printing under Windows ME using Paradox 4

[Michaelfranzblau]

Since upgrading to Windows ME I can't print reports from Paradox 4. I get a printer not ready message. When I run paradox 4 under windows 98 it works fine.
Is there a way to get paradox 4 to print under Windows ME?
Thank you
Michael Franzblau
av728@lafn.org

 

[Langley]

Well, you might have to monkey with the printer settings for DOS printing (port and spooler settings) - or possibly disable bi-directional communication. Other than that I don't know why you should have a problem.

Mac
Mac

"Gurth a choth-en-America! Tôl acharn..."


langley_mckelvy@cd4.co.harris.tx.us

 

[Michaelfranzblau]

Thanks for your response. Can you suggest how and where to change those settings?
Thank you,
Michael Franzblau

 

[Langley]

Well, it's been a while....

Try Start->Settings->Printers (I think) and right-click the printer you are using as default. Select properties and check the port and spool settings. Try changing one thing at a time and don't forget to try turning off the Bidirectional printing.

Oh, something else I seem to recall from the old Paradox DOS days. In the computer's CMOS settings, try changing the port off the ECP setting to whatever passes for Parallel nowadays. CAUTION: If you don't know what you are doing, stay out of the CMOS and let someone who is familiar with it make the change.

Another thought is to re-install the printer drivers, and make certain that you tell Windows you do use programs that print from DOS when it asks.

Mac

"Gurth a choth-en-America! Tôl acharn..."


langley_mckelvy@cd4.co.harris.tx.us

 

[Michaelfranzblau]

Well I have tried all the things you suggest and I still get the "printer not ready " message.
Any other suggestions?
Is there any special code that goes into the printer setup window?
Thanks for your suggestions.
Michael Franzblau

 

[footpad]

Michael,

Is your printer attached to Windows through a captured printer port or using a UNC? If the latter, you need to capture it to a printer port; otherwise, Paradox/DOS will not be able to recognize it. This is done through the Details of your Printer Driver.

Hope this helps...

-- Lance

 

[Michaelfranzblau]

Thanks for your reply.
I am not sure what a captured printer port or a UNC is. When I click on my printer, An Epson 900, I get a window that says LPT1 and then asks for path. Is the path c:\ and the location of my Paradox folder?
I apologise for my ineptitude.
A lady from Corel says that Paradox 4 doesn't print under Windows ME. I hope she is wrong. She suggests buying Paradox 10.
Thanks for your help and suggestions.
Michael Franzblau
av728@lafn.org

 

[Langley]

Basically what Lance is asking is: Are you using a network printer? If you are, you would need to make sure that LPT1 is captured to that network printer, rather than have the printer going straight to a virtual port (something like \\myserver\printerOne.Q)

The odds that you spoke to someone at Corel who knew jack about Pdox for DOS are slim. I'd keep trying.

Mac

"There are only 10 kinds of people in this world... those who understand binary and those who don't"

langley_mckelvy@cd4.co.harris.tx.us

 

[Michaelfranzblau]

I am not using a network printer. I have one computer connected to one printer.

It is sad that Corel took over Paradox and, at least to my mind, didn't appreciate it's elegance and flexibility.

Thanks for you answer.
Michael Franzblau

 

[footpad]

Michael,

Don't be so quick to blame Corel for the demise of Paradox/DOS. That was a decision Borland made in 1994.

They didn't "license" the Paradox name to Corel until late 1996.

Beyond that, you might try searching Corel's KnowledgeBase (accessible from their Support section) for "Paradox DOS printer problems." there's a lot of information, but it also contains Borland's old TOPIC database, which was what Tech Support used to track useful tidbits of information that helped callers.

It's a long shot at this point, but it's about the only thing I can think of.

I don't have any personal knowledge or experience with ME, so I'm afraid I can't think of anything to suggest. I'll see if I can dig up anything, but I don't have much hope.

Sorry...

-- Lance

 

[Michaelfranzblau]

Still no luck.
Does anyone know whether Paradox 4 prints under Windows 2000? I'm thinking I have to go back to some other OS than Windows ME if I can't get the printer to work. I don't have printing problems with any other program.
Thanks for your thoughts,
Michael Franzblau