The FM (Form Message) command restarts a program that has been suspended because it has tried to open a file whose FORMID attribute is set. Alternatively, the program can be terminated with a DS (Discontinue) command, or the FORMID attribute can be altered by an FA (File Attribute) command.

The FM command specifies the output unit to which the file is to be assigned. The command does not override the existing forms message on a device. It lets a print job requiring forms to be temporarily assigned to any available printer. When the job terminates, the printer is saved and the FORMID, if any, is left unchanged. You can use the RY (Ready) command to restore a unit from a saved status. Usually, if the FM command assigns a task to a printer whose FORMID and TRAINID do not match the requirements of the printer file, the printing task is discontinued.

An FM command is rejected if the designated device does not exist or does not match the KIND attribute of the file. The system generates the following message to indicate the expected devices:

FM REJECTED, REQUIRES <device list>

The system reissues the RSVP message that requested the FM command. For a more detailed discussion of the FORMID attribute, refer to the File Attributes Reference Manual.

Syntax

Explanation

The <mix number> FM <device type> <unit number> command specifies the task to be assigned to the device. The device must be LP (line printer).

Example

In this example, the W (Waiting Mix Entries) command shows that a program was suspended because the specified FORMID could not be located. The FM command restarts the program, directing the file to the line printer whose unit number is 4. Refer to PS CONFIGURE and PS DEVICES for related discussions.

W

---Job-Task-Pri-Elapsed-------- 1 WAITING ENTRY ---------
   1126/1127   80   1:13 *SYSTEM/BACKUP
               REQUIRES FM:"TWOPART", LP

1127 FM LP4