Dotmatrix printer - again

[Claudio]

I asked if there was a way to print directly to a dotmatrix printer. The
answer was yes, but I need to know how to do it.

 

[Bela Istok]

If the Printer has Windows Drivers, you can use the Classes in the
namespace: System.Drawing.Printing

 

[Claudio]

I want to print in text mode, and direct to a dotmatrix printer (lpt1 port).

 

[Ignacio Machin \( .NET/ C# MVP \)]

Hi Claudio, again


I told you yes, it's possible just open the port and send the data to it.
Depending of the printer you may need the contorl characters or not.

I have done this using a serial Epson printer.

 

[Bela Istok]

Ok, I don't see a problem here, you can use the printing clases to print
text to any printer that have a windows driver.

I don't know if I get you rigth, but you like to connect and send low level
printer comands for the port lpt1?

Regards,

 

[Claudio]

Yes, I want to send low level (like: expand and compact charater comands)
and text, for the port lpt1 or a remote printer (\\servername\printername).

 

[Claudio]

How did you do it? What functions you open the COM port? It is possible to
do the same for a LPT port?

 

[Bela Istok]

If you like to Open the port ltp1 from C# you need to call the windows API
CreateFile

 

[Bela Istok]

See my other post below the Ignacio Machin post

 

[Bela Istok]

This an example to open a ltp and com port from vb.net (I don't find any in
C#, but is the same)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;823179

 

[Ignacio Machin \( .NET/ C# MVP \)]

Hi,

If you like to Open the port ltp1 from C# you need to call the windows API
CreateFile

That's correct.

IIRC there is an article in either MSDN mag or gotdotnet about how to do
this. I used it last year when I had the same issue.

 

[Ignacio Machin \( .NET/ C# MVP \)]

Hi,

Yes, I want to send low level (like: expand and compact charater comands)
and text, for the port lpt1 or a remote printer
(\\servername\printername).

That may be another completely different history, you never mentioned
nothing about it being remote. If so you cannot use the port directly. You
will depend of the windows driver you have installed in your local computer

 

[Bela Istok]

That is true because you need a driver to do the mapping from local to
remote.

 

[Greg Young]

I believe this is exactly what you are looking for ... This would require
you to set it up as a generic printer in windows.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=322091

Cheers,

Greg Young
MVP - C#
http://codebetter.com/blogs/gregyoung

 

[Claudio]

I know I need the driver. What I want is to send text and control characters
directly to a printer. I do not want use windows spool to manage the
printing job. I have already done it, using the API CreateFile function. It
is working well. Thanks for the help.