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.htmhttp://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=156http://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/314499http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314499
My google search:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=enq=capture+lpt1+printer+portbtnG=Google+Searchhttp://www.google.com/search?hl=enq=capture+lpt1+printer+portbtnG=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
