Dummy printer

[Jerry Bank]

I would like to set up a dummy printer that will print to a file. I know
that I can specify the port at "FILE:", which will create a file on the
disc. However, I don't want to have to respecify the file name each
time. Is there a way to have it go to the same file each time.

Someone suggested using adding a port and specifying "local port"',
however I don't seem to know the syntax for doing that. When I specify
"local port" it asks for the port name, and I don't know what to put. I
tried putting in the file name, but that get rejected.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[Gary S. Terhune]

Don't know the answer, but I'm cross-posting this to the Win98 General
group, since this one gets very little traffic.
--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

Post by Jerry Bank
I would like to set up a dummy printer that will print to a file. I know
that I can specify the port at "FILE:", which will create a file on the
disc. However, I don't want to have to respecify the file name each
time. Is there a way to have it go to the same file each time.
Someone suggested using adding a port and specifying "local port"',
however I don't seem to know the syntax for doing that. When I specify
"local port" it asks for the port name, and I don't know what to put. I
tried putting in the file name, but that get rejected.
Any suggestions?
Thanks.
--
Jerry Bank
Trenton, New Jersey
Music is the language of the gods.

[Jerry Bank]

In article <#***@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>, "Gary S. Terhune"
<none> says...

Post by Gary S. Terhune
Don't know the answer, but I'm cross-posting this to the Win98 General
group, since this one gets very little traffic.

Thanks.

[Gary S. Terhune]

Just to reiterate, your original post was:

I would like to set up a dummy printer that will print to a file. I know
that I can specify the port at "FILE:", which will create a file on the
disc. However, I don't want to have to respecify the file name each
time. Is there a way to have it go to the same file each time.

Someone suggested using adding a port and specifying "local port"',
however I don't seem to know the syntax for doing that. When I specify
"local port" it asks for the port name, and I don't know what to put. I
tried putting in the file name, but that get rejected.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Post by Jerry Bank
<none> says...

Post by Gary S. Terhune
Don't know the answer, but I'm cross-posting this to the Win98 General
group, since this one gets very little traffic.

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

[AlmostBob]

http://www.filedudes.com/Miraplacid_Text_Driver-download-8938.html

""Miraplacid Text Driver 4.4 for Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/2003 extracts text
from any printable documents. After installation on your PC, Miraplacid Text
Driver appears as a new printer in your system. When document is printed,
Miraplacid Text Driver opens a dialog with Preview Window. You can save
resulting text to disk, upload to FTP or HTTP server,or print them to a real
printer or send to Clipboard.
You can save the extracted information as plain, formatted text or as XML
for future processing in all installed codepages and Unicode.
Miraplacid Text Driver 4.4 adds icon to desktop. All the documents you drag
and drop to this icon will be printed behind the scenes and processed by
Miraplacid Text Driver. Turn "Auto Save Mode" on if you want Miraplacid Text
Driver to save all the extracted text to a file without waiting for your
input. If you want every document to be saved to an individual file, add
{{DATE}}, {{TIME}}, {{IDENTITY}}, {{PAGE}} or {{JOB}} to the file name or
path. They will be replaced with current date, time, some unique number,
page number and print job id respectively.
With "Redirect" option, you can print original print job to your physical
printer at the time of extracting text.""

This might do what you want, I had the link lying around have several band
printers arent directly supported in win98
--
-- -- -- -- --
Adaware http://www.lavasoft.de
spybot http://www.safer-networking.org
AVG free antivirus http://free.grisoft.com/
Etrust/Vet/CA.online Antivirus scan
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
Super Antispyware http://www.superantispyware.com/
Panda online AntiVirus scan http://www.activescan.com
Panda online AntiSpyware Scan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/virus_info/spyware/test/
Catalog of removal tools (1)
http://www.pandasoftware.com/download/utilities/
Catalog of removal tools (2)
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/newsinfo/collateral.aspx?CID=40387
Trouble Shooting guide to Windows http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/
Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts file
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
links provided as a courtesy, read all instructions on the pages before
use
Grateful thanks to the authors/webmasters
_

