL DSQCI "PRINT PROC (PRINTER=MYPIRNT1"
   mprint MYPRINT1 ADMLIST A

   This example assumes you have a MYPRINT1 nickname defined and that it creates a file with a file type of ADMLIST.

   Some QMF users prefer to bypass the PRINT command and simply export the object for local printing. In this case your exec looks something like:

   /* PRTQMF REXX EXEC for local DSPRINT *?
   CALL DSQCIX "EXPORT PROC TO MYPROC"
   mprint MYPROC PROC A

2. Create a QMF command synonym for printing. Here is a sample query that creates a command synonym PRTQMF to execute the PRTQMF exec.

   INSERT INTO COMMAND_SYNONYMS (VERB, SYNONYM_DEFINITION, REMARKS)
   VALUES('PRTQMF', 'CMS PRTQMF', 'Print QMF Proc')

3. You can now customize a function key on the procedure panel to use this command synonym. You need to customize a key for each panel. a query to customize function key 4 on the procedure panel would look like this:

   INSERT INTO PFKY_TABLE (PANEL,ENTRY_TYPE,NUMBER,PF-SETTING)
   VALUES('PROC','K' 4, 'PRTQMF')

   This example assumes that the user's profile has the PFKEYS column value set to PFKY_TABLE, the name of the function key customization table. (After running the query, QMF must be restarted to implement the function key change.)