Printing From DOS Application

[Chris Guimbellot]

Hello,

Win2K. I have a DOS accounting system. I also have a USB printer hooked to
my system. I have been trying to make the accounting app be able to print to
the printer. So far, no luck. Here is what I have tried:

1. Sharing the printer and running the NET USE command to set the shared
printer to LPT1. No luck. The net use command worked and the accounting
system sent the print command to it, but the printer received it as 2
documents (should be one) and the printer window containing the document
keeps refreshing itself.

2. Enabling pooling on that printer and adding the LPT1 port to it. That
allowed the accounting system to print to it, but then it seemed to start
having problems. Now, when I print a doc (in this case, an Excel doc), it
gives me an error. I went back to the accounting system, tried to print a
doc, and when I opened the printers window, it just never prints.

I have poked around on the web, but these are the only solutions I have
found. Any ideas on this? I am not sure what else to try. Thanks,

Chris

 

[Mark Brown[MSFT]]

| From: "Chris Guimbellot" <[email protected]>
| Subject: Printing From DOS Application
| Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2004 09:55:55 -0400
|
| Hello,
|
| Win2K. I have a DOS accounting system. I also have a USB printer hooked to
| my system. I have been trying to make the accounting app be able to print
to
| the printer. So far, no luck. Here is what I have tried:
|
| 1. Sharing the printer and running the NET USE command to set the shared
| printer to LPT1. No luck. The net use command worked and the accounting
| system sent the print command to it, but the printer received it as 2
| documents (should be one) and the printer window containing the document
| keeps refreshing itself.
|
| 2. Enabling pooling on that printer and adding the LPT1 port to it. That
| allowed the accounting system to print to it, but then it seemed to start
| having problems. Now, when I print a doc (in this case, an Excel doc), it
| gives me an error. I went back to the accounting system, tried to print a
| doc, and when I opened the printers window, it just never prints.
|
| I have poked around on the web, but these are the only solutions I have
| found. Any ideas on this? I am not sure what else to try. Thanks,
|
| Chris
|
|
|

Hi Chris,
There are a few things that we might be able to try on this issue.

First can we check to see if we are working with a supported printer with
Windows 2000.
Please locate your printer at this site.
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/search.mspx

Next we can try to establish if your printer that you are trying to use can
work using the "generic print driver". If this is successful then we should
look to the manufacturer for the
latest print driver that supports "print pooling" and Bi-directional
printing as you are using.

please try this and let us know.
Thanks
~~ Mark Brown ~~
~ Performance Support Specialist,
~ Microsoft Enterprise Platforms Support
~ This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.
~ Use of included script samples are subject to the terms specified at
http://www.microsoft.com/info/cpyright.htm
~ Note: For the benefit of the community-at-large, all responses to this
message are best directed to the newsgroup/thread from which they
originated.

 

[Chris Guimbellot]

Mark,

Thanks for the response.

First can we check to see if we are working with a supported printer with
Windows 2000.
Please locate your printer at this site.
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/search.mspx

I did not find the printer on the HCL. I think its because it is pretty new.
It is a HP DeskJet 5150. I did go to hp's site and it lists drivers for
Win2K.
(http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?product=304431&cc=us&lc=en&
dlc=&os=181). Of course, the original disk had the correct drivers too.

Next we can try to establish if your printer that you are trying to use can
work using the "generic print driver".

How do I do this?

If this is successful then we should
look to the manufacturer for the
latest print driver that supports "print pooling" and Bi-directional
printing as you are using.

How would I know if the driver supports these two features? According to the
printer proerties, both of these options are available with the driver I
currently have installed. Is there something else I need to do? Thanks,

Chris