Are you sure that the DOS application can use the printer? Does the
application have a driver for the printer? Chances are that the printer
is not DOS compatible, many of the newer printers are GDi only and DOS
applications cannot print to them. If the printer doesn't do PCL
emulation chances are DOS applications can't use it, verify with the
printer manufacturer. What is the name of the DOS application and what
is the model number of the printer?
In days of old printers had "brains". The print processing was done by
the printer, the DOS applications only needed to send minimal
instructions to the printer and the printer did all the work of
preparing and assembling the printed documents. These printers were
more expensive than their newer counterparts. In a bid to save money
printer manufacturers have gradually striped all the "brains" out of
their printers in favour of software driven printers, now all the work
is done by software instead of the actual printer hardware, that has
reduced the cost of printers but these printers are "Windows" only
printers and DOS applications cannot use them, or at least cannot use
them without third party solutions. If you want the printer to be DOS
compatible you usually have to pay more for PCL emulation capability.
John