How to print from Dos to USB printer
Donald Leask
I have a program that only has the option to print to LPT ports - client has
erroneously bought an HP PSC 1200 USB printer - is there a way / program to
direct this printing to the USB printer?
Thanks,
Donald Leask
Johannesburg, South Africa
Ian Boys
Ian Boys
DTE
"Donald Leask" <don...@softdown.net> wrote in message
news:d4i3mq$5tb$1...@ctb-nnrp2.saix.net...
Donald Leask
Klas Engwall
>Thanks Ian - would you reccommend simply writing a batch file?
With the /persistent:yes switch Ian recommended you only need to do it
once - unless someone removes the redirection manually.
Regards,
Klas
-------
klas dot engwall at engwall dot com
http://www.engwall.com/clipper/
The LFN Library for Clipper
The LanMan Library for Clipper
The NFPAT1A Timeslice release patch for the Nanforum Toolkit
Mikey
just visit this site and all your problems are solved,,
we have bought this program and i must say that program is more than best
of all
it print on all USB printers using standrad ESC/P2 commands and even prints
to PDF, e-mail, etc ..
licence costs nothing in compare how much problems we all had with USB
printers ...
you can try it if u don't believe..
http://www.geocities.com/dosprint/
You dont have to change your old reports ,, just send them on printer using
dosprint command and here it goes ..
MAD
- There is, and it's suggested by other post. BUT you CANNOT keep
the ESCape CODES formatting... i wish! I had the same problem with a
DOS app when the USB-Only printers came arround... i tried some
solutions BUT i can only recommend DOSPRINT (there are OTHER dosprint
utilities arround... THIS is the one i recommend: www.dosprint.com ).
I easely adapted my code to the Dosprint "program call" and created
Full USB compatible app without changing any formatting ESC codes.
Klas Engwall
> - There is, and it's suggested by other post. BUT you CANNOT keep
>the ESCape CODES formatting... i wish! I had the same problem with a
>DOS app when the USB-Only printers came arround...
That isn't entirely true. You are talking about GDI printers, not USB
printers. GDI printers have had their intelligence removed (similar to
politicians <g>) and added to the PC software instead. USB printers
just use a different interface from parallell or serial printers.
Inside they may have for example a PCL or Postscript interpreter. Or
they may be GDI printers in addition to being USB printers.
For example, IIRC, the HP 1010, 1012 and 1015 all have USB connectors.
The 1010 and 1012 are GDI printers but the 1015 has a PCL interpreter
(although it lacks Arial and a few other expected fonts, which may
cause unpleasant surprises for those trying to use it).
So the 1015 can be used from Clipper, connected via USB, if it is
converted into a network printer. This can be done the way Ian
suggested or it can be done by letting a file server or a suitable
print server device share it.
Ross McKenzie
Engwall) wrote:
> GDI printers have had their intelligence removed (similar to
>politicians <g>)
Klas,
I have to challenge that statement. What evidence do you have to say
that politicians ever had any intelligence to be removed? <VBG>
Regards,
Ross McKenzie
ValuSoft
Melbourne Australia
valusoft AT optushome DOT com DOT au
Almost another year older.....<g> HBTM.
Davide Guolo
> is there a way / program to
> direct this printing to the USB printer?
you may want to have a look at Printfil also.
More info and a free trial is available for download at www.printfil.com
Kind regards
Davide Guolo
--------------------------------------------------------------
Printfil - Windows Printing System for Applications
http://www.guolo.com/printfil
Odbc4All - Connection to ODBC Data Sources for any Application
http://www.guolo.com/odbc4all
--------------------------------------------------------------
Jan Bucek
> Share it and then do a NET USE LPT1 \\PCName\PrinterName /Persistent:yes
>
I have tried sooner, it doesn't work for me. I have W2K/Czech and HP
PSC1210; NET USE performed O.K., but any print from DOS app to LPT1
failed - Errmsg: "Printing of local document older version to printer
USB001 failed. Retry or cancel?". Retry failed too.
It is of course possible that NET USE LPTx ... works for other
printers.
Jan Bucek
Klas Engwall
>> GDI printers have had their intelligence removed (similar to
>>politicians <g>)
>
>I have to challenge that statement. What evidence do you have to say
>that politicians ever had any intelligence to be removed? <VBG>
AFAIK it is on the checklist for the first party assignment. Many pass
the test on the first try, but those who don't are sent to a place
called The Conference Center where the procedure is performed. <XBG>
Klas Engwall
>> Share it and then do a NET USE LPT1 \\PCName\PrinterName /Persistent:yes
>
>I have tried sooner, it doesn't work for me. I have W2K/Czech and HP
>PSC1210; NET USE performed O.K., but any print from DOS app to LPT1
>failed - Errmsg: "Printing of local document older version to printer
>USB001 failed. Retry or cancel?". Retry failed too.
