DOS Printing

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Guest

I have setup my USB printer to accept output to LPT1 by sharing the printer
and using the net use command. When I print from my DOS program. The
Printer Queue shows the print job queueing up then the status changes to
printing then printed and finally deletes the print job. It all appears to
work fine except nothing comes out on the printer.

The printer works fine when printing anything normally through Windows.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Hi there MPG,

What model printer are you using just out of curiousity?

Best Regards,

~Will
 
Actually two different systems in two different homes I having the same
problem. One is an old Dell 384MHZ system running XP Pro with a new Brother
MFC-210C the other is a Dell 2.66 GHZ system running XP Home with a Dell A910
printer.

MPG
 
That is basically what I did. If I type "net use lpt1:" at the cmd prompt it
displays that lpt1: is pointing to my printer.

I type "echo test > lpt1:" at the cmd prompt and it sends the print job to
the print queue and shows it printing then that it printed. As a matter of
fact the Dell printer status application opens for the Dell printer and shows
a status bar that goes from 0 to 100% complete.

All looks great just nothing on the printer. I'm begining to think I just
need an older printer. Since it appears from the operating system that
everything is going to the printer it is just not printing.

If I purchase a printer with a parallel cable connection instead of USB will
that solve my problem, since lpt1 is usually pointing to the parallel port on
the PC?

TIA,
MPG
 
Hi there MPG,

Actually, yeah, if the printer has a parallel input, you should be able to
use the DOS print lines with no problem.

Let me know how it goes!

Best Regards,

~Will
 
Think I figured out the problem. Even though you can set a USB printer in XP
to point to accept output sent to lpt1 newer printers no longer support DOS
printing. I got an older model printer and printing from DOS works fine. I
tried two older printers one USB and one parallel both work. I think printer
manufacturers have either taken out something in the printer needed for DOS
printing or no longer provide DOS drivers. Either way the older printers
cured the problem.

Hope this helps someone else...
 
MPG said:
Think I figured out the problem. Even though you can set a USB printer in XP
to point to accept output sent to lpt1 newer printers no longer support DOS
printing. I got an older model printer and printing from DOS works fine. I
tried two older printers one USB and one parallel both work. I think printer
manufacturers have either taken out something in the printer needed for DOS
printing
Click to expand...

yes, they are called GDI printers (AKA Windows-Only)

You may want to have a look at Printfil which could enable your DOS
app. printing to any Windows printers, including, USB, GDI, Virtual
(Faxmodems, PDF writers...) etc., with many extras.

More info and a free trial version is available for download at
http://www.printfil.com

Kind regards,
Davide Guolo
--------------------------------------------------------------
Printfil - Windows Printing System for Applications
http://www.printfil.com
Odbc4All - Connection to ODBC Data Sources for any Application
http://www.guolo.com/odbc4all
--------------------------------------------------------------
 
Hi

I think I've got the same problem on my dad's PC.....here's the story so
far, hope you can help....

He's bought a new Dell PC and I've copied over the contents of his old hard
drive including his DOS invoicing system. Its now on Win XP home edition.
The dell PC only has a usb connection for printing so I bought an adapter for
his old Epson LX 300 + printer.

When I try to print a test page in windows it works fine via the USB port
called USB001.

When i try a screen dump to LPT1 or use DOS EDIT to try to print I get no
options to choose USB001 (of course) and nothing happens.

In the DOS program itself an error message appears.....

Is this possible as if its not I may as well have him send the new PC back!

thanks
 
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