Layout

Layout specifies a single line of text, and is the record formatting command that is synonymous with the traditional Printline command. In the formatting of line data and unformatted ASCII, a layout is normally the output generated by one record in the print file. However, layouts and print records are not the same.

LAYOUT commands in the PPFA page definition define the number and position of layouts on a page. Each record in the print file is written to a single layout on a page. Usually, one print record is written to each layout. However, control information in the print data can specify two or more print records be written to the same layout, providing overprinting. Controls also can specify that print records skip layouts. For example, a print record may skip the remaining layouts on a page and print instead on the first layout of a new page.