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Windows Forum / Windows 98 / Printing and Faxing / August 2007Dummy printer
I would like to set up a dummy printer that will print to a file. I know that I can specify the port at "FILE:", which will create a file on the disc. However, I don't want to have to respecify the file name each time. Is there a way to have it go to the same file each time. Someone suggested using adding a port and specifying "local port"', however I don't seem to know the syntax for doing that. When I specify "local port" it asks for the port name, and I don't know what to put. I tried putting in the file name, but that get rejected. Any suggestions? Thanks.  SignatureJerry Bank Trenton, New Jersey Music is the language of the gods. Don't know the answer, but I'm cross-posting this to the Win98 General group, since this one gets very little traffic. SignatureGary S. Terhune MS-MVP Shell/User www.grystmill.com >I would like to set up a dummy printer that will print to a file. I know > that I can specify the port at "FILE:", which will create a file on the [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Thanks. > Don't know the answer, but I'm cross-posting this to the Win98 General > group, since this one gets very little traffic. Thanks. SignatureJerry Bank Trenton, New Jersey Music is the language of the gods. Just to reiterate, your original post was: I would like to set up a dummy printer that will print to a file. I know that I can specify the port at "FILE:", which will create a file on the disc. However, I don't want to have to respecify the file name each time. Is there a way to have it go to the same file each time. Someone suggested using adding a port and specifying "local port"', however I don't seem to know the syntax for doing that. When I specify "local port" it asks for the port name, and I don't know what to put. I tried putting in the file name, but that get rejected. Any suggestions? Thanks. >> Don't know the answer, but I'm cross-posting this to the Win98 General >> group, since this one gets very little traffic. >> > Thanks. http://www.filedudes.com/Miraplacid_Text_Driver-download-8938.html ""Miraplacid Text Driver 4.4 for Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/2003 extracts text from any printable documents. After installation on your PC, Miraplacid Text Driver appears as a new printer in your system. When document is printed, Miraplacid Text Driver opens a dialog with Preview Window. You can save resulting text to disk, upload to FTP or HTTP server,or print them to a real printer or send to Clipboard. You can save the extracted information as plain, formatted text or as XML for future processing in all installed codepages and Unicode. Miraplacid Text Driver 4.4 adds icon to desktop. All the documents you drag and drop to this icon will be printed behind the scenes and processed by Miraplacid Text Driver. Turn "Auto Save Mode" on if you want Miraplacid Text Driver to save all the extracted text to a file without waiting for your input. If you want every document to be saved to an individual file, add {{DATE}}, {{TIME}}, {{IDENTITY}}, {{PAGE}} or {{JOB}} to the file name or path. They will be replaced with current date, time, some unique number, page number and print job id respectively. With "Redirect" option, you can print original print job to your physical printer at the time of extracting text."" This might do what you want, I had the link lying around have several band printers arent directly supported in win98 Signature-- -- -- -- -- Adaware http://www.lavasoft.de spybot http://www.safer-networking.org AVG free antivirus http://free.grisoft.com/ Etrust/Vet/CA.online Antivirus scan http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx Super Antispyware http://www.superantispyware.com/ Panda online AntiVirus scan http://www.activescan.com Panda online AntiSpyware Scan http://www.pandasoftware.com/virus_info/spyware/test/ Catalog of removal tools (1) http://www.pandasoftware.com/download/utilities/ Catalog of removal tools (2) http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/newsinfo/collateral.aspx?CID=40387 Trouble Shooting guide to Windows http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/ Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts file http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm links provided as a courtesy, read all instructions on the pages before use Grateful thanks to the authors/webmasters _ > Just to reiterate, your original post was: > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > >> > > Thanks. You requirement is not quite clear. Does the file you are creating have to be a print file for a particular type of printer? This would a file that you then transfer to another machine that has that type of printer attached, and copy to that printer in order to print it. Or are you trying to use a print procedure to create a certain document type, such as plain text or postscript or PDF? SignatureJeff Richards MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User) > Just to reiterate, your original post was: > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >>> >> Thanks. > You requirement is not quite clear. Does the file you are creating have to > be a print file for a particular type of printer? This would a file that [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Or are you trying to use a print procedure to create a certain document > type, such as plain text or postscript or PDF? Let me explain precisely what I am trying to do. I have an ancient dos program that I use to do accounting for a very small business. I would like to continue using it. However, while it was able to print its reports to my old dot-matrix printer, it really can't handle my current laser printer. The program itself only prints to lpt1. Previously I used the simple program prn2dos, which sent the printing to a file, which I then edited and printed out in Windows. Since upgrading my computer it no longer works. I have been trying to find a way to do this task. I did find a program called dos2usb, but it only works erratically. I would very much appreciate any suggestions as to how I can solve this problem. Thanks. SignatureJerry Bank Trenton, New Jersey Music is the language of the gods. >> You requirement is not quite clear. Does the file you are creating