Barr Host Communications Suite implements several services that run under Microsoft Windows. Starting and stopping these services is an essential part of operating the Barr Host Communications Suite. To perform these tasks, you need a basic understanding of how services work.
BHCS SpoolCore service
A service, in Microsoft Windows, is a program that is available to run whenever the computer is running the operating system. It does not require a user to be logged on. Services are programs that operate independently of their windows. Typically, a window displays when you start a program, and when you close the window, the program stops. In these situations, it is obvious whether or not a program is running by the display or absence of its window.
Unlike most programs, a Microsoft Windows service does not typically present a user interface for user interaction. To determine whether or not the service is running, you must check the status of the service from the Services utility. The Services utility displays the status of services managed by the Windows SCM Acronym for Service Control Manager. The part of Windows that launches background tasks. Services have the following unique characteristics when compared to a typical, interactive user program:
Services continue to operate in the background, even when there is no user logged on to the system.
Services can be started automatically when the operating system starts. Likewise, they can be started manually by another program, or user, from the Services utility.
You can use the Windows Control Panel to determine which services are running, start and stop services, and configure services for automatic startup.
The Barr Host Communications Suite's primary components are the SpoolCore service, which controls spool operation, and the Spool Window, which allows the user to interact with the SpoolCore service.
The SpoolCore service does not rely on the Spool Window to operate. Thus, it does not stop when you exit the Spool Window. To stop spool operation, you must stop the SpoolCore service.
The BHCS SpoolCore service can be controlled from the Spool Window or the Services utility.
The SpoolCore service automates, routes, and controls data for spool operation. This is a specific service for the Barr spool. For SPOOL to receive and print documents, this service must be started. When the SpoolCore service is started, printers and documents display in the Spool Window's printer and document lists, and spool functions become available on the toolbars and menus. The SpoolCore service will run until you stop the service from the Spool Window or Services utility, or you turn off the computer. When the SpoolCore service is stopped, the Spool Window's printer and document lists are cleared and spool functions are unavailable.
By default, the installation sets the Print Utility service to start automatically. The Print Utility service will start the SpoolCore service. If you need to start the SpoolCore service manually, you can do so from the Spool Window or the Services utility. Manually starting the SpoolCore service is necessary if you have made configuration changes that require you to stop, then restart the service.
If the SpoolCore service is not already started, BHCS automatically starts it when you attempt a process that requires the service. The following processes will start the SpoolCore service.
Starting or restarting your computer.
Opening the Spool Window.
Running the Print Utility or Configuration Utility from the Start menu.
Running Make Banner or Make FCB from the Start menu. (These utilities require the Spool Window to be active. If the Spool Window is not active when you start Make Banner or Make FCB, they will start the Spool Window, which then starts the SpoolCore service.)
Starting the NJE service. (Jobs cannot be sent to or received from NJE hosts unless the SpoolCore service is started.)
Starting the RJE service. (Jobs cannot be sent to or received from RJE hosts unless the SpoolCore service is started.)
Receiving an LPR job while the LPD service is started.
To prevent documents from printing or being routed if you
inadvertently start the SpoolCore service, you can stop
all printers before
you stop the service, configure
the spool to stop all printers at spool startup, or disable
individual printers at spool startup.
If you do not stop the SpoolCore service before you attempt to the Barr Host Communications Suite, the setup program will automatically stop the service.
You must manually stop the SpoolCore service and remove the
Barr Host Communications Suite before attempting to the software.
The SpoolCore service must be started for you to perform the following tasks.
Sending and receiving documents.
Viewing the Spool Window�s printer and document lists. (The lists are cleared when the service is stopped.)
Changing document or printer attributes. (You cannot change attributes when documents and printers are not displayed.)
Changing the sort order.
Displaying Retain Window.
To install new versions of the Barr Host Communications Suite software or software modules, the SpoolCore service must be manually stopped. If you do not stop the SpoolCore service before you run the setup program, the setup program will stop the service for you.
Most spool tasks require that the SpoolCore service is started. However, you can perform a few tasks from the Spool Window when the SpoolCore service is stopped. (You also can perform these tasks when the service is operating.)
Changing column settings.
Using Make Banner or Make FCB, if you start them from the Spool Window's Tools menu.
The Channel service enables you to receive documents from BARR/PRINT CHANNEL. BARR/PRINT CHANNEL is a standalone product that must be purchased separately. You must start this service to receive documents from BARR/PRINT CHANNEL.
The LPD service enables your host to receive data from any TCP/IP-based host through LPR/LPD. This is a service for the TCP/IP module. You must start this service to operate LPD.
The Message service provides a message logging service for all components of the Barr Host Communications Suite. This service is started automatically by the other Barr services.
If you manually stop
and restart the
Message service while the Spool
Window is open, you must reopen
the Spool Window for the Spool Window to update.
The NJE service enables sending print output, reports, and job data sets anywhere. This is a service for the NJE module. You must start the service so NJE communications can begin. To end NJE communications, you need to stop the service.
Typically, you must manually start and stop the NJE service. However, if the SpoolCore service is started, and a job destined for an NJE host is received, the SpoolCore service will start the NJE service. To prevent documents from being routed to an NJE host if you inadvertently start the SpoolCore service, you can stop all printers before you stop the service, configure the spool to stop all printers at spool startup, or disable individual printers at spool startup.
The Print Utility service enables sending files from disk to the spool. This is a service for Print Utility. The default behavior of the Print Utility service is to start automatically when you turn on your computer. The service is idle until it detects jobs that are available for spooling. This detection can happen through manual or automatic spooling control. The Print Utility service will continue to operate until you stop or pause the service, or until you turn off the computer.
The Print Utility service automatically starts the SpoolCore service. If you do not want the SpoolCore service to automatically start when you turn on your computer, you must configure the Print Utility service to start manually.
The RJE service enables sending and receiving data between your mainframe and remote workstations. This is a service for the RJE module. You must start the service so RJE communications can begin. To end RJE communications, you need to stop the service or disconnect from the host.
Typically, you must manually start and stop the RJE service. However, if the SpoolCore service is started, and a job destined for an RJE host is received, the SpoolCore service will start the RJE service. If you inadvertently start the SpoolCore service, you can stop documents from being routed to an RJE host by stopping all spool printers before stopping the service, or by configuring the spool to stop all spool printers at startup.
Connecting to the host from the RJE Console.
Configuring the RJE port when you define a Windows printer.
Using RJE diagnostics.
The Socket service enables your host to receive data from any TCP/IP-enabled host through an IP socket. This is a service for the TCP/IP module. You must start this service to operate TCP/IP (socket).
The Retain Purge service manages the Retain and Retain Archive folders. It also reads CPU and Disk Usage. This service should start when Windows is started, and should never be stopped.
To spool files in Windows, the Barr Host Communications Suite uses the Print Spooler service. For BHCS to print documents, the service must be started. For more information about Windows services, open the Services utility and click Help.