The software makes it possible to send a report to several destinations, in particular to all visible Windows(TM) printers on the network linked to the client workstation. You can also send reports to files or other destinations. To facilitate the choice and default destination assignment, it is recommended to centralize the description of these globally accessible destinations in this table.

Located in this table are the destinations, identified by a code, with the characteristics making it possible to have a sophisticated process for the choice and default assignment. You can also define if a Crystal Reports(TM) print server is used.

NoteSince release 2025 R1/V12.0.37, Sage X3 allows you to set up load balancing for print jobs. To activate load balancing for print jobs, define more than one print server as a destination in the APRSRVLST table. If only one print server is defined as a destination in the APRSRVLST table, load balancing is not activated and the function behaves as before release 2025 R1/V12.0.37. This means the defined print server is selected as a destination. For more information, read the documentation on how Load Balancing works here.

Prerequisites

See also Refer to documentation Implementation

Screen management

Code (field COD)

This code identifies the current record in a unique way.
Description (field DES)

Title associated with the previous code.
Short description (field SHO)

Short title over 10 alphanumeric characters.

Entry screen

The entry of the destinations is carried out on a single tab. Firstly the destination code is entered, then the principal characteristics are defined.

As well as its description and short description,, an Active flag and an access code to allow the filtering by user of the usage rights for the destination, the output type is found, and this can have the following values:

  • the pre-view (nothing else to enter)
  • the normal printer where additional characteristics are entered
  • the message and the file, for which a single format must be entered (in a list defined by local menu 91, comprising notably Word (TM), different versions of Excel (TM), Lotus 123 (TM), HTML, RTF format, ASCII, csv format...)
  • printer/file (the printer is defined to generate a file with a .prn extension, which contains all the code to be sent to the printer). The export format is then entered if necessary, then the Crystal Reports print server, and the printer in the form of a network name.

In addition, it is possible to specify the name of the destination file or the name of the directory where the file is created.

Since release 2025 R1/V12.0.37, it is possible to add several print servers as destinations using the APRSRVLST table. If more than a single print server is added as a destination, load balancing is activated to manage the print jobs.

In addition it is possible to assign a destination type. This type, defined by local menu 22, possesses the following characteristics:

  • the first is a catch-all type (all reports are likely to be sent to destinations of this type).
  • the other types make it possible to establish specific categories (bar-code printers, fax, etc.), which can only be used by certain reports. Indeed, in the report dictionary, it is possible to define an output type dedicated to a report by using the same local menu. If this type is not the first, then there must be a link between the type assigned to the report and the destination type used.

Finally, it is possible to give a default value for the number of copies to be sent to the destination used.

Active (field ENAFLG)

Select this check box to activate the current record.

Disabled records keep their content and setup but cannot be used by recalling their code:

  • On other records such as documents and settings
  • On mass processes

The authorizations for a given function can prohibit the creation of an active record. In this case, the check box is disabled by default. It can only be modified by an authorized user or through a signature workflow.
Access code (field ACS)

This access code makes it possible to prohibit access to the current record for some users.

If the field is populated, only users that have this access code with read access rights (and write access rights respectively) can view (or with write access rights, modify) the record.

The execution right associated with the destination controls the right to use this destination for the printing of a report.
Output type (field PRT)

It defines the destination of the report that is going to be calculated. If this field is assigned, most of the information of the next boxes is displayed. It should be noted that a destination code corresponds either to a printer, a file, a message, or a file containing the printing flow specified for a given type of printer.
Destination file (field PRTZPL)

This field is used to specify the name of the file generated for a ZPL type printer or the name of the directory in which the file is created. It must be indicated with the complete hard-coded path or in a formula (in the form = expression).

If the file ends with one of these two characters '/' or '\', this latter is considered as a warehouse directory for the files and in this case, the file generated in the PAT sub-directory of the folder is copied to the directory. The name of the file to be used is made of the concatenation of the tree following elements: the code of the ZPL template, the number of the current process (adxuid(1)), and the current date and time of the processing server, generated under the format YYMMDDhhmmss.

