let a 1 computer believe that thru USB/serial connector the other one is a printer ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter chapeau_melon
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chapeau_melon

Hello,

I have the following problem:

I have a linux machine with usb ports. Its a factory machine on which
I cannot do anything (nor soft nor hardware changes).

The linux machine containes all the HP printer drivers. So connecting
an external HP printer thru USB is no problem.

Now I want to connect an other computer instead of a printer, so the
printout could be directly integrated into a Dbase.

I can connect both machines thru a usb/serial adaptor.

BUT the print to external printer only works if a external printer is
recognised.
So when connecting thru USB/serial - there is no 'handshaking'? and
thus the printing does not work.

Is there a way to send a message to the linux machine, via the com1
port on the other computer, that this com1 port is actually a HP
printer ?

Kind regards
 
Assuming the printing is ascii text, don't do it using the hp drivers,
set up a "generic text only" printer which doesn't look for any printer
id or response. Also, set "print directly to printer" and assure that
there are no other "handling" settings

insufficient data... but the setup you describe should support
handshaking, although it might not be necessary with ascii text only.

with flow control, there are a lot of stops along the way... which
handshaking, is it turned on by default, does the sending app support
it, does the printer support it.

Think step one would be to establish a working senario between two
computers with serial ports, then add the usb dongles

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]
 
Tx for your response, but I don't follow :(

set up a "generic text only" printer which doesn't look for any
printer
id or response. Also, set "print directly to printer" and assure that
there are no other "handling" settings

How do I do that ?

Take into account that I have not access to linux on the linuxmachine.
The only thing I can do on that machine is to push a button that will
start the printing to an external printer that is to be connected to a
usb port on the linux machine.

I'd like to replace that external printer by a computer. I can connect
that external computer to the linux machine using a usb/serial
adapter.

How do I setup the com1 port on that exteral computer to tell the
linuxmachine it is actually a printer ?

Btw, on the linuxmachine there is a litte logo ; if it recognise an
external printer correctly, it and only than, enables printing to that
external printer !

Tx in advance
 
Btw, on the linuxmachine there is a litte logo ; if it recognise an
external printer correctly, it and only than, enables printing to that
external printer ! <<

With that clarification, it sounds as if the system is engineered to
prevent any data redirection... possibly by the system looking for a
printer response and refusing to proceed unless it sees information it
expects.

I don't know how you would address this until you know what the system
expects.

Sorry, I can't help.
Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]
 
chapeau_melon said:
Hello,

I have the following problem:

I have a linux machine with usb ports. Its a factory machine on which
I cannot do anything (nor soft nor hardware changes).

The linux machine containes all the HP printer drivers. So connecting
an external HP printer thru USB is no problem.

Now I want to connect an other computer instead of a printer, so the
printout could be directly integrated into a Dbase.

I can connect both machines thru a usb/serial adaptor.

BUT the print to external printer only works if a external printer is
recognised.
So when connecting thru USB/serial - there is no 'handshaking'? and
thus the printing does not work.

Is there a way to send a message to the linux machine, via the com1
port on the other computer, that this com1 port is actually a HP
printer ?

Kind regards
Click to expand...

Perhaps a product like this would work. There is a 30 day trial
download.

http://www.printcapture.com/index.html

Paul
 
I've seen this also. I have doubts but I'll give it a try.
I have doubts about the fact my linux machine will not see it as a
fysical printer ?

I'll keep posted.

tx
 
chapeau_melon said:
I've seen this also. I have doubts but I'll give it a try.
I have doubts about the fact my linux machine will not see it as a
fysical printer ?
Click to expand...

The problem is, will your database program be able to decode the HP printer
language and extract the real text. Remember, it's going to be sending
GRAPHICS commands.

If you tell the Linux box to print "ABC", you definately WON'T get "ABC" on
the printer port.
 
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