Printing from old FoxBase application

[sublime167]

Hello,
I've been using VDos to access an old FoxBase application for a number of years on Windows 7 - 10.  Recently, about the last couple months, when I print out a data plot to a Panasonic dot matrix printer the plot cuts off the last few lines until I print another data plot.  It will finish printing the last few lines of the first plot then print out the second plot and cut off the last few lines of that one.  The plot is correct in the #lpt1.txt but it won't print properly from notepad.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Jos]

vDos has to determine when a DOS print job is supposed to be finished. Then eventually interpreter (no RAW option) the output, and send that to the Windows printer driver.
By default vDos uses a simple timeout like other (external) DOS-to-Windows print processors. But that timeout (5 seconds, 1 second if the last command was a form feed) could certainly not be optimal for your DOS app.
Seems like your DOS app is running slower since the problem manifested. Not that surprising with Windows updates. The latest ones came with a slower performance.

You have to experiment with the TIO option, so the pages are not broken, meanwhile also let the printer respond quicker than just after 5 seconds (or 1). In this order:

TIO:0
TIO: files
TIO: KEY
TIO: 6 (or higher, how many seconds you are willing to wait)

Can’t help this eventual experimenting. DOS printing differs from Windows printing.

Also have a look at Printing.pdf for all print options.

Jos

[sublime167]

Thanks a lot, Jos. This was going to be my next direction but I wasn't certain why the sudden change in behavior after about 6 years of use. I suppose I'm luck it worked so perfectly for that long.

[sublime167]

So I'm thinking this isn't a vDos or Foxbase issue but rather a Windows 10 issue. Everything I print from any application cuts off right before the end, including simple Windows test pages. I'm trying to spin up an old test machine to confirm. I know this is a vDos forum and not a crummy old hardware support forum but if anybody has any ideas I'd appreciate the help.  The printer is a Panasonic KX-P3626 and while it's worked in the past with the Epson FX Series 1 (80) driver I've tried a host of different Epson drivers which have all had the same problem.

[Jos]

The printer has a parallel and serial interface. Is it connected to the PC with some USB converter box? Perhaps that is then to blame, or the printer itself?

Jos

[sublime167]

Printer is connected with a Parallel to USB converter cable. This is now 5 printers in an office of 15 machines, not just myself. 100% repeatable even on a personal machine. An old laptop on Win10 1607 prints perfectly.

[Jos]

Then the page chopping remains a mystery. Hard to imagine Windows would be to blame. Also no report of such an issue.
Switching to more modern printers will probably no option?

I assume you already use the RAW option.
As a final attempt you could try instead the "Windows device": option (last paragraph Printing.pdf - Other print options).
It isn’t actually meant for printing. But since the Panasonic is a DOS printer it should work.
Though I’m afraid it will give you the same result as RAW.

Jos