have to >> be a print file for a particular type of printer? This would a file that [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > Thanks. Have your tried installing the Generic Text to file "printer" You would only need to click a file name and press the "Enter" key when the file name dialog appears. The man needs to print to file (a PRN file, I think, not text file) from a DOS app, something that he can then send to the printer from Windows. Generic Text to File won't help. Unfortunately, Jerry knows more about it than I or most others here do. Hey, Jerry... I have a couple of old dot matrix printers... or maybe my Dad has them now. Might be the simplest solution to find a used one, not that it's that simple, <g>. You still have an LPT port? SignatureGary S. Terhune MS-MVP Shell/User www.grystmill.com >>> You requirement is not quite clear. Does the file you are creating have >>> to be a print file for a particular type of printer? This would a file [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > You would only need to click a file name and press the "Enter" key when > the file name dialog appears. I don't know about the OP's laser printer, but all of my printers here have the option "Print to file" which does save it as a .prn file. SignatureBrian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User } Conflicts start where information lacks. http://basconotw.mvps.org/ Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375 > The man needs to print to file (a PRN file, I think, not text file) from a DOS app, > something that he can then send to the printer from Windows. Generic Text to File [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] >> You would only need to click a file name and press the "Enter" key when the file >> name dialog appears. But do they have DOS drivers? Honest, I don't know much about this aspect, and my laser printers are at the other house. SignatureGary S. Terhune MS-MVP Shell/User www.grystmill.com > I don't know about the OP's laser printer, but all of my printers here > have the option "Print to file" which does save it as a .prn file. [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] >>> You would only need to click a file name and press the "Enter" key when >>> the file name dialog appears. I don't think DOS drivers are the problem, the problem is printing from DOS to a USB printer and USB is supported in DOS. Frank has posted what the OP needs to do, set the printer as shared and direct the LPT1 port, which is supported in DOS, to the printer via the net use command. SignatureBrian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User } Conflicts start where information lacks. http://basconotw.mvps.org/ Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375 > But do they have DOS drivers? Honest, I don't know much about this aspect, and my > laser printers are at the other house. [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] >>>> You would only need to click a file name and press the "Enter" key when the file >>>> name dialog appears. My fuzziness... I figure if you want to print from DOS, you need DOS print drivers. I wouldn't expect modern printers to be able to do that, though I don't understand DOS printing all that well, not at all, in fact. Does an app just send the data to the LPT port? What converts it to PRN? My color laser printers (HP4550 and Konika-Minolta 3300) both take PS and PCL. Do they first convert it to PCL? My understanding is that they could handle both PS and PCL directly, without converting. SignatureGary S. Terhune MS-MVP Shell/User www.grystmill.com > I don't think DOS drivers are the problem, the problem is printing from > DOS to a USB printer and USB is supported in DOS. Frank has posted what [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] >>>>> You would only need to click a file name and press the "Enter" key >>>>> when the file name dialog appears. Instead of my mumble jumble, have a look-see here: http://www1.itrc.hp.com/service/james/search.do?todo=search&searchtext=print+in+ dos&from=bsdforums&origin=0&wpa=forums1.itrc.hp.com%3A80&searchcategory=ALL&hpl= 1&searchcriteria=allwords&rn=25&source=7000&presort=rank&chkServStor=on&esc=supp ort.itrc.hp.com&admit=-682735245+1187885973664+28353475 or: http://tinyurl.com/235suz SignatureBrian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User } Conflicts start where information lacks. http://basconotw.mvps.org/ Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375 > My fuzziness... I figure if you want to print from DOS, you need DOS print drivers. > I wouldn't expect modern printers to be able to do that, though I don't understand [quoted text clipped - 53 lines] >>>>>> You would only need to click a file name and press the "Enter" key when the >>>>>> file name dialog appears. Reading the thread on problems printing from DOS under XP, I found the following: http://www.dosprn.com/ Looks like it should do what Jerry wants. Oh, I see you already got to that one. OK, I'll just go ahead and go to my doctor's appointment. Everything seems under control here, <s>. SignatureGary S. Terhune MS-MVP Shell/User www.grystmill.com > Instead of my mumble jumble, have a look-see here: > http://www1.itrc.hp.com/service/james/search.do?todo=search&searchtext=print+in+ dos&from=bsdforums&origin=0&wpa=forums1.itrc.hp.com%3A80&searchcategory=ALL&hpl= 1&searchcriteria=allwords&rn=25&source=7000&presort=rank&chkServStor=on&esc=supp ort.itrc.hp.com&admit=-682735245+1187885973664+28353475 [quoted text clipped - 63 lines] >>>>>>> You would only need to click a file name and press the "Enter" key >>>>>>> when the file name dialog appears. Mumble-Jumble aside, this app would be of much greater use to Jerry: http://www.dosprn.com/readme.htm SignatureBrian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User } Conflicts start where information lacks. http://basconotw.mvps.org/ Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375 > My fuzziness... I figure if you want to print from DOS, you need DOS print drivers. > I wouldn't expect modern printers to be able to do that, though I don't understand [quoted text clipped - 53 lines] >>>>>> You would only need to click a file name and press the "Enter" key when the >>>>>> file name dialog appears. > My fuzziness... I figure if you want to print from DOS, you need DOS print > drivers. I