Printer file (PRTF) Design using Report Layout Utility (RLU) in AS400 | iSeries

Purpose of RLU:

• To design a report by defining it on the display, saving it as a DDS source, and creating a printer file.

• Printer file is the same as of spool file which is used for reporting purposes.

Starting RLU:

• Type STRRLUand press F4.

• Enter the source physical file name, library name, and the RLU (printer file) name that we are going to create.

• We can also specify the page width. By default, it will remain as 132.

Start Report Layout Utility

• To start RLU from PDM, select option 19 (Change using RLU) for the selected file from the display.

Creating record format and fields:

• Each row will be defined as a record in a printer file.

• Type DR (Define Record) on the sequence line to create a record.

• If we want more than one line to be a record, then use DRR at starting line number and end line number.

• In the below screen, highlighted rows are treated as single records. We can see a '+' sign at end of the rows which denotes that the particular row will come under the above record format RCD002.

• Use F18 and then F10 to rename the record format.

• To add fields for the record, we need a field row for that. type VF (View Field) on the row/record format.

Creating a Variable:

• Press F11 on the view field's row and type the name of the field, length, and field types, then press Enter.

• The defined variable field will look like the highlighted.

• length of data prompt

• 1 to 378 for an alphanumeric field
• 1 to 31 for a numeric field

• We can also use DF for defining a field.

• To View/Change the attributes of the field put the cursor on the field and press F23 for field attributes.

• To delete a field, use shift + F4.

Creating a constant:

• Type some text and then use DC on the sequence line to create a constant.

• Some of the default constant keywords are
• *date
• *time
• *pagnbr
• *datesys

Adding database fields to RLU:

• Press F10 and select the database file and field you want on the report.

• Select the fields from the file we want to include. Once included, the file fields will be shown at the bottom.

• Type VF on the sequence line to get a variable field line.

• Type 1 or 1c for the first field, 2 or 2c for the second field, and so on in the FLD line.

• C stands for the field heading and it will be placed in another record format.

Adding Sample data fields:

• Use SD on the sequence line to add sample data fields.

Limitations:

• Some attributes specified are not reflected at the time of generation of the spool file.

• E.g., Bold or Underline specified on any field or line does not get reflected on the spool file.

• The entire field is dropped if the field is outside the report width boundaries.

Example PRTF designing in AS400 using RLU (Report Layout Utility)

Report Requirement:

Step 1:

• Create a printer file and open it using the STRRLU command or use option 19 from the display.

• We can split the report into 4 record formats.

• Header 1

• Header 2

• Detail

• Footer

Step 2:

• Create a record format Header 1 by typing DR on the sequence line.

• Once Defined, type VF (View Fields) to define labels and fields.

• To create a label, type the label data inside quotes and press enter.

• To pass data to these fields, we have to define variables. Press F11 next to the label view field's row to define the variables.

Step 3:

• In the Header 2 requirement, we have only the label field's data to be displayed.

• Create a new record format using DR on the sequence line and name it as 'Header 2'.

• Type VF on the sequence line to define the label fields. Type the label data inside quotes and press enter.

Step 4:

• This is the important phase of the report design. We have to define database fields to our report.

• Press F10 and select the database file and field you want on the report.

• Once the file was selected, we can see the selected database file fields at the bottom of the RLU screen.

• Now to place the database fields in the correct position. Create a new record format (Detail) and view field for this.

• Select and enter the field numbers to the position where we want to use and Press enter.

• The final result will be shown below

Step 5:

• In Footer requirement, we have to create a label ‘Total No of student’ and variable of numeric data length of 3.

• Our final report design will look like

Step 6:

• Now, write an RPGLE code to load the database records and perform the logic to our printer file.

• RPGLE Code:

• We have used an OFLIND (Overflow indicator). If page overloads, we have to write header again like moving to next page.

• Compile and call the RPGLE program.

• Check in our spooled files, WRKJOB à opt 4. Our report will be present.