To save IBM i spooled files, you have a few options:
Using Native Commands:
Save All Spooled Files on the System:
Change the defaults for the system save using the SAVE menu. Go to GO SAVE and select option 20 to define save system and user data defaults.
You can use the Save menu option 20 to change the default values for the GO SAVE command, menu options 21, 22, and 23. This option simplifies the task of setting your save parameters.
In order to change the defaults, you must have *CHANGE authority for both the QUSRSYS library and the QSRDFLTS data area in the QUSRSYS library.
When you enter the GO SAVE command, then select menu option 20, the system displays the default parameter values for menu options 21, 22, and 23. If this is the first time you have used option 20 from the Save menu, the system displays the IBM-supplied default parameter values. You can change any or all of the parameter values to suit your needs. For example, you can specify additional tape devices or change the message queue delivery default. The system saves the new default values in data area QSRDFLTS in library QUSRSYS. The system creates the QSRDFLTS data area only after you change the IBM-supplied default values.
Once you define new values, you no longer need to worry about which, if any, options to change on subsequent save operations. You can review your new default options and then press Enter to start the save with the new default parameters.
If you have multiple, distributed system with the same save parameters on each system, this option provides an additional benefit. You can define the parameters from the Save menu, using option 20 on one system. Then, save the QSRDFLTS data area, distribute the saved data area to the other system, and restore it.
Change “Spooled file data” to *ALL and press <ENTER>.
The next save operation using options 21 (Entire system), 22 (System data only), or 23 (All user data) will include the spooled file data.
To restore the saved spooled files, use the RESTORE menu and select the appropriate option based on how the data was saved.
Using the BACKUP Menu:
Consider changing the command defaults for the SAVLIB command to SPLFDTA (*ALL):
Run this command to change the systenm defauklt to always save spool data:
CHGCMDDFT CMD(QSYS/SAVLIB) NEWDFT('SPLFDTA(*ALL)')
Exporting to PC:
From the Select Action menu, you can:
Select “Export as ASCII Text” to convert the spooled file to an ASCII text file.
Select “Export as PDF to client file system” to convert the spooled file to a PDF.
Select “Export as Raw” to copy the spooled file to the PC without conversion
Using SPLFDTA Parameter:
You can use the SPLFDTA parameter on the SAVLIB, SAVOBJ, RSTLIB, and RSTOBJ CL commands to save and restore spooled files without losing print fidelity, attributes, or identity
NOTE: These techniques also work on the old iSeries and AS400 systems.