wouldn't expect modern printers to be able to do that, though I [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > PCL. Do they first convert it to PCL? My understanding is that they could > handle both PS and PCL directly, without converting. Most DOS programs sent the data directly to the printer port. IF the application was designed to do ANY text formating the application had to include code for various printer manufacturer specific data sequences to control things like bold face, italic and fonts. Unless the page was rendered as a full sheet graphic image, font heights for dot matrix printers were limited to the print head height and a line of text would be constrained to a single band of the print head's output. Many dot matrix printers would only print text in portrait orientation. Many applications printed text as streams of control codes for things like italics, bold face and underline mixed with the actual ASCII codes for the document text. The data stream on the printer port would have resembled a word processing application's storage file format. A couple of popular printer brands were the subject of frequent emulation by other brands. This emulation was accomplished entirely in the the printer. Thus the application would be set to print on an standard Epson dot matrix printer model while some other brand of printer with Epson emulation capabilities was actually attached to the physical LPT1: port. Laser printers typically emulated a Hewlett Packard Laserjet II. Printing complex pages on a laser printer typically required a couple of Megabyte of RAM in the printer for font downloads OR image rasters, which could exceed a MB for a 8.5"X 11" page. Some users utilized a ROM font cartrage in the printer to alleviate the font download requirements. Many laser printers did have some nifty abilities for portrait orientation output including a reduced size emulation of 14" wide line printer output. What, exactly, do you mean when you say you "upgraded" your computer. Upgraded it from what to what? SignatureGary S. Terhune MS-MVP Shell/User www.grystmill.com >> You requirement is not quite clear. Does the file you are creating have >> to [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > Thanks. >> You requirement is not quite clear. Does the file you are creating have to >> be a print file for a particular type of printer? This would a file that [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > >Thanks. Try making your laser a network printer and then remap your LPT1 port to it: net use lpt1: \\printer_server\print_share Having said that, I wonder whether your laser and DMX printers speak the same language? For example, HP lasers use PCL whereas Epson DMX printers use ESC/P control language. - Franc Zabkar SignaturePlease remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email. I would stick with getting prn2dos to work - it is an extremely simple little utility that uses no special features of DOS and should work in just about any type of DOS environment. Can you describe the changes you have made that might have caused prn2dos to stop working? Do you still have a LPT1 in the DOS where you are running the accounting application? What was the symptom of prn2dos ceasing to work? SignatureJeff Richards MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User) >> You requirement is not quite clear. Does the file you are creating have >> to [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > Thanks. ....except that it should be prn2file, if it's the one I'm familiar with. SignatureJeff Richards MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User) >I would stick with getting prn2dos to work - it is an extremely simple >little utility that uses no special features of DOS and should work in just [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] >> >> Thanks. Aside from Franks great suggestion, if you don't mind doling out about $20.00 check out DOSPrn 1.76. It's a program designed to enable the continued use of older DOS printing programs and today's newer LaserJet printers. It works with all OS's up to XP and does have a trial period so you can check it out before purchasing if it's what you need. http://www.dosprn.com/order.htm SignatureBrian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User } Conflicts start where information lacks. http://basconotw.mvps.org/ Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375 >> You requirement is not quite clear. Does the file you are creating have to >> be a print file for a particular type of printer? This would a file that [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > Thanks. BTW, click on the Manual link on the page for info with graphics. SignatureBrian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User } Conflicts start where information lacks. http://basconotw.mvps.org/ Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375 > Aside from Franks great suggestion, if you don't mind doling out about $20.00 > check out DOSPrn 1.76. It's a program designed to enable the continued use of [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] >> >> Thanks. > I would like to set up a dummy printer that will print to a file. I know > that I can specify the port at "FILE:", which will create a file on the > disc. However, I don't want to have to respecify the file name each > time. Is there a way to have it go to the same file each time. The main undecided item here is whether you wish to concatenate data here (like DOS pipe >> ) or to overwrite (DOS > ). Either way, / Print / to File Device will prompt you for a filename. You could no doubt program the pipe >> function to append new file contents to the existing file of the same name. But I doubt the standard Windows or DOS will do this for you. SignatureDon Phillipson Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada) Would take a script to automatically create new filenames based upon whether an old one already exists. Something I've done quite a few times, though not for this purpose. SignatureGary S. Terhune MS-MVP Shell/User www.grystmill.com > >> I would like to set up a dummy printer that will print to a file. I know [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > file of the same name. But I doubt the standard Windows or DOS > will do this for you. |
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