Post by Jerry Bank
I would like to set up a dummy printer that will print to a file. I know
that I can specify the port at "FILE:", which will create a file on the
disc. However, I don't want to have to respecify the file name each
time. Is there a way to have it go to the same file each time.
Someone suggested using adding a port and specifying "local port"',
however I don't seem to know the syntax for doing that. When I specify
"local port" it asks for the port name, and I don't know what to put. I
tried putting in the file name, but that get rejected.
Any suggestions?
Thanks.

Post by Jerry Bank
<none> says...

Post by Gary S. Terhune
Don't know the answer, but I'm cross-posting this to the Win98 General
group, since this one gets very little traffic.

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

[Jeff Richards]

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?
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)

Post by Jerry Bank
I would like to set up a dummy printer that will print to a file. I know
that I can specify the port at "FILE:", which will create a file on the
disc. However, I don't want to have to respecify the file name each
time. Is there a way to have it go to the same file each time.
Someone suggested using adding a port and specifying "local port"',
however I don't seem to know the syntax for doing that. When I specify
"local port" it asks for the port name, and I don't know what to put. I
tried putting in the file name, but that get rejected.
Any suggestions?
Thanks.

Post by Jerry Bank
<none> says...

Post by Gary S. Terhune
Don't know the answer, but I'm cross-posting this to the Win98 General
group, since this one gets very little traffic.

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

[Jerry Bank]

In article <***@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>, ***@msn.com.au
says...

Post by Jeff Richards
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.

[RobertVA]

Post by Jerry Bank
says...

Post by Jeff Richards
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.

[Gary S. Terhune]

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

Post by RobertVA

Post by Jerry Bank
says...

Post by Jeff Richards
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.

[Brian A.]

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

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

Post by RobertVA

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.

[Gary S. Terhune]

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

Post by Brian A.
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

Post by Gary S. Terhune
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

Post by RobertVA

Post by Jerry Bank

Post by Jeff Richards
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.

[Brian A.]

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

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

Post by Brian A.
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

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

Post by RobertVA

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.

[Gary S. Terhune]

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

Post by Brian A.
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

Post by Gary S. Terhune
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

Post by Brian A.
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

Post by Gary S. Terhune
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

Post by RobertVA

Post by Jerry Bank

Post by Jeff Richards
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.

[Brian A.]

Instead of my mumble jumble, have a look-see here:
http://www1.itrc.hp.com/service/james/search.do?todo=search&searchtext=print+in+dos&from=bsdforums&origin=0&wpa=forums1.itrc.hp.com%3A80&searchcategory=ALL&hpl=1&searchcriteria=allwords&rn=25&source=7000&presort=rank&chkServStor=on&esc=support.itrc.hp.com&admit=-682735245+1187885973664+28353475

or: http://tinyurl.com/235suz
--
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

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

Post by Brian A.
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

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

Post by Brian A.
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

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

Post by RobertVA

Post by Jerry Bank
says...

Post by Jeff Richards
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.

[Gary S. Terhune]

Reading the thread on problems printing from DOS under XP, I found the
following:
http://www.dosprn.com/

Looks like it should do what Jerry wants. Oh, I see you already got to that
one. OK, I'll just go ahead and go to my doctor's appointment. Everything
seems under control here, <s>.
--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

Post by Brian A.
http://www1.itrc.hp.com/service/james/search.do?todo=search&searchtext=print+in+dos&from=bsdforums&origin=0&wpa=forums1.itrc.hp.com%3A80&searchcategory=ALL&hpl=1&searchcriteria=allwords&rn=25&source=7000&presort=rank&chkServStor=on&esc=support.itrc.hp.com&admit=-682735245+1187885973664+28353475
or: http://tinyurl.com/235suz
--
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

Post by Gary S. Terhune
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

Post by Brian A.
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

Post by Gary S. Terhune
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

Post by Brian A.
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

Post by Gary S. Terhune
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

Post by RobertVA

Post by Jerry Bank

Post by Jeff Richards
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.

