Configure an FCB resource

Complete the steps in this procedure to create an FCB resource.

The forms control buffer (FCB) defines the page layout for output sent to a printer. FCBs apply to laser and impact printers. A default FCB is associated with each form used for printed output.

  1. In the FCB Resource dialog box, enter the resource Name, Description, and any Comments.
    The FCB name is important since the FCB selection from the output process or business rule action will select an FCB resource based on the Document Property field used. In most cases the Document.Property.Form Name field is used as the variable in selecting the FCB resource. For example, if you receive a file from the mainframe via RJE the PDIR record is processed and any form name found is mapped to the Form Name document property. Then during conversion, the corresponding FCB resource will be used to format the report. A PDIR form name of CHKS would expect that there was an FCB resource defined named CHKS and would apply the CHKS FCB resource. If the action cannot find the FCB resource it will apply STD.
  2. In the Printer Family list, use the check boxes to determine if the resource will used for all printer families or only for certain printer families.
  3. In the Data Type list, use the check boxes to determine if the resource will be used for all data types or only for certain data types.
  4. If you want to import the FCB resource data, under Import Resource Data, click Browse and select the appropriate resource file.
    The resource data will show in the Resource Editor box.
  5. In the Lines/Inch list, determine the line spacing.
    You can change the value to 8 to tighten the line spacing and enable more data to fit on a page. The default is 6 lines per inch.
    You can set the top margin by reviewing the Lines/Inch value and adding a channel stop at the desired line number. For example, if you want a half-inch top margin and the FCB is configured with the defaults (6 lines per inch, 66 lines per page), you would set channel stop 1 at line 3.
  6. In the Printable lines/page box, enter the number of lines that will print per page.
    Example For example, if there are 66 Lines/Page and you enter 60 Printable lines/page, then you will print lines 1 through 60 on each page of the document.
    You can set the bottom margin by changing the Printable lines/page value. By default the Printable lines/page value is equal to the Lines/page value. For example, if you want a half-inch bottom margin and the FCB is configured with the defaults (6 lines per inch, 66 lines per page), you would set Printable lines/page value to 63 lines per page.
  7. In the Lines/page box, determine the page length.
    The page length is calculated by multiplying the length of the paper (usually 11 inches) by the number of lines per inch (usually 6). The default is 66 lines per page. This will change the size of the FCB that is sent with the data.
  8. To add a channel stop, click Add.
    This opens the Add Channel dialog box.
  9. Enter the channel stop and line number, and then click OK.
    Channel stops must be entered as a decimal value from 1 to 12. To enter hexadecimal values for A, B, and C, enter 10, 11, and 12 respectively. The hexadecimal value is written correctly as 0A, 0B, and 0C when the FCB file is saved.
    Channel stops are used to define vertical spacing. When a printer encounters a command to advance to a channel stop, the print head moves to the specified line and the data is printed. Channel stop 1 usually indicates the top of the form or the first line where the printer will begin printing.
  10. To change the FCB’s sort order, click the Channel or Line Number column headings.
    When you click a column heading, the data of both columns will sort in ascending order based on the column selected.
  11. Click OK.