To add to Chuck's suggestions:
I am left almost speechless. I have no idea what to suggest since I
don't know why a printer file is needed. Some general thoughts on the
subject:
Just about any dot matrix printer can print at 17 cpi. I would have said
every printer made except that someone would find an exception ;-)).
So, let's suppose you install the Epson LQ 860 driver (I picked that one
because I have it installed). Now, create a document in whatever program
selecting Roman 17 CPI as the font. Now print it "to file" and choose a
filename. Next, check the output in an editor. You will not recognise it
as sensible.
The 'Text Only' driver will produce recognisable text as part of the
output together with whatever control codes are needed to put the
printer in 17 cpi mode and select the correct characters from printer
ROM. However, to do that, the driver requires that you put the codes in
the driver setup for the font selection you want. Otherwise the driver
simply allows the printer to use the default font (usually 10 cpi) or
whatever has been set using the printer's front panel controls (if any
there be) or DIP switches (if that is the implemented control method).
So, you have to determine the control codes (sometimes called escape
sequences) the printer needs for 17 cpi and put these in the driver.
Manuals for most printer can be found on line. Also, many impact dot
matrix printers recognise Epson codes but many do not. Also, many do so
by 'emulation' and require printer DIP switch changes or printer control
panel input.
I have no idea if any of this is of any help. In order to suggest
anything useful, more must be known.
Tom Ferguson
: Thanks Chuck. I'm going to try and find out what his old printer was
that
: would print 17cpi and then just install those drivers. I'm guessing
you can
: do that without the actuall printer hooked up, right?
:
: "Chuck" wrote:
:
: > The Select 17 CPI sequence is printer specific. The text file sent
via the
: > Generic driver is basically Ascii Text with any desired printer
commands.
: > For instance if you were using an Epson Esc2 dot matrix printer, the
: > sequence would set to 15 CPI since 17 was not usually available. If
you
: > search on Epson Esc P2 printer commands , you should find a manual
listing
: > common Epson commands.
: >
: > An ascii text file would normally print at whatever default size the
printer
: > is set to. In windows the text file might be brought into Word, and
the
: > formatting changed via word to whatever is desired.
: >
: >
: > : > >I have a friend who is wanting to print an invoice to a file. He
has setup
: > >a
: > > "dummy" printer using the Generic/Text printer driver. He checks
the
: > > "print
: > > to file" check box, however he needs the file to be 17 characters
per
: > > inch.
: > > How do you specify 17 cpi??
: > > We found the "Font Slection" tab in the printer properties and it
does
: > > have
: > > a section for "Select 17 CPI", however it wants you to type
something it.
: > > Does it need a special code to do this??? Any help would be great.
By the
: > > way
: > > we're on XP Pro SP1, printing from Office. Thanks!
: >
: >
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: >
: >
