Generic/Text Only Printer Driver In WIN 98 VS WIN XP SP2 To DW.Print().

[Vimpis]

Hi All

Cheers!!!

This is regarding the "Generic/Text Only" printer driver in WIN 98 Against
WIN XP SP 2 in order to print fast/draft text only thro. a Powerbuilder
Application.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
I have a small single user business application (Point Of Sale (POS),
Written in Sybase Powerbuilder 9 ) which I use for Invoicing etc.. I have
been using it for the past two years.

This application requires fast printing, as the customer is waiting at the
Point Of Sale. Therefore I have been using the "Generic/Text Only" Printer
Driver with "Cont. Feed - No Page Break" as 'Paper Source' setting on WIN
98. I am using a Dot Matrix Printer ( EPSON LX 300+ ), set in 'Condensed
Mode' as my line printer. I am using a PAPER ROLL as the paper source. The
invoice / report stops as soon as the invoice has been printed, which is
exactly what is required ( Stopping straight after printing ).

NOTE: As I am using the "Generic/Text Only" Printer Driver supplied with WIN
98 it is not relevent which Dot Matrix Printer I use. I am NOT using the
printer driver supplied with the printer.

PROBLEM DETAILS
I would like to shift my application from WIN 98 To WIN XP Service Pack 2
but am experiencing the following problem:

The behaviour of WIN XP "Generic/Text Only" Printer Driver is not consistent
with the "Generic/Text Only" Printer Driver of WIN 98.

ie. In WIN XP, when a report is printed, a FORM FEED is appended to the
report, so instead of stopping at the end of the report, the paper rolls on
till the end of page. Approx. 7-8 inches of the paper roll is wasted per
print.

In WIN 98, when a report was printed, NO FORM FEED was appended to the
report. The printer stops straight after printing the report. This is what
is required.

I am using the same printer settings In WIN XP SP2 as I have been using in
WIN 98.

I have tried to change the settings of the printer manually. I should not
have to do that as whatever works with WIN 98 should work with WIN XP SP 2.
I have also tried all the settings of the paper source etc in WIN XP SP 2,
but to no avail.

I have written to Microsoft & am still waiting for a response in case they
are prepared to fix the BUG.

I have also written to Epson & am waiting for their response in case they
can provide me with an alternative Printer Driver.

"GENERIC / TEXT ONLY" PRINTER DRIVER SETTINGS
Install the "Generic / Text Only" Printer Driver Model in WIN XP SP2.

Open Property sheet after installing the "Generic / Text Only " Printer
Driver on LPT1 Port. On the property sheet, GOTO : General / Printing
Preferences / (Paper/Quality) Tab. In Paper Source drop down list box select
"Cont. Feed - No Break" option.

This option was ment for users ( in WIN 98 ) who were using PAPER ROLL for
printing purpose in a DOT MATRIX / Front End / ASCII Text Only / Fast
Print/Point Of Sale kind of environments. Though the same option is
available in the Generic/ Text Printer Driver of WIN XP, the printer does
not behave the same.

MY COMMENTS
I think that the "Generic / Text Only" Printer driver in WIN XP SP 2 is
either Buggy or its basic design has been changed to exclude printing using
paper rolls.

I have tried to be as precise as I can be, but I know that some one might
want to discuss the problem with me at your end. Pl mail me and I can call
you right back or call me at -91 9872101001 (India).

Thank you for listening & I hope that you will help me reach a resolution to
my problem.

Regards

R Bhalla.

[M. Searer]

Generic/Text Only printer driver has always been a problem. Very inconsistent
implementation. I never got it to work well and ended up giving up trying to
use it.

Easiest programming change is to use something other than dot-matrix. Laser,
thermal, ink-jet...

If you must use dot-matrix you may want to consider just opening the printer
port and writing out directly to it. I am assuming you are using a datawindow
report. This would mean grabbing the data off the datawindow and writing it to
the printer rather than using the datawindow .print().

"Vimpis" <vim...@vsnl.com> wrote in message news:419f4128@forums-1-dub...

[Bruce Armstrong [TeamSybase]]

You'll do a lot better at getting responses to your questions if you:

1. Keep it short and simple

2. Put the question at the top of the message and the background
later, so that folks don't have to search for the question.

Bruce Armstrong [TeamSybase]
http://www.teamsybase.com

TeamSybase blogs:
http://www.teamsybase.net/blogs

Two 3rd party books on developing with PowerBuilder
http://www.pb9books.com?source=newsgroups

Need code sample? Check out CodeXchange:
http://www.codexchange.sybase.com

Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words. - Francis of Assisi
http://www.needhim.org

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[Vimpis]

Thank you for your reply. I wanted to avoid writing to the port directly.
I'll Try that now.

Ashu

"M. Searer" <nos...@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:41a2367e$1@forums-1-dub...

[Vimpis]

Ok Bruce, thank you for your reply & advice. Here is the expla. in a few
words......

The generic/text only printer driver of Win XP appends a FORM FEED after
printing (a datawindow)
where as the same driver of Win 98 doesn,t. As I am using a paper roll, I
have to use a dot matrix printer only.

The FORM FEED problem is with the Win XP Driver. Please check the following
URL before replying.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;162616

Please Comment!!!

"Bruce Armstrong [TeamSybase]" <NOCANSPAM_br...@teamsybase.com>
wrote in message news:t8b5q09jp67s4ekor...@4ax.com...

[Vimpis]

Thank you for your reply & advice. I have noted your comments. There are
some more details to the current problem.

The generic/text only printer driver of Win XP appends a FORM FEED after
printing (a datawindow)
where as the same driver of Win 98 doesn,t. As I am using a paper roll, I
have to use a dot matrix printer only.

The FORM FEED problem is with the Win XP Driver. Please check the following
URL before replying.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;162616

Please Comment!!!

"M. Searer" <nos...@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:41a2367e$1@forums-1-dub...

[Paul Richter]

We've had problems with using this driver with windows as well, seems every
time they come out with a new version of the OS, they decide to change how
to set things up. In the printer settings on the paper/quality tab, choose
the cont. feed-no break, if that doesn't work try cont. feed with break.

Also if you have a print server the print settings on that machine may
override the print settings on your local machine so make sure they are set
properly as well.

p.s. we are still using SP1, so I don't know if this holds up for SP2.

"Vimpis" <vim...@vsnl.com> wrote in message news:41a2eb86@forums-2-dub...

[Vimpis]

Hi Paul

Thank you so much for your response.

You are spoton the problem. I have tried both the options ( cont. feed-no
break & cont. feed with break ). None of them work. I have lodged a bug
report with microsoft,. I have also written to epson in case they can chuck
me a similar driver. So lets see what they do. In the mean while I am going
to have to write big tome routines to write to the printer manually.

Thank you one again.

Ashu.

"Paul Richter" <pric...@jascorp.com> wrote in message
news:41a34da8$1@forums-1-dub...