Print from DOS to USB via Microsoft Loopback Adapter question

[comboy]

Hi all,

Firstly I'm just looking for a bit of clairification regarding using MS Loopback adapter to print from a DOS based program written in Pascal on MS XP. I've read up on how to install the loopback adapter and using the net use command my questions are as follows;

1. Can use lpt2+ instead of lpt1.

2. Will this trick work with all USB printers?


Thanks in advance.

 

[DansDadUK]

I've no idea (without looking it up) what a Microsoft Loopback Adapter is, and I can't see the relevance.

The 'net use' command allows an association to be made between a logical parallel-port (LPT1:, LPT2:, etc.) and a Windows printer share, with the intention that 'writes' directed to the original port be redirected to the real port linked to the shared printer.

It will only work with printers which understand whatever your DOS-generated print stream contains.

In most cases, this will probably be (LineFeed-terminated) lines of plain ASCII text.

Most LaserJet devices will handle this, but the (relatively) cheap 'host-based' LaserJet devices won't; nor will most DeskJet devices.