[Brian A.]

Mumble-Jumble aside, this app would be of much greater use to Jerry:
http://www.dosprn.com/readme.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

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

Post by Brian A.
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

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

Post by Brian A.
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

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

Post by RobertVA

Post by Jerry Bank
says...

Post by Jeff Richards
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.

[RobertVA]

Post by Gary S. Terhune
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.

Most DOS programs sent the data directly to the printer port. IF the
application was designed to do ANY text formating the application had to
include code for various printer manufacturer specific data sequences to
control things like bold face, italic and fonts. Unless the page was
rendered as a full sheet graphic image, font heights for dot matrix
printers were limited to the print head height and a line of text would
be constrained to a single band of the print head's output. Many dot
matrix printers would only print text in portrait orientation.

Many applications printed text as streams of control codes for things
like italics, bold face and underline mixed with the actual ASCII codes
for the document text. The data stream on the printer port would have
resembled a word processing application's storage file format.

A couple of popular printer brands were the subject of frequent
emulation by other brands. This emulation was accomplished entirely in
the the printer. Thus the application would be set to print on an
standard Epson dot matrix printer model while some other brand of
printer with Epson emulation capabilities was actually attached to the
physical LPT1: port. Laser printers typically emulated a Hewlett Packard
Laserjet II. Printing complex pages on a laser printer typically
required a couple of Megabyte of RAM in the printer for font downloads
OR image rasters, which could exceed a MB for a 8.5"X 11" page. Some
users utilized a ROM font cartrage in the printer to alleviate the font
download requirements. Many laser printers did have some nifty abilities
for portrait orientation output including a reduced size emulation of
14" wide line printer output.

[Gary S. Terhune]

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

Post by Jerry Bank
says...

Post by Jeff Richards
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.

[Franc Zabkar]

Post by Jerry Bank
says...

Post by Jeff Richards
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

[Jeff Richards]

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)

Post by Jerry Bank
says...

Post by Jeff Richards
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.

[Jeff Richards]

....except that it should be prn2file, if it's the one I'm familiar with.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)

Post by Jeff Richards
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)

Post by Jerry Bank
says...

Post by Jeff Richards
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.

[Brian A.]

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

Post by Jerry Bank
says...

Post by Jeff Richards
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.

[Brian A.]

BTW, click on the Manual link on the page for info with graphics.
--
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

Post by Brian A.
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

Post by Jerry Bank
says...

Post by Jeff Richards
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.

[Don Phillipson]

Post by Jerry Bank
I would like to set up a dummy printer that will print to a file. I know
that I can specify the port at "FILE:", which will create a file on the
disc. However, I don't want to have to respecify the file name each
time. Is there a way to have it go to the same file each time.

The main undecided item here is whether you wish to concatenate
data here (like DOS pipe >> ) or to overwrite (DOS > ). Either way,
/ Print / to File Device
will prompt you for a filename. You could no doubt program the
pipe >> function to append new file contents to the existing
file of the same name. But I doubt the standard Windows or DOS
will do this for you.

[Gary S. Terhune]

Would take a script to automatically create new filenames based upon whether an old one already exists. Something I've done quite a few times, though not for this purpose.
--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

Post by Don Phillipson

Post by Jerry Bank
I would like to set up a dummy printer that will print to a file. I know
that I can specify the port at "FILE:", which will create a file on the
disc. However, I don't want to have to respecify the file name each
time. Is there a way to have it go to the same file each time.

The main undecided item here is whether you wish to concatenate
data here (like DOS pipe >> ) or to overwrite (DOS > ). Either way,
/ Print / to File Device
will prompt you for a filename. You could no doubt program the
pipe >> function to append new file contents to the existing
file of the same name. But I doubt the standard Windows or DOS
will do this for you.
--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)