How to print to file?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ed Smega
  • Start date Start date
E

Ed Smega

When my ink cartridge was running low and I had to print my homework ( a
graph from GIS software) I simply clicked on file, print and checked the box
for PRINT TO FILE. I was asked for a file name but I had no idea what file
type to use so I just wrote the file to my thumb drive with a file name of
GRAPH with no extension. Now I can't figure out how to print it. I have no
idea what format windows writes print files to. What program do I use to
print this????

Ed
 
Are you trying to print the file on your PC. I would normally put "prn" as
the file extension but I'm not sure that will help you print the file
especially if you are trying to print it on another PC.
Neil
 
Ed Smega said:
When my ink cartridge was running low and I had to print my homework ( a
graph from GIS software) I simply clicked on file, print and checked the box
for PRINT TO FILE. I was asked for a file name but I had no idea what file
type to use so I just wrote the file to my thumb drive with a file name of
GRAPH with no extension. Now I can't figure out how to print it. I have no
idea what format windows writes print files to. What program do I use to
print this????
Click to expand...

It will print on whatever your default printer is as long as it has
INK.
 
my suggestion is to avoid using
the default print to file option.

instead install something like
primo pdf or cute pdf and print
your work to a pdf file,

which can be viewed by the
infamous "adobe reader" virtually
on any computer.

--------------

when printing via the above
method,

you would select file>print
from the program you are
using to create your work.

then select the printer called
pdf printer.

then for a file name choose
a format something to the
affect of:

c:\filename.pdf

it's important to put a drive
letter in order to make it easier
to locate the file on your disk
after it's printed.

then you can move it into any
folder you prefer.
--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- Microsoft Partner
- @hotmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~"share the nirvana" - dbZen
 
After putting in a new ink cartridge I tried to print it on my pc. The
problem is I don't know how to print it with windows. Nothing I tried
works. I can try the prn extension and see what happens. In the old days,
before windows I would just use the print command.


Ed
 
Nate,
Not having ink has nothing to do with it!!!!! I don't know the process to
make windows print it.

Ed
 
Your suggestion is not helping me print the file I have. In the last decade
this is the only time I have sent a print stream to a file, I am not
inclined to get special software for something I will probably never do
again.

Ed
 
In Win9x, you issue a command from the command line.
I haven't tried in XP but the terminology should be the same.

copy /b file.prn prn
or
copy /b file.prn LPT1:
e.g.
copy /b graph.prn LPT1:

....Alan
 
In Win9x, you issue a command from the command line.
I haven't tried in XP but the terminology should be the same.

copy /b file.prn prn
or
copy /b file.prn LPT1:
e.g.
copy /b graph.prn LPT1:
Click to expand...


Yes, unless the printer is connected to a USB port rather than a
parallel port, which is more and more common these days.

To do it with a USB printer, set the printer to Shared, and make note
of the name that you give it.

Then go to Start | Run, and enter the line

NET USE LPT1 \\name of your computer\shared name of printer

You will now be able to issue the command

COPY /b \path\filename.prn LPT1:
 
Ed Smega said:
When my ink cartridge was running low and I had to print my homework
( a graph from GIS software) I simply clicked on file, print and
checked the box for PRINT TO FILE. I was asked for a file name but I
had no idea what file type to use so I just wrote the file to my
thumb drive with a file name of GRAPH with no extension. Now I can't
figure out how to print it. I have no idea what format windows
writes print files to. What program do I use to print this????

Ed
Click to expand...



If it's a printer file, then only the printer you had installed when you
created the file can understand it. I used to use it a lot to send
images to other people so they could print them. I'd install their
printer drivers and then do a save to printer file and send it to them
on CD. Then they just drag it to their printer, drop it there, and the
printer prints it. They'll print on whatever printer was set to be used
when it was created.

If you get your printer icon onscreen, you should be able to just drag
that file onto your printer to have it print. The extension shouldn't
matter as long as it is a printer-file, which you said it is.
Creating the file may have automatically added a file extension, too.
Can't you look at the filename with explorer to see it?
Printer files are normally given a .prn file extension automatically
when you print to a file. The "type" usually shows as something like
"printer files (*.prn)". Of course, the printer is contained in that
file, and so is going to have to be the one you have installed when you
did the save in order to work properly.

