Printer Question - AXIANT 4GL - A3 Size Reports
Viet Nguyen
VNguyen at wsboces.org
Mon Dec 5 15:09:32 CST 2005
Hi ,
I am not sure that you can send control codes to a windows driver.
I think you might have to set the queue to be a Generic printer driver
before controlling it with pcl escape codes.
Viet.
-----Original Message-----
From: powerh-l-bounces+vnguyen=wsboces.org at lists.sowder.com
[mailto:powerh-l-bounces+vnguyen=wsboces.org at lists.sowder.com] On Behalf
Of Jeff Hoffman
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2005 4:05 PM
To: powerh-l at lists.sowder.com
Subject: Re: Printer Question - AXIANT 4GL - A3 Size Reports
Syed
1) The only documentation I know is usually in the printer manual
2) If it is a HP laser it will have PCL, most other printers also
support
PCL check the manual.
3) yes
Note: under windows you must print to a file and use the DOS print
command
to print the file, otherwise the PCL is lost. The really fun part is
getting the printer to work, its been mentioned before , I just do not
have
the definition to hand.
Another technique you could use that would be more effective, is to
setup
standard PCL commands in text files, then use a bat file like the one
below, this way if you do not want to mix the fonts you do not have to
change your code
*********************
echo Printing %1 to %2 (%3)
rem %1 = file to be printed, %2 = the printer , %3 = the header file
parameter
@echo off
set VPRINTFYL=%VPRPT%\PR%random%
if "%3" == "LC" (set VPRINTHDR=%vpdat%\vprint_LC.txt) else ^
if "%3" == "LN" (set VPRINTHDR=%vpdat%\vprint_L.txt) else ^
(set VPRINTHDR=%vpdat%\vprint_P.txt)
copy %VPRINTHDR% + %1 + %vpdat%\vprint_reset.txt %VPRINTFYL%
print /d:%2 %VPRINTFYL%
del %VPRINTFYL%
set VPRINTFYL=
set VPRINTHDR=
*********************
This just uses 4 standard txt files, 1 each for Landscape , landscape
compressed , portrait & reset.
It just defines a work file, points to a header file depending upon the
3rd
parameter, then copies the header file, the print file & the reset file
to
the work file, then prints the work file.
Sorry I do not have the header files at hand I will try to get them, and
send the to you later. I created them by useing quiz to generate the
initial header, then copy this to a separate file.
Jeff
At 11:44 PM 5/12/2005, you wrote:
>Thank you Jeff,
>
>Sorry for this late mail. I'd been on vacation.
>Thank you for your detailed explanation and sample code.
>I have never used PCL before. That is why this many questions.
>
>May I please know,
>1. How I can get the documentation about using PCL in QUIZ and the
>commands I should use?
> I could not find any help in QUIZ documentation
>2. How do I know if the laserjet printer supports PCL?
>3. In your example, is the INITIAL HEADING command instructs the
printer
>to print in the defined font?
>
>I printed my test report with TWELVE-CPI and TEN-CPI. But there seems
to
>be no difference.
>What change can show me some visible change?
>I have changed definition ESCAPE to ESCAPE1 as it is a key word.
>RESET is also a keyword. But I didn't change it. I have listed the code
I
>used to test. (in fact it is yours).
>
>I'll appreciate if you can help me in this.
