Printing Problems

[Binder]

Hi Im posting this for our fellow member Carlton
here is his Email posted with his permission

Thanks for the info.
>> I recently bought a Brother laser jet printer HL-2040 which has a
>> USB and parallel ports; I previously used a hewitt packard laser
>> printer 6L; The new printer is great for standard work-but it won't
>> print DOS val2 files(even using the parallel port).I wonder how long
>> the HP will last-I have to do racing forms one page at a time
>> manually.
>> I have about another week before the deadline on returning the
>> Brother printer.Do you have any suggestions re software packages
>> that would work or an alternative printer.Cost is an issue-Brother
>> unit came to $89 after rebate!
>>
>> Hope you can help or perhaps you know somebody who is knowledgeable
>> in this area.
>> carlton r palm >
>>

[Fast4522]

My number one consideration with laser printers is the toner cartrige, I also have a HP 6L that needs sheets fed from the top because it will eat too many sheets, My HP 6L lasted about 6 years problem free and its cartriges were $59. Today I am happy to say I have a newer HP 1012 I got from Staples for $99 after rebates. As a Sams Club member a new toner cartrige cost $62 and I think I use 2 to 3 per year with heavy printing. As far as old dos printing I use Binders notepad method. I am very happy with the longevity and performance of HP printers and my 1012 does not have a old style centronics printer connector, its usb. But it is a great network printer with 4 computers and two floors that share the same printer so connectivity is another consideration.

[cprescigno]

Bill,

There are two possible causes for the problem.
One might be using the USB instead of the parallel connection for the printer.
Tell him to try the parallel connection and see what happens.
The other is his program is probably configured for HPPL which is what HP uses for their laser printers. It's their version of PostScript. I think it stood for HP Printer Language. If he can put his printer into HP mode it might work. Most brands other than HP have and HP emulation mode. That might work.
I hope this helps.

Charlie

[cprescigno]

Bill,

That HP printing language was called HPPCL which was Hewlett Packard Printer Control Language.

I checked on my program Speculator to see how Guy hits the printer. With me he set it up for a Windows printer which means he is passing a text file over to notepad and issuing a print command.
I am going to assume that your friend's program is not set up the same way and he is set up for DOS printing. If it was set up as a Windows printer the printer would probably work regardless of the connection since once the file is in Notepad the Windows print process takes over and will be set up for his current printer.
In DOS mode I am going to have to make some assumptions. Guy is probably sending out a text file in either ANSI or ASCII out to the LPT1 (printer port). If he can put the printer in HP emulation mode from the printers control panel and he is connected through the Parallel port the printer should work.
Again I hope this helps,

Charlie

[socantra]

He might want to try the dosprn utility. It helps with a lot of dos/windows printing problems. I believe it costs $15 and is shareware, so he can see if it works before he pays for it.

www.dosprn.com

dick...