If the field Server is entered, the user must specify a path available from the print server (for example: file://machine/directory/file).

If the field Server is not entered, you can specify a path in one of the following formats:

  • machine:port@path
  • /path 
  • c:\path

If the file name contains an "@", the file is copied by a system command from the processing server or from the customer.

In any case, it is important to set up the access rights to the machines correctly. 

In the Print function, this file name is suggested by default after the selection of the report destination.
Printer (field PRTNAM)

The printer name defined here will be proposed when the printing of the report. It must correspond to the name of a printer defined in the Windows configuration panel.
Export format (field PRTFMT)

When the issue is made to file, different formats are available for selection here. This list of formats depends on the version of Crystal Reports, it is likely to evolve with time.
Type (field PRTNAT)

This field is used to assign a type to the destination. This type, defined by local menu 22, possesses the following characteristics :

  • the first is a catch-all type (all reports are likely to be sent to destinations of this type).
  • the other types make it possible to establish specific categories (bar-code printers, fax, etc.), which can only be used by certain reports. Indeed, in the report dictionary, it is possible to define an output type dedicated to a report by using the same local menu. If this type is not the first, then there must be a link between the type assigned to the report and the destination type used.
Number of copies (field NBRCPY)

This is used, in case of a printer output, to give a default value to the number of copies to be performed.
Assembled copies (field ASSCPY)

If several copies are requested, and the box is checked, the pages are assembled before printing the next exemplar. Otherwise, each page is repeated. For instance, for the printing of two copies of three pages :

  • if this box is checked, the page order will be 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3
  • if this box is not checked, the page order will be 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3

Grid Servers

Name (field SVRNAM)
Name of the print server.
Server (field MACNAM)
MAC address of the print server.
Port (field PORT)
Port of the print server.
Profile(field PROFILE)

Profile associated with the print server.
Unavailability (field NOTAVATIM)
Downtime in minutes of a print server. The downtime defines the time between tests to check if a print server is available or not. By default, the Unavailability value corresponds to 5 minutes.
Unavailable (field NOTAVA)
Availability status of a print server. If unavailable, then print server is not considered by the load balancing algorithm until the end of the timeout defined tin the Unavailability field.
Deactivated (field NOTENABLE)
Checkbox to declare a print server as deactivated. A print server can be deactivated manually by any administrator for any reason deemed worthy (like maintenance, for example).

Load balancing method for print jobs


When a report is executed and action button PRINT is clicked, the load balancing method selects a print server from the APRSRVLST table as a destination.

When load balancing is enabled, the following algorithm is used by Sage X3 to determine the print server to be used as a destination:

  • It filters the print servers defined in the APRSRVLST table to find the print servers declared as activated.

  • Checks if there is more than one activated print server.

    • If the number of activated print servers is just one, the only print server is selected as the destination and the process is concluded.

    • If there is more than one activated print server, the load balancing method continues to be applied to find the best suitable print server as destination.

  • Checks the memorized last used print server to select the next print server on the list. The load balancing method selects the next print server on the APRSRVLST table based on the last used print server.

    • If the next print server in the list is available, it is defined as the destination and memorized as the last print server used.

    • If the next print server in the list is unavailable, the load balancing method continues to be applied to find the best suitable print server as destination. The unavailable print server is marked as unavailable for a certain delay with the Unavailable field.

  • If the next print server is not the last element of the list, the load balancing method will continue to try to find a suitable print server as the destination until it reaches the end of the print server list.

  • If the load balancing method reaches the last element of the print server list, Sage X3 throws an error mentioning no print servers are available to be selected as the destination.

Specific Buttons

Copy

Error messages

In addition to the generic error messages, the following messages can appear during the entry :

Printer not available

A path has been entered for a printer that is not recognised by the system

Tables used

See also Refer to documentation Implementation