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  #11  
Old August 23rd 07, 05:16 AM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion,microsoft.public.win98.printing
Gary S. Terhune[_2_]
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 2,158
Default Dummy printer

The man needs to print to file (a PRN file, I think, not text file) from a
DOS app, something that he can then send to the printer from Windows.
Generic Text to File won't help. Unfortunately, Jerry knows more about it
than I or most others here do.

Hey, Jerry... I have a couple of old dot matrix printers... or maybe my Dad
has them now. Might be the simplest solution to find a used one, not that
it's that simple, g. You still have an LPT port?

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"RobertVA" wrote in message
...
Jerry Bank wrote:
In article ,
says...
You requirement is not quite clear. Does the file you are creating have
to be a print file for a particular type of printer? This would a file
that you then transfer to another machine that has that type of printer
attached, and copy to that printer in order to print it.

Or are you trying to use a print procedure to create a certain document
type, such as plain text or postscript or PDF?

Let me explain precisely what I am trying to do. I have an ancient dos
program that I use to do accounting for a very small business. I would
like to continue using it. However, while it was able to print its
reports to my old dot-matrix printer, it really can't handle my current
laser printer.

The program itself only prints to lpt1. Previously I used the simple
program prn2dos, which sent the printing to a file, which I then edited
and printed out in Windows. Since upgrading my computer it no longer
works.

I have been trying to find a way to do this task. I did find a program
called dos2usb, but it only works erratically.

I would very much appreciate any suggestions as to how I can solve this
problem.

Thanks.

Have your tried installing the Generic Text to file "printer"

You would only need to click a file name and press the "Enter" key when
the file name dialog appears.



  #12  
Old August 23rd 07, 05:22 AM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion,microsoft.public.win98.printing
Gary S. Terhune[_2_]
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 2,158
Default Dummy printer

What, exactly, do you mean when you say you "upgraded" your computer.
Upgraded it from what to what?

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"Jerry Bank" wrote in message
.. .
In article ,
says...
You requirement is not quite clear. Does the file you are creating have
to
be a print file for a particular type of printer? This would a file that
you then transfer to another machine that has that type of printer
attached,
and copy to that printer in order to print it.

Or are you trying to use a print procedure to create a certain document
type, such as plain text or postscript or PDF?

Let me explain precisely what I am trying to do. I have an ancient dos
program that I use to do accounting for a very small business. I would
like to continue using it. However, while it was able to print its
reports to my old dot-matrix printer, it really can't handle my current
laser printer.

The program itself only prints to lpt1. Previously I used the simple
program prn2dos, which sent the printing to a file, which I then edited
and printed out in Windows. Since upgrading my computer it no longer
works.

I have been trying to find a way to do this task. I did find a program
called dos2usb, but it only works erratically.

I would very much appreciate any suggestions as to how I can solve this
problem.

Thanks.
--
Jerry Bank
Trenton, New Jersey
Music is the language of the gods.



  #13  
Old August 23rd 07, 07:00 AM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion,microsoft.public.win98.printing
Brian A.
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 748
Default Dummy printer

I don't know about the OP's laser printer, but all of my printers here have the
option "Print to file" which does save it as a .prn file.

--


Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375


"Gary S. Terhune" none wrote in message
...
The man needs to print to file (a PRN file, I think, not text file) from a DOS app,
something that he can then send to the printer from Windows. Generic Text to File
won't help. Unfortunately, Jerry knows more about it than I or most others here do.

Hey, Jerry... I have a couple of old dot matrix printers... or maybe my Dad has
them now. Might be the simplest solution to find a used one, not that it's that
simple, g. You still have an LPT port?

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"RobertVA" wrote in message
...
Jerry Bank wrote:
In article , says...
You requirement is not quite clear. Does the file you are creating have to be a
print file for a particular type of printer? This would a file that you then
transfer to another machine that has that type of printer attached, and copy to
that printer in order to print it.

Or are you trying to use a print procedure to create a certain document type,
such as plain text or postscript or PDF?

Let me explain precisely what I am trying to do. I have an ancient dos program
that I use to do accounting for a very small business. I would like to continue
using it. However, while it was able to print its reports to my old dot-matrix
printer, it really can't handle my current laser printer.

The program itself only prints to lpt1. Previously I used the simple program
prn2dos, which sent the printing to a file, which I then edited and printed out
in Windows. Since upgrading my computer it no longer works.