What happens if you type DIR > LPT1 on the command line? Does that
fail too?
Is this computer networked or standalone? If it is standalone you
might want to try to install the MS Loopback Adapter, a "fake" network
card in software only. The approximate procedure is go to Control
Panel, Network, Add adapter, Microsoft, MS Loopback Adapter.
But as you said, the redirection itself worked - as can be seen in
the error message that mentions "printer USB001". So far so good.
Another thing worth trying is to NET USE it as LPT2 or LPT3 instead of
LPT1. That way the physical LPT1 port will not be blocked by the
redirection. It is possible that the OS gets confused over the
redirected LPT1 versus the physical LPT1 (even if I have never
actually seen it).
>It is of course possible that NET USE LPTx ... works for other
>printers.
Anything is possible <g>
Regards,
Ross McKenzie
Engwall) wrote:
>Ross,
>
>>> GDI printers have had their intelligence removed (similar to
>>>politicians <g>)
>>
>>I have to challenge that statement. What evidence do you have to say
>>that politicians ever had any intelligence to be removed? <VBG>
>
>AFAIK it is on the checklist for the first party assignment. Many pass
>the test on the first try, but those who don't are sent to a place
>called The Conference Center where the procedure is performed. <XBG>
And I bet they get it paid for by the NHS <XXBG>
>
>Klas
ktos
Użytkownik "Klas Engwall" <klas.e...@nospam.please> napisał w wiadomości
news:426f6b1a...@nntpserver.swip.net...
> MADn
>
> For example, IIRC, the HP 1010, 1012 and 1015 all have USB connectors.
> The 1010 and 1012 are GDI printers but the 1015 has a PCL interpreter
> So the 1015 can be used from Clipper, connected via USB, if it is
HP LJ 1010 can be used from Clipper too and it understands PCL-codes.
Markus Wiederstein
geschrieben:
Jan, Klas,
there's another trick on w2k/winxp to use USB type printers with dos
programs.
You can simply activate the radio button 'activate printerpool' in the
printers
port connection dialog, after this you can activate lpt1 also as a port
beside the usb port.
When you now print to lpt1 the driver tries to use that port, it surely
will fail
and so the driver automatically redirects the job to the working usb port.
Simple but useful.
Markus
--
Using M2, Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/m2/
Klas Engwall
>there's another trick on w2k/winxp to use USB type printers
>with dos programs.
>
>You can simply activate the radio button 'activate printerpool'
>in the printers port connection dialog, after this you can activate
>lpt1 also as a port beside the usb port.
>
>When you now print to lpt1 the driver tries to use that port, it
>surely will fail and so the driver automatically redirects the job
>to the working usb port.
Hmm, interesting. I've never thought about faking a printer pool,
especially between different inerfaces. But I suppose it can be quite
useful at times.
Klas Engwall
>HP LJ 1010 can be used from Clipper too and it understands PCL-codes.
Really? The HP PDF with specs for this printer family says.
Printer languages
HP LaserJet 1015 printer: HP PCL 5e or host based printing driver; HP
LaserJet 1010/1012 printer: host-based".
Operating System Compatibility
HP LaserJet 1015 printer: Microsoft® Windows® 98, Me, 2000, XP;
Windows 95, NT 4.0 (SP3); Microsoft Windows XP 32-bit (print driver
only); Mac OS 9. v 9.1 and higher, Mac OS X v 10.1, 10.2; MS-DOS.
Latest drivers available from http://www.hp.com
HP LaserJet 1010/1012 printer: Microsoft® Windows® 98, Me, 2000, XP;
Microsoft Windows XP 32-bit
Regards
Ísleifur Gíslason
you use W2K or WXP and the printer is PCL compatible.
Isleifur Gislason
"Donald Leask" <don...@softdown.net> wrote in message
news:d4i3mq$5tb$1...@ctb-nnrp2.saix.net...
