Printing to file then locally

  • Thread starter Thread starter mrcapi937
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mrcapi937

Printing to file?

I am using remote computer program to link to my computer at work. The
program dose not have printer support. I have linked to the remote computer
and printed my data “to fileâ€. I then transferred the file to my local
computer. How do I print it now? When I click on the file it asked me what
program to open with. I am using a HP laser 1200 at both locations on windows
xp. Does HP or any one else make a program that will allow me to print this
file?
 
Good question.
Please affirm my assumption that the application that generated the print
file is on the host computer...i.e., the one at your "work" site.
 
Yes,
The program that I iniated the print to file command is at my work or remote
computer. I then transfered that file to my local computer to print locally.
How do I print it now that I have it on my local computer? Its asking for a
program to open it with and does not give me an option to send it straight to
my printer.
Thanks
 
I don't know how to do that. But with your clear description, somebody else
is bound to pick this thread up and answer your question.
Good luck.

My guess would be to load the same (possibly expensive) application on your
local computer, and print from there. But that seems too crude, even
stupid, to be the case. Surely there is some way to print your metafile
from a universal printing engine.
 
Speaking of metafiles...
Some applications can render PDF documents, as a faux-print-job. You could
easily recover that PDF from any other computer, in a manner analogous to
your previous action. Can you work-location app generate a PDF?
 
mrcapi937 said:
Printing to file?

I am using remote computer program to link to my computer at work. The
program dose not have printer support. I have linked to the remote computer
and printed my data “to fileâ€. I then transferred the file to my local
computer. How do I print it now? When I click on the file it asked me what
program to open with. I am using a HP laser 1200 at both locations on windows
xp. Does HP or any one else make a program that will allow me to print this
file?
Click to expand...

I assume you checked the box that says "print to file" on the print
dialog of your remote computer. That's a trap for the unwary. What you
now have is the data (probably in a file named xxx.prn) that would have
been sent to the printer -- complete with all of the printer control
characters generated by the printer driver.

If you have the same or similar model printer at home as you have at the
remote location, how you print the file depends on how your printer is
connected to your computer.

If your printer is connected by parallel port (the old fashioned way),
use the command

copy /b xxx.prn LPT1

Otherwise, first share the printer and then use the command

copy xxx.prn \\computername\printersharename

Or use Frogmore Raw Print http://www.frogmore-raw-print.com/

If the material you are printing isn't highly formatted, you might want
to consider creating a generic text only printer as follows:

- Start the Add Printer Wizard from "Printers and Faxes"

- Select "Local printer attached to this computer" and UNcheck the box
to automatically detect a plug-n-play printer.

- Select "Use the following port" and select FILE: (Print to File) from
the drop-down box

- On the "Install Printer Software screen", select "Generic" in the left
window (Manufacturer) and "Generic / Text Only" in the right window
(Printers), then click "Next".

- On the "Name Your Printer" screen leave the default name ("Generic /
Text Only"), or change it to whatever name you prefer.

Selecting this printer from the print dialog will print a text-only
document to a file. You can then print this file using any text editor.


--
Lem -- MS-MVP - Networking

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm
 
Printing to file?

I am using remote computer program to link to my computer at work.
The program dose not have printer support. I have linked to the
remote computer and printed my data “to fileâ€. I then
transferred the file to my local computer. How do I print it now?
When I click on the file it asked me what program to open with. I
am using a HP laser 1200 at both locations on windows xp. Does HP
or any one else make a program that will allow me to print this
file?
Click to expand...

Lem gave you a very good answer for handling your current situation.

If you do this often, consider installing the freeware "CutePDF Writer"
on your machine at work. This will create a virtual "printer" that
will print to a .pdf file. (By printing to this "printer", you will
actually print to a .pdf file). You can then transfer this .pdf file
to any other machine and print using the standard Adobe Reader. A much
easier solution than what you are attempting.

<http://www.cutepdf.com/>

HTH,
John
 
Thanks John,
This program is great! Just what I needed, it makes this process a piece of
cake.
Don
 
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