The only problem I have with these instructions is the need to go into the printer (driver) properties and change the printer input data mode from RAW to TEXT. That's easily done, but the computer in question will have both this DOS app on it and several regular Windows apps. Presumably the printer mode will have to be manually switched back and forth depending upon the application doing the current printing job. That's a lot to expect of a clerk who doesn't have a whole lot of computer savvy. If the Googled app does the whole thing "seamlessly," i.e., it makes the necessary changes automatically depending upon the application that is printing, it's worth it.
Again, many thanks, Fred Holmes At 01:32 PM 6/7/2007, Michael Drabick wrote: >It actualy links the lpt1 port to the printer you want to use and it goes >through the print drivers so it is useable by the printer >See this site for more details. ><http://www.decompile.com/dataflex/tips/usb_printer.htm>http://www.decompile.com/dataflex/tips/usb_printer.htm > >Fred Holmes wrote: >>The below instructions, if I understand them, just "connect" the DOS >>application directly to the printer port (LPT1). But the DOS program only >>knows how to print to a "DOS" printer, i.e., a printer that has the >>rasterizing CPU in the printer, i.e., has, e.g., HPPCL "in the printer." >>Modern printers are only raster printers, and the rasterizing is done by an >>application (.dll perhaps?) resident on the computer, using the computer's >>CPU chip and memory. I need to get the DOS application logically connected >>to the rasterizer, and _not_ connected directly to the printer. The >>rasterizer application presumably is already connected to the printer port. >> >>Fred Holmes >> >>At 12:02 PM 6/7/2007, Michael Drabick wrote: >>>Fred, >>>Save your money. >>> >>>If you capture a printer port anything printed to LPT1 will go to the >>>printer you desire. I have done it in the past. It is easy to set up. >>>I found these instructions which look correct, I have not tried it. >>> >>><http://support.riverdeep.net/techtips_detail.asp?id=156>http://support.riverdeep.net/techtips_detail.asp?id=156 >>>Windows® 2000/XP >>> * Log into Windows® as an Administrator. >>> * Click the Start button and choose Run. The Run dialog will appear. >>> * Type CMD into the Open field and click the OK button. The command >>> prompt window will appear. >>> * Type NET USE LPT1 \\SERVER\PRINTER /PERSISTENT:YES and press Enter. >>> Replace server with the name of the server and printer with the name of the >>> printer. If necessary, contact the network administrator to confirm this >>> information. >>> * Type EXIT and press the Enter key. The command prompt window will >>> close. >>> * On Windows® 2000, click the Start button, choose Settings, and choose >>> Printers. On Windows® XP, click the Start button and choose Printers and >>> Faxes. >>> * Click the Add a Printer link. The Add Printer Wizard will appear. >>> * Click the Next button. >>> * Ensure that the Local Printer Connected To This Computer setting is >>> selected. >>> * Ensure that the Automatically Detect And Install My Plug-and-Play >>> Printer setting is not selected. >>> * Click the Next button to continue. >>> * Choose LPT1 from the Use The Following Port drop-down menu. >>> * Click the Next button to continue. >>> * Choose the printer's manufacturer from the Manufacturer field. >>> * Choose the printer's model from the Printers field. >>> * Click the Next button to continue. >>> * Type the desired name for the printer in the Printer Name field. >>> * Choose Yes when prompted to make this driver the default. >>> * Click the Next button to continue. >>> * Choose whether to share this printer as desired. >>> * Click the Next button to continue. >>> * Click the Next button to print a test page. >>> * Click the Finish button to complete this procedure. >>> * Close any open windows to return to the desktop. >>> * Print from the desired program. The program should print correctly. >>>See also Microsofts page "How to print to a network printer from an >>>MS-DOS-based program in Windows XP" >>><http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314499>http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314499 >>> >>>My google search: >>><http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=capture+lpt1+printer+port&btnG=Google+Search>http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=capture+lpt1+printer+port&btnG=Google+Search >>> >>> >>>Mike >>> >>> >>>Fred Holmes wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>>Can anyone recommend a particular solution to printing from a DOS >>>>legacy application running in a console box under Windows XP? >>>> >>>>The top Google hit is: >>>> >>>>http://www.printfil.com/english.htm >>>> >>>>I don't mind the price (about $100), but I would like to get the easiest >>>>to use, and something that really works, based on a recommendation from >>>>someone that has actually used it for production work. I'm not >>>>interested in workarounds that take a lot of computer savvy to >>>>implement. I need to set this up for a "clerk" and not >>>>have to be a "help desk." >>>> >>>>Thanks, >>>> >>>>Fred Holmes >>>> > >-- >Mike Drabick >HDH Construction Consultants, Inc >200 Harry S. Truman Parkway >Suite 220 >Annapolis, MD 21401 >410-571-1100 >410-571-1177 Fax ************************************************************************ * ==> QUICK LIST-COMMAND REFERENCE - Put the following commands in <== * ==> the body of an email & send 'em to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <== * Join the list: SUBSCRIBE COMPUTERGUYS-L Your Name * Too much mail? Try Daily Digests command: SET COMPUTERGUYS-L DIGEST * Tired of the List? Unsubscribe command: SIGNOFF COMPUTERGUYS-L * New address? From OLD address send: CHANGE COMPUTERGUYS-L YourNewAddress * Need more help? 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