prn file

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jim ISP
  • Start date Start date
J

Jim ISP

I want to read the txt in a prn file on screen without printing it.
google not much help.
tnx
slld
 
Jim ISP said:
I want to read the txt in a prn file on screen without printing
it.
Click to expand...

With a bit of luck (depending on your printer driver), the file
contains PostScript code that can be viewed using GhostScript.

See http://www.ghostscript.com for downloads, you probably also want
GSView (available from the same site) which is a handy GUI for using
PostScript.

Regards,
Wald
 
I want to read the txt in a prn file on screen without printing it.
Click to expand...

As Wald indicated: your opportunities depend on the format of the *.prn
file. If you only want to get a text output from an application, then
you should install the printer <Standard->Generic/Text Only> and connect
it to <File:>. This way you can open the output within your favorite
text viewer/editor without interfering control chars.

The solution for Postscript files Wald suggested is the most common
one and works in nearly all circumstances. You should install a
Postscript compatible printer driver (like one of the Apple Color
LaserWriter PS ones), if you want formatted output including pictures
and such. If you (again) connect the driver to <File:>, then you can
read output from arbitrary applications within Ghostscript/Ghostview,
at any time.

Similar possibilities provide *.pdf printer drivers. After printing to
*.pdf you can select and extract any portion of written text. (I refer
to text which is not contained within pictures and such.)

If you have a specific *.prn-file wich is *not* text or Postscript,
then you need a different reader program. There has been a Russian
converter for Epson compatible files available (EscToRtf). I can't
say, whether it is still on the Net, somewhere. The hp2xx GNU project
for conversation of HP-GL printer files is still active, though:

http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/hp2xx.htm

Other programs are available. But most are not free.

BeAr
 
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