Jan Bucek
> Jan,
>
> >> Share it and then do a NET USE LPT1 \\PCName\PrinterName /Persistent:yes
> >
> >I have tried sooner, it doesn't work for me. I have W2K/Czech and HP
> >PSC1210; NET USE performed O.K., but any print from DOS app to LPT1
> >failed - Errmsg: "Printing of local document older version to printer
> >USB001 failed. Retry or cancel?". Retry failed too.
>
> What happens if you type DIR > LPT1 on the command line? Does that
> fail too?
>
Yes, it fails.
> Is this computer networked or standalone? If it is standalone you
> might want to try to install the MS Loopback Adapter, a "fake" network
> card in software only. The approximate procedure is go to Control
> Panel, Network, Add adapter, Microsoft, MS Loopback Adapter.
My PC is networked, but the HP PSC is connected to the same PC.
>
> But as you said, the redirection itself worked - as can be seen in
> the error message that mentions "printer USB001". So far so good.
> Another thing worth trying is to NET USE it as LPT2 or LPT3 instead of
> LPT1. That way the physical LPT1 port will not be blocked by the
> redirection. It is possible that the OS gets confused over the
> redirected LPT1 versus the physical LPT1 (even if I have never
> actually seen it).
I have tried LPT2, it doesn't work too.
Klas Engwall
We are getting close to the bottom of the suggestion list.
>> What happens if you type DIR > LPT1 on the command line? Does that
>> fail too?
>
>Yes, it fails.
So then we can take Clipper off the list of suspects.
>> Is this computer networked or standalone? If it is standalone you
>> might want to try to install the MS Loopback Adapter, a "fake" network
>> card in software only. The approximate procedure is go to Control
>> Panel, Network, Add adapter, Microsoft, MS Loopback Adapter.
>
>My PC is networked, but the HP PSC is connected to the same PC.
Understood. The theory behind the Loopback Adapter trick is that
redirection (NET USE) requires a network or it will normally fail. If
there is no physical network, Windows will be just as happy if we fake
one in software.
>> Another thing worth trying is to NET USE it as LPT2 or LPT3 instead of
>> LPT1.
>
>I have tried LPT2, it doesn't work too.
It is beginning to sound suspiciously like a printer that doesn't
understand character mode printing at all. For the moment there are
only two additional tests I can suggest:
1) Since you have already set up the printer as a share, try to NET
USE it from another computer on the network. Then you have "100%
normal" networking, and if it still fails the error can only be caused
by the the printer itself or a flaky USB port.
2) Remove the redirection and set up printer pooling as suggested by
Markus yesterday.
Keeping my fingers crossed one last time <g>
Jan Bucek
> Jan,
>
> We are getting close to the bottom of the suggestion list.
>
> >> What happens if you type DIR > LPT1 on the command line? Does that
> >> fail too?
> >
> >Yes, it fails.
>
> So then we can take Clipper off the list of suspects.
The problem comes with any app running in DOS BOX (Clipper, Fox2.5
DOS, pure DOS commands like "copy file.txt lptX"
>
> >> Is this computer networked or standalone? If it is standalone you
> >> might want to try to install the MS Loopback Adapter, a "fake" network
> >> card in software only. The approximate procedure is go to Control
> >> Panel, Network, Add adapter, Microsoft, MS Loopback Adapter.
> >
> >My PC is networked, but the HP PSC is connected to the same PC.
>
> Understood. The theory behind the Loopback Adapter trick is that
> redirection (NET USE) requires a network or it will normally fail. If
> there is no physical network, Windows will be just as happy if we fake
> one in software.
>
> >> Another thing worth trying is to NET USE it as LPT2 or LPT3 instead of
> >> LPT1.
> >
> >I have tried LPT2, it doesn't work too.
>
> It is beginning to sound suspiciously like a printer that doesn't
> understand character mode printing at all. For the moment there are
> only two additional tests I can suggest:
>
> 1) Since you have already set up the printer as a share, try to NET
> USE it from another computer on the network. Then you have "100%
> normal" networking, and if it still fails the error can only be caused
> by the the printer itself or a flaky USB port.
I have tried from another PC:
- net use lpt2 \\w2k\hppsc120 -> O.K.
- copy file.txt lpt2 -> O.K.
- on PC with HP PSC connected came the same errmsg
>
> 2) Remove the redirection and set up printer pooling as suggested by
> Markus yesterday.
I have tried: it doesn't work, the result is the same.
Thankx you for your effort, it seems this HP PSC 1210 is not able to
print old char oriented documents. It is anyway possible a workaround
to "print" into file and to print thru any "printdaemon" watching
selected directory.
Sincerely Jan Bucek