SAP Note 17054 - How to copy or change a device type

Symptom:

Problems with copying a device type

Cause and prerequisites

Various

Solution
Copying a device type:

Call transaction SPAD (spool administration). The initial screen contains a menu path "Utilities -> Copy device type". (As of Release 4.0A: "Utilities -> For dev. types -> Copy device type").
IMPORTANT: Do NOT use the "Create with template" menu item under Device types. This will only create a blank device type.
Select the "Utilities -> Copy device type" item and, in the subsequent dialog box enter the existing device type name as the first parameter and the new name as the second. The new name should not exist yet.
You must use a name from the customer name range: the name must begin with "Z". Otherwise your new device type could be overwritten by an SAP device type during the next upgrade. The device type name should only consist of UPPER CASE LETTERS and should not contain any special characters since otherwise, problems could occur, for example, when this new device type is used as a reference in a printer initialization.

Once you have entered the names, press "Proceed" to start copying. The system should now ask you whether you want to create the new device type. If a different message appears, this means that the device type name probably already exists. Make sure you really want to overwrite the existing device type; if not, select another name.
Please also remember to change the device type used for output devices that have already been defined.

Changing a customer device type

You can change the formatting, the print control replacement, and the printer character set from within the spool administration transaction.

Modifying a format type

You can now modify the device type you just created. Call transaction SPAD and select menu item "Formatting for device type". In the subsequent screen, enter the name of your device type (starting with Z...) and the formatting you want to change. Formats that start with A-W are used by SAPscript. Formats starting with X are used for list output. Customer-defined formats should begin with Z. For more details, please refer to the online documentation.
As of Release 4.0A, you select your new device type in change mode and then choose formats or print controls.
The online documentation also describes how to change the print controls and the character sets.
Refer to Note 17895 for instrucstions on how to create new format
types.

Changing an SAP device type
Don't! Even if you "only" want to add your own formats, you should always make a copy of the SAP device type and modify the copy.
THESE CHANGES DISAPPEAR AFTER AN UPGRADE.