>
>;**********************************************
>SET REPORT DEVICE PRINTER NAME $UEV_PRINTER1
>
>define esc_n int*2 = 27
>define esc_c char*2 = characters(esc_n)
>DEFINE ESCAPE1 CHAR*1 = esc_c[1:1]
>DEFINE SIZE-A4 CHAR*8 = ESCAPE1+ "&l26A"
>DEFINE LANDSCAPE-MODE CHAR*8 = ESCAPE1+ "&l1O"
>DEFINE LANDSCAPE-LPP CHAR*8 = ESCAPE1+"&l41P"
>DEFINE LANDSCAPE-LPI CHAR*8 = ESCAPE1+"&l6D"
>DEFINE PORTRAIT-MODE CHAR*8 = ESCAPE1+"&l0O"
>DEFINE PORTRAIT-LPP CHAR*8 = ESCAPE1+"&l85P"
>DEFINE PORTRAIT-LPI CHAR*8 = ESCAPE1+"&l8D"
>DEFINE TWELVE-CPI CHAR*8 = ESCAPE1+"(s12H"
>DEFINE TEN-CPI CHAR*8 = ESCAPE1+"(s10H"
>DEFINE POINT-SIZE-10 CHAR*8 = ESCAPE1+"(s10V"
>DEFINE NORMAL-PRINT CHAR*8 = ESCAPE1+"(s0B"
>DEFINE Compress CHAR*8 = ESCAPE1+"&k2S"
>DEFINE RESET CHAR*2 = ESCAPE1 + "E"
>;------------------------------------------------------------
>
>set rep nolim
>set rep dev pri
>set page len 85
>set page width 132
>SET PAGE NUMBER 1
>
>INITIAL HEADING &
>TAB 001 LANDSCAPE-mode LANDSCAPE-lpp LANDSCAPE-lpi TEN-CPI size-a4 &
>SKIP PAGE
>
>REPORT &
>TAB 1 "HELLO THERE" &
>SKIP &
>TAB 1 "HELLO THERE" &
>SKIP &
>TAB 1 "HELLO THERE" &
>SKIP &
>TAB 1 "HELLO THERE" &
>SKIP &
>TAB 1 "HELLO THERE" &
>SKIP &
>TAB 1 "HELLO THERE" &
>SKIP &
>TAB 1 "HELLO THERE" &
>SKIP &
>TAB 1 "HELLO THERE" &
>SKIP &
>TAB 1 "HELLO THERE" &
>SKIP
>
>
>FINAL FOOTING &
> SKIP 3 TAB 28 "*** END OF REPORT ***" &
> skip tab 1 reset
>
>
>BUILD Report4_PCL_TEST
>;**********************************************************************
*****
>Best Regards,
>SYED.
>
>
>On 10/20/05, Jeff Hoffman
><<mailto:wonicon at optusnet.com.au>wonicon at optusnet.com.au> wrote:
>Syed
>
>If the generic option works and the printer are in good condition, go
for it.
>
>However I would start experimenting using laser printers as they are
>usually available all over the network (that is the users have their
own,
>no cost to your dept.). You could set up a default printer for each
user at
>their specific location.
>
>Also you can print in landscape mode at 16.6 chars per inch (small but
>legible, you would have to find out if your users if the size is
>acceptable) this would give you over 182 character per line, at 12
chars
>per inch you get over 132 chars per line.
>At 8 line per inch you can get over 48 lines per page landscape.
>
>In this I am assuming that you laser printers support PCL.
>
>Something there doing where I work at the moment is convert the print
files
>to PDL format (for use with acrobat reader) these can then be e-mailed
or
>put onto the web for distribution, but I think this is over kill, but
worth
>looking into for the future.
>
>The following is an indication of how to use PCL in quiz report.
>
>Good luck
>
>Jeff
>
>***********************************************************************
*****************************************************
>
>;------------------------------------------------------------
>define esc_n int*2 = 27
>define esc_c char*2 = characters(esc_n)
>DEFINE ESCAPE CHAR*1 = esc_c[1:1]
>DEFINE ESCAPE CHAR*1 = esc_c[1:1]
>DEFINE SIZE-A4 CHAR*8 = ESCAPE+ "&l26A"
>DEFINE LANDSCAPE-MODE CHAR*8 = ESCAPE+ "&l1O"
>DEFINE LANDSCAPE-LPP CHAR*8 = ESCAPE+"&l41P"
>DEFINE LANDSCAPE-LPI CHAR*8 = ESCAPE+"&l6D"
>DEFINE PORTRAIT-MODE CHAR*8 = ESCAPE+"&l0O"
>DEFINE PORTRAIT-LPP CHAR*8 = ESCAPE+"&l85P"
>DEFINE PORTRAIT-LPI CHAR*8 = ESCAPE+"&l8D"
>DEFINE TWELVE-CPI CHAR*8 = ESCAPE+"(s12H"
>DEFINE TEN-CPI CHAR*8 = ESCAPE+"(s10H"
>DEFINE POINT-SIZE-10 CHAR*8 = ESCAPE+"(s10V"
>DEFINE NORMAL-PRINT CHAR*8 = ESCAPE+"(s0B"
>DEFINE Compress CHAR*8 = ESCAPE+"&k2S"
>DEFINE RESET CHAR*2 = ESCAPE + "E"
>;------------------------------------------------------------
>
>set rep nolim
>set rep dev pri
>set page len 85
>set page width 132
>SET PAGE NUMBER 1
>
>INITIAL HEADING &
>TAB 001 portrait-mode portrait-lpp portrait-lpi compress size-a4 &
>SKIP PAGE
>
>FINAL FOOTING &
> SKIP 3 TAB 28 "*** END OF REPORT ***" &
> skip tab 1 reset
>***********************************************************************
***
>SET REPORT NOLIMIT
>set rep dev pri
>set page len 41
>set page width 132
>SET PAGE NUMBER 1
>
>INITIAL HEADING &
>TAB 001 LANDSCAPE-mode LANDSCAPE-lpp LANDSCAPE-lpi twelve-CPI size-a4 &
>SKIP PAGE
>
>FINAL FOOTING &
> SKIP 3 TAB 28 "*** END OF REPORT ***" &
> skip tab 1 reset
>
>***********************************************************************
*****************************************************
>
>
>At 08:50 AM 19/10/2005, you wrote:
> >Hi Syed,
> >We have used Hp2566 and similar.