I have been trying to find a way to do this task. I did find a program called
dos2usb, but it only works erratically.

I would very much appreciate any suggestions as to how I can solve this problem.

Thanks.

Have your tried installing the Generic Text to file "printer"

You would only need to click a file name and press the "Enter" key when the file
name dialog appears.




  #14  
Old August 23rd 07, 08:42 AM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion,microsoft.public.win98.printing
Franc Zabkar
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 1,702
Default Dummy printer

On Thu, 23 Aug 2007 02:11:06 GMT, Jerry Bank
put finger to keyboard and composed:

In article ,
says...
You requirement is not quite clear. Does the file you are creating have to
be a print file for a particular type of printer? This would a file that
you then transfer to another machine that has that type of printer attached,
and copy to that printer in order to print it.

Or are you trying to use a print procedure to create a certain document
type, such as plain text or postscript or PDF?

Let me explain precisely what I am trying to do. I have an ancient dos
program that I use to do accounting for a very small business. I would
like to continue using it. However, while it was able to print its
reports to my old dot-matrix printer, it really can't handle my current
laser printer.

The program itself only prints to lpt1. Previously I used the simple
program prn2dos, which sent the printing to a file, which I then edited
and printed out in Windows. Since upgrading my computer it no longer
works.

I have been trying to find a way to do this task. I did find a program
called dos2usb, but it only works erratically.

I would very much appreciate any suggestions as to how I can solve this
problem.

Thanks.


Try making your laser a network printer and then remap your LPT1 port
to it:

net use lpt1: \\printer_server\print_share

Having said that, I wonder whether your laser and DMX printers speak
the same language?

For example, HP lasers use PCL whereas Epson DMX printers use ESC/P
control language.

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.
  #15  
Old August 23rd 07, 10:25 AM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion,microsoft.public.win98.printing
Jeff Richards
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 1,526
Default Dummy printer

I would stick with getting prn2dos to work - it is an extremely simple
little utility that uses no special features of DOS and should work in just
about any type of DOS environment. Can you describe the changes you have
made that might have caused prn2dos to stop working?

Do you still have a LPT1 in the DOS where you are running the accounting
application?

What was the symptom of prn2dos ceasing to work?
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"Jerry Bank" wrote in message
.. .
In article ,
says...
You requirement is not quite clear. Does the file you are creating have
to
be a print file for a particular type of printer? This would a file that
you then transfer to another machine that has that type of printer
attached,
and copy to that printer in order to print it.

Or are you trying to use a print procedure to create a certain document
type, such as plain text or postscript or PDF?

Let me explain precisely what I am trying to do. I have an ancient dos
program that I use to do accounting for a very small business. I would
like to continue using it. However, while it was able to print its
reports to my old dot-matrix printer, it really can't handle my current
laser printer.

The program itself only prints to lpt1. Previously I used the simple
program prn2dos, which sent the printing to a file, which I then edited
and printed out in Windows. Since upgrading my computer it no longer
works.

I have been trying to find a way to do this task. I did find a program
called dos2usb, but it only works erratically.

I would very much appreciate any suggestions as to how I can solve this
problem.

Thanks.
--
Jerry Bank
Trenton, New Jersey
Music is the language of the gods.



  #16  
Old August 23rd 07, 11:15 AM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion,microsoft.public.win98.printing
Jeff Richards
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 1,526
Default Dummy printer

.....except that it should be prn2file, if it's the one I'm familiar with.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"Jeff Richards" wrote in message
...
I would stick with getting prn2dos to work - it is an extremely simple
little utility that uses no special features of DOS and should work in just
about any type of DOS environment. Can you describe the changes you have
made that might have caused prn2dos to stop working?

Do you still have a LPT1 in the DOS where you are running the accounting
application?

What was the symptom of prn2dos ceasing to work?
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"Jerry Bank" wrote in message
.. .
In article ,
says...
You requirement is not quite clear. Does the file you are creating have
to
be a print file for a particular type of printer? This would a file
that
you then transfer to another machine that has that type of printer
attached,
and copy to that printer in order to print it.

Or are you trying to use a print procedure to create a certain document
type, such as plain text or postscript or PDF?

Let me explain precisely what I am trying to do. I have an ancient dos
program that I use to do accounting for a very small business. I would
like to continue using it. However, while it was able to print its
reports to my old dot-matrix printer, it really can't handle my current
laser printer.

The program itself only prints to lpt1. Previously I used the simple
program prn2dos, which sent the printing to a file, which I then edited
and printed out in Windows. Since upgrading my computer it no longer
works.

