I have a printer attaced to my computer via USB. Windows programs such as Word and Excel can address it directly. But if I want to use the command PRINT, I have to use a shared name as follows: PRINT /D:\\OFFICE1\PRINTER3 REPORT.PRN. This sends the print job to the router, back to my computer, then to the printer. Is there some way to address the printer directly with the PRINT command?
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USB Printer
- Thread starter webrabbit
- Start date
tootiredtocare
Technical User
When you use the print command, have you tried to address the printer using its port designation ??? I can't try it here but it's a thought that just popped into my head. I remember you could do it to port lpt1 back in the parallel printer port days
- Thread starter
- #4
I've tried NET USE to remap a port to the printer. But it does the same thing, the print sob is sent to the router, then back to my computer and then to the printer. If my computer is not connected to a router, that process does not work. But programs such as Word and Excel can still print, addressing the printer directly.
This any help?
Robert Wilensky:
We've all heard that a million monkeys banging on a million typewriters will eventually reproduce the entire works of Shakespeare. Now, thanks to the Internet, we know this is not true.
Robert Wilensky:
We've all heard that a million monkeys banging on a million typewriters will eventually reproduce the entire works of Shakespeare. Now, thanks to the Internet, we know this is not true.
- Thread starter
- #6
Yes, this would work, if I wanted to use a USB printer on a stand-alone computer. But in my case, I just want to use the printer when the network is down, which it usually is not but sometimes is. As I said, it works fine from a Windows program such as Word or Excel, regardless of the status of the network.
Please note that under Windows XP and later, the command line is not DOS. It is CMD.EXE, not COMMAND.COM. Most of the commands are Windows programs and do no have the limitations of DOS programs. Of course CMD.EXE can run old DOS programs just fine in most cases. But PRINT, even though it has the same name as the old DOS program, is not a DOS program, it is a Windows program. Why can it not have the same functionality as other Windows programs?
Please note that under Windows XP and later, the command line is not DOS. It is CMD.EXE, not COMMAND.COM. Most of the commands are Windows programs and do no have the limitations of DOS programs. Of course CMD.EXE can run old DOS programs just fine in most cases. But PRINT, even though it has the same name as the old DOS program, is not a DOS program, it is a Windows program. Why can it not have the same functionality as other Windows programs?
- Thread starter
- #7
You need to use the "/PERSISTENT" switch with 'NET USE' in order for the computer to retain that statement.
-Dave Summers-
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Even more Fox stuff at:
-Dave Summers-
Even more Fox stuff at:
- Thread starter
- #9
/PERSISTANT" only refers to multiple log-on sessions. There is a way to change the 15 minute limit. The help for NET USE refers to another command to do that, but I cannot get the syntax for that command. Simply typing in the command only displays a report. HELP does not show the command, and the /? switch does nothing.
But, as I said, I want to access the printer regardless of the state of the network. Any referance to the printer as //computer_name/printer_name requires that the network be up. Other Windows programs apparently use a different referance; PRINT, being a Windows program, should also have that capacity.
But, as I said, I want to access the printer regardless of the state of the network. Any referance to the printer as //computer_name/printer_name requires that the network be up. Other Windows programs apparently use a different referance; PRINT, being a Windows program, should also have that capacity.
Hi webrabbit,
Does this article help?
If not could you use this?
Marc
Does this article help?
If not could you use this?
Marc
- Thread starter
- #11
Either one looks like it would work. I'll try the spooling thing first, although when I messed with the ports for the printer before, I totally disabled it and had to disconect the printer and delete it from the system, then re-install it.
The DOSPRINT program looks interesting. It says "free". Does that mean free to try, free and we would like a donation, or what.
The DOSPRINT program looks interesting. It says "free". Does that mean free to try, free and we would like a donation, or what.
- Thread starter
- #12
See this also:
Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"
Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"
- Thread starter
- #14
I already tried DOSPRN. It doesn't capture the LPT1 port under Windows XP, and stll needs the network.
I tried the shareware version of PRINTFIL. It is basically a glorified version of DOSPRN, which works for Windows XP, but clumsily. I got it to work with one of my HP's but not the other. The test pages were littered with garbage and not complete, leaving the printer in a state of suspense with the ready light blinking. Normally that means a partial page is in the printer and can be printed by pressing the print button. But in this case, nothing happended and I had to press the reset button to clear the condition. There is no GUI menu, just a text menu that basically asks you to register. Why would I buy the full version if the trial version doesn't work? Oh, and it cannot be removed through any Windows removal function, I had to delete all the files myself.
I tried the shareware version of PRINTFIL. It is basically a glorified version of DOSPRN, which works for Windows XP, but clumsily. I got it to work with one of my HP's but not the other. The test pages were littered with garbage and not complete, leaving the printer in a state of suspense with the ready light blinking. Normally that means a partial page is in the printer and can be printed by pressing the print button. But in this case, nothing happended and I had to press the reset button to clear the condition. There is no GUI menu, just a text menu that basically asks you to register. Why would I buy the full version if the trial version doesn't work? Oh, and it cannot be removed through any Windows removal function, I had to delete all the files myself.
sorry to hear that about the PrintFil dilemma...
have you tried it with the loopback adapter that was mentioned by Sympology?
or perhaps this app might be the ticket:
RedMon - Redirection Port Monitor
Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"
have you tried it with the loopback adapter that was mentioned by Sympology?
or perhaps this app might be the ticket:
RedMon - Redirection Port Monitor
Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"
- Thread starter
- #16
Nevermind... your call...
Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"
Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"
- Thread starter
- #19
As a test, I installed PrintFIL and restarted...
1. I then went to uninstall it from the control panel (Add or Remove Programs)... it uninstalled flawlessly!
2. no traces of it to be found in the Program Files folder, nor in the Autostart Folder (Startmenu where it drops a link)...
so I don't know where your problem lies...
my suggestion:
1. check the Autorstart Folder, remove the link...
2. check the Program Files folder and remove the folder (seeing that you tried to uninstall it before but strangely did not succeed)...
3. restart for good measure...
Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"
not true...
1. I then went to uninstall it from the control panel (Add or Remove Programs)... it uninstalled flawlessly!
2. no traces of it to be found in the Program Files folder, nor in the Autostart Folder (Startmenu where it drops a link)...
so I don't know where your problem lies...
my suggestion:
1. check the Autorstart Folder, remove the link...
2. check the Program Files folder and remove the folder (seeing that you tried to uninstall it before but strangely did not succeed)...
3. restart for good measure...
Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"
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