> >They need a serial attachment {or network/parallel} if they have it
to any
> >PC/Print sharer. They need to be shared from that machine, thus
visible
> from
> >the server via UNC i.e. \\PSERVER1\HP2566 etc
> >As Jeff mentioned below; you will have to use the NT
> >Print
> >Command as per the insert below
> >
> >Rem ================================================
> >Rem Report Printer
> >Rem ================================================
> >Set My_Prn_Device=\\PServ2\HPI1
> >Rem ================================================
> >Rem Send Output to Chosen Printer
> >Rem ================================================
> >If Exist %Ph_ZOutput%.txt Print /d:%My_Prn_Device% %Ph_ZOutput%.txt
> >
> >or similar! This is an snippet from a server executed bat file.
> >
> >This method will honour any embedded escape sequences for compressed
etc
> >that may have been used on the Hp.
> >We use a series of escape sequences embedded into Page Headings etc
to
> >address laser printers.
> >If you have any let me know and I can forward a PCL.QZS use file;
which I
> >received from the list some years back.
> >
> >In short you shouldn't have to replace your printers - unless you
choose to.
> >You WILL need a non Hp3000 serial printer cable to connect the Hp2566
etc to
> >a PC/Print sharer. I'll check those specifications and get back to
you. From
> >emmory it's a "standard" serial printer cable UNLIKE the Hp cable you
> may be
> >using. This might explain your lack of output.
> >Sincerely
> >Glenn Baxter
> >=======================
> >Baxter IT Solutions Pty Ltd
> >=======================
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Jeff Hoffman [mailto:wonicon at optusnet.com.au]
> >Sent: Wednesday, 19 October 2005 8:21 AM
> >To: <mailto:powerh-l at lists.sowder.com>powerh-l at lists.sowder.com
> >Subject: Re: Printer Question - AXIANT 4GL - A3 Size Reports
> >
> >Syed
> >
> >I forgot to add that if you start using PCL control characters (the
> >temptation will be great to use some of the facilities of a laser),
windows
> >printing will strip some of the control characters out, so you would
have
> >to print to a file then use DOS print command, now that is fun!!!!
> >
> >Jeff
> >
> >At 08:11 AM 19/10/2005, you wrote:
> >
> > >Syed
> > >
> > >Laser printers I think are the best, just set the default font to
courier
> > >size 10 or 11 depending upon what will fit your largest report. The
main
> > >problem is volume of printing required at each print station, the
> cheapies
> > >only support low volume work, if you get one that has a 2 to 3,000
sheet
> > >feeder should suffice. You could most probable replace a few of the
old
> > >dot matix printers with one laser but do not forget redundancy, you
> should
> > >allow for the fact that they do break down.
> > >
> > >I personally would recommend a HP laser (has the best PCL support),
but I
> > >have used a Lexmark lasers as it had a 4,000 sheet (A4) feeded, I
could
> > >load the paper at the beginning of the day and just forget about
it.
> > >
> > >Jeff
> > >
> > >At 05:07 AM 19/10/2005, you wrote:
> > >
> > >>Dear Gurus,
> > >>Quick Intro: I've migrated a PH/MPEIX application to
AXIANT4GL/WINDOWS
> > >>(Thin Client).
> > >>
> > >>The printers currently in use in MPEIX are
> > >> (1) HP 2566 C
> > >>and (2) HP 2563 A.
> > >>
> > >>These dot matrix printers doesn't seem to work with Windows. The
> > >>infrastructure guys say that no Windows XP drivers are available
for
> > >>these printers.
> > >>
> > >>My problem is, these printers are printing A3 size reports.
> > >>Can anyone help me in knowing the best replacement for these
printers in
> > >>Windows XP/2003 to print A3 reports.
> > >>I don't have the option of reformatting the reports to A4 size.
> > >>
> > >>I'd appreciate your efforts to help me out of this issue.
> > >>
> > >>Thanks and Regards,
> > >>SYED
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>--
--
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
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