I have been trying to find a way to do this task. I did find a program
called dos2usb, but it only works erratically.

I would very much appreciate any suggestions as to how I can solve this
problem.

Thanks.
--
Jerry Bank
Trenton, New Jersey
Music is the language of the gods.





  #17  
Old August 23rd 07, 02:30 PM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion,microsoft.public.win98.printing
Gary S. Terhune[_2_]
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 2,158
Default Dummy printer

But do they have DOS drivers? Honest, I don't know much about this aspect,
and my laser printers are at the other house.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"Brian A." gonefish'n@afarawaylake wrote in message
...
I don't know about the OP's laser printer, but all of my printers here
have the option "Print to file" which does save it as a .prn file.

--


Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375


"Gary S. Terhune" none wrote in message
...
The man needs to print to file (a PRN file, I think, not text file) from
a DOS app, something that he can then send to the printer from Windows.
Generic Text to File won't help. Unfortunately, Jerry knows more about it
than I or most others here do.

Hey, Jerry... I have a couple of old dot matrix printers... or maybe my
Dad has them now. Might be the simplest solution to find a used one, not
that it's that simple, g. You still have an LPT port?

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"RobertVA" wrote in message
...
Jerry Bank wrote:
In article ,
says...
You requirement is not quite clear. Does the file you are creating
have to be a print file for a particular type of printer? This would
a file that you then transfer to another machine that has that type of
printer attached, and copy to that printer in order to print it.

Or are you trying to use a print procedure to create a certain
document type, such as plain text or postscript or PDF?

Let me explain precisely what I am trying to do. I have an ancient dos
program that I use to do accounting for a very small business. I would
like to continue using it. However, while it was able to print its
reports to my old dot-matrix printer, it really can't handle my current
laser printer.

The program itself only prints to lpt1. Previously I used the simple
program prn2dos, which sent the printing to a file, which I then edited
and printed out in Windows. Since upgrading my computer it no longer
works.

I have been trying to find a way to do this task. I did find a program
called dos2usb, but it only works erratically.

I would very much appreciate any suggestions as to how I can solve this
problem.

Thanks.
Have your tried installing the Generic Text to file "printer"

You would only need to click a file name and press the "Enter" key when
the file name dialog appears.






  #18  
Old August 23rd 07, 04:35 PM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion,microsoft.public.win98.printing
Brian A.
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 748
Default Dummy printer

I don't think DOS drivers are the problem, the problem is printing from DOS to a
USB printer and USB is supported in DOS. Frank has posted what the OP needs to do,
set the printer as shared and direct the LPT1 port, which is supported in DOS, to the
printer via the net use command.

--


Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375


"Gary S. Terhune" none wrote in message
...
But do they have DOS drivers? Honest, I don't know much about this aspect, and my
laser printers are at the other house.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"Brian A." gonefish'n@afarawaylake wrote in message
...
I don't know about the OP's laser printer, but all of my printers here have the
option "Print to file" which does save it as a .prn file.

--


Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375


"Gary S. Terhune" none wrote in message
...
The man needs to print to file (a PRN file, I think, not text file) from a DOS
app, something that he can then send to the printer from Windows. Generic Text to
File won't help. Unfortunately, Jerry knows more about it than I or most others
here do.

Hey, Jerry... I have a couple of old dot matrix printers... or maybe my Dad has
them now. Might be the simplest solution to find a used one, not that it's that
simple, g. You still have an LPT port?

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"RobertVA" wrote in message
...
Jerry Bank wrote:
In article ,
says...
You requirement is not quite clear. Does the file you are creating have to be
a print file for a particular type of printer? This would a file that you
then transfer to another machine that has that type of printer attached, and
copy to that printer in order to print it.

Or are you trying to use a print procedure to create a certain document type,
such as plain text or postscript or PDF?

Let me explain precisely what I am trying to do. I have an ancient dos program
that I use to do accounting for a very small business. I would like to
continue using it. However, while it was able to print its reports to my old
dot-matrix printer, it really can't handle my current laser printer.

The program itself only prints to lpt1. Previously I used the simple program
prn2dos, which sent the printing to a file, which I then edited and printed out
in Windows. Since upgrading my computer it no longer works.

I have been trying to find a way to do this task. I did find a program called
dos2usb, but it only works erratically.

I would very much appreciate any suggestions as to how I can solve this
problem.