HTH,

Twayne`
 
[see bottom reply]
If it's a printer file, then only the printer you had installed when you
created the file can understand it. I used to use it a lot to send images
to other people so they could print them. I'd install their printer
drivers and then do a save to printer file and send it to them on CD.
Then they just drag it to their printer, drop it there, and the printer
prints it. They'll print on whatever printer was set to be used when it
was created.

If you get your printer icon onscreen, you should be able to just drag
that file onto your printer to have it print. The extension shouldn't
matter as long as it is a printer-file, which you said it is.
Creating the file may have automatically added a file extension, too.
Can't you look at the filename with explorer to see it?
Printer files are normally given a .prn file extension automatically
when you print to a file. The "type" usually shows as something like
"printer files (*.prn)". Of course, the printer is contained in that
file, and so is going to have to be the one you have installed when you
did the save in order to work properly.

HTH,

Twayne`
Click to expand...


Hi Twayne`,

The Print To File is an exception to the automatic file extension added
rule. In the dialog filename box, it first appears as "*.prn" and the
filetype is set to PRN, but if you overtype the filename and don't include
".prn", it does not add it. I usually select the asterisk only and overtype
that part only and don't lose the .prn file extension. The save as file
dialog has had that defect as far back as Windows 95 AFAIK. (I would be
interested in hearing if they finally fixed it in Vista or Windows 7. :)

(Dear Microsoft... Oh, never mind... :)

FWIW. --Richard
 
Richard said:
[see bottom reply]
If it's a printer file, then only the printer you had installed when
you created the file can understand it. I used to use it a lot to
send images to other people so they could print them. I'd install
their printer drivers and then do a save to printer file and send it
to them on CD. Then they just drag it to their printer, drop it
there, and the printer prints it. They'll print on whatever printer
was set to be used when it was created.

If you get your printer icon onscreen, you should be able to just
drag that file onto your printer to have it print. The extension
shouldn't matter as long as it is a printer-file, which you said it
is. Creating the file may have automatically added a file
extension, too. Can't you look at the filename with explorer to see
it? Printer files are normally given a .prn file extension
automatically when you print to a file. The "type" usually shows as
something like
"printer files (*.prn)". Of course, the printer is contained in that
file, and so is going to have to be the one you have installed when
you did the save in order to work properly.

HTH,

Twayne`
Click to expand...


Hi Twayne`,

The Print To File is an exception to the automatic file extension
added rule. In the dialog filename box, it first appears as "*.prn"
and the filetype is set to PRN, but if you overtype the filename and
don't include ".prn", it does not add it. I usually select the
asterisk only and overtype that part only and don't lose the .prn
file extension. The save as file dialog has had that defect as far
back as Windows 95 AFAIK. (I would be interested in hearing if they
finally fixed it in Vista or Windows 7. :)
(Dear Microsoft... Oh, never mind... :)

FWIW. --Richard
Click to expand...

I vaguely recall that; must be why I always typed in the file extension
I wanted. I've noticed you can get an extension-less filename in many
programs by choosing "All..." in the file types.

Cheers,

Twayne`
 
Ed Smega said:
When my ink cartridge was running low and I had to print my homework ( a
graph from GIS software) I simply clicked on file, print and checked the
box for PRINT TO FILE. I was asked for a file name but I had no idea what
file type to use so I just wrote the file to my thumb drive with a file
name of GRAPH with no extension. Now I can't figure out how to print it.
I have no idea what format windows writes print files to. What program do
I use to print this????

Ed
Click to expand...

Hi Ed,

Press Ctrl+P while reading this message. In the "Select Printer" box, what
printer is selected? Is that your default printer? If so, when you checkmark
the "Print to file" box, the file should be formatted the same as if it went
directly to the printer. If your printer has an icon on your desktop, drag
and drop the "GRAPH" file onto it, and it should print, or maybe you need to
rename the file as "GRAPH.prn" first.

To put a Printer shortcut on the desktop:
In Control Panel, open Printers and Faxes. Right-click your printer, choose
Create Shortcut. You should get the message: "Windows cannot create a
shortcut here. Do you want the shortcut to be placed on the desktop instead?
[Yes][No]"

Need to drag and drop something to the desktop when not visible? Start to
drag something from a folder that blocks your view of the desktop, with
other hand hold Windows logo key down and press M to show Desktop, move the
file where you want it and drop it. (Shift+WinKey+M to un-MinimizeAll)

Change your mind after starting to drag? Press ESC key to cancel.

HTH. (Hope This Helps. :)
--Richard
 
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