Thanks.
Have your tried installing the Generic Text to file "printer"

You would only need to click a file name and press the "Enter" key when the file
name dialog appears.






  #19  
Old August 23rd 07, 04:54 PM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion,microsoft.public.win98.printing
Gary S. Terhune[_2_]
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 2,158
Default Dummy printer

My fuzziness... I figure if you want to print from DOS, you need DOS print
drivers. I wouldn't expect modern printers to be able to do that, though I
don't understand DOS printing all that well, not at all, in fact. Does an
app just send the data to the LPT port? What converts it to PRN?

My color laser printers (HP4550 and Konika-Minolta 3300) both take PS and
PCL. Do they first convert it to PCL? My understanding is that they could
handle both PS and PCL directly, without converting.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"Brian A." gonefish'n@afarawaylake wrote in message
...
I don't think DOS drivers are the problem, the problem is printing from
DOS to a USB printer and USB is supported in DOS. Frank has posted what
the OP needs to do, set the printer as shared and direct the LPT1 port,
which is supported in DOS, to the printer via the net use command.

--


Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375


"Gary S. Terhune" none wrote in message
...
But do they have DOS drivers? Honest, I don't know much about this
aspect, and my laser printers are at the other house.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"Brian A." gonefish'n@afarawaylake wrote in message
...
I don't know about the OP's laser printer, but all of my printers here
have the option "Print to file" which does save it as a .prn file.

--


Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375


"Gary S. Terhune" none wrote in message
...
The man needs to print to file (a PRN file, I think, not text file)
from a DOS app, something that he can then send to the printer from
Windows. Generic Text to File won't help. Unfortunately, Jerry knows
more about it than I or most others here do.

Hey, Jerry... I have a couple of old dot matrix printers... or maybe my
Dad has them now. Might be the simplest solution to find a used one,
not that it's that simple, g. You still have an LPT port?

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"RobertVA" wrote in message
...
Jerry Bank wrote:
In article ,
says...
You requirement is not quite clear. Does the file you are creating
have to be a print file for a particular type of printer? This
would a file that you then transfer to another machine that has that
type of printer attached, and copy to that printer in order to print
it.

Or are you trying to use a print procedure to create a certain
document type, such as plain text or postscript or PDF?

Let me explain precisely what I am trying to do. I have an ancient
dos program that I use to do accounting for a very small business. I
would like to continue using it. However, while it was able to print
its reports to my old dot-matrix printer, it really can't handle my
current laser printer.

The program itself only prints to lpt1. Previously I used the simple
program prn2dos, which sent the printing to a file, which I then
edited and printed out in Windows. Since upgrading my computer it no
longer works.

I have been trying to find a way to do this task. I did find a
program called dos2usb, but it only works erratically.

I would very much appreciate any suggestions as to how I can solve
this problem.

Thanks.
Have your tried installing the Generic Text to file "printer"

You would only need to click a file name and press the "Enter" key
when the file name dialog appears.








  #20  
Old August 23rd 07, 05:08 PM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion,microsoft.public.win98.printing
Brian A.
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 748
Default Dummy printer

Aside from Franks great suggestion, if you don't mind doling out about $20.00 check
out DOSPrn 1.76. It's a program designed to enable the continued use of older DOS
printing programs and today's newer LaserJet printers. It works with all OS's up to
XP and does have a trial period so you can check it out before purchasing if it's
what you need.
http://www.dosprn.com/order.htm

--


Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375


"Jerry Bank" wrote in message
.. .
In article ,
says...
You requirement is not quite clear. Does the file you are creating have to
be a print file for a particular type of printer? This would a file that
you then transfer to another machine that has that type of printer attached,
and copy to that printer in order to print it.

Or are you trying to use a print procedure to create a certain document
type, such as plain text or postscript or PDF?

Let me explain precisely what I am trying to do. I have an ancient dos
program that I use to do accounting for a very small business. I would
like to continue using it. However, while it was able to print its
reports to my old dot-matrix printer, it really can't handle my current
laser printer.

The program itself only prints to lpt1. Previously I used the simple
program prn2dos, which sent the printing to a file, which I then edited
and printed out in Windows. Since upgrading my computer it no longer
works.

I have been trying to find a way to do this task. I did find a program
called dos2usb, but it only works erratically.

I would very much appreciate any suggestions as to how I can solve this
problem.

Thanks.
--
Jerry Bank
Trenton, New Jersey
Music is the language of the gods.


 




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