Advancing to top of page after report is complete

[mikeryll]

When printing a report to an Oki Microline 320 Turbo printer, the report likely finish in the middle of the page. The next report will begin exactly where the previous report ends. How do I somehow force the printer to form feed without doing it manually?

Mike

[Jos]

Add the RAW option to the print directive in config.txt.

Else vDos will trim trailing white space to prevent extra empty pages. RAW will also let the Oki render the output, and that is of course optimized for its low resolution.

Jos

[mikeryll]

Here is the command I am using... LPT1 = /SEL'OKIDATA ML320_1 TURBO'/RAW

What am I missing?

[Jos]

If you use vDos 2021.05.01, read the Printing.pdf document. Too much is wrong.

Else first install that version.

Jos

[mikeryll]

Thank you for your assistance.

After downloading the latest version of Vdos 2021.05.01.



I attempted to do that however, I get the following error: Unable to execute file in the temporary directory. Setup aborted. Error 5: Access is aborted.

[Jos]

Have a look at: www.top-password.com/blog/fix-unable-to-execute-files-in-the-temporary-directory-setup-aborted/

Jos

[mikeryll]

Ok. I did as the instructions dictated. I found my temp folder and found I have full Admin rights for that folder. I even created a new folder on my desktop with ADMIN rights, copied the vdossetup.exe file from my download folder into my newly created folder on my desktop and I still get the same results.

So far I'm coming to a dead end.

[Jos]

It isn’t really a vDos problem, but of your Windows system and the Inno Setup (and perhaps other) program that was used to create vDosSetup.

But I’ll send you a zipped vDos folder by wetransfer. Could be you have to unlock vDos.exe since it then isn’t installed but a downloaded executable.

Jos

[mikeryll]

Ok. I'm not having much luck trying to print using the vDos option. I may be able to accomplish my needs through selecting the Windows printer select screen. This is what I'm trying to accomplish:
1. print 2 documents. The 1st document prints 10 CPI. My thought is 10 CPI is standard or default. (but it's not working out that way). The 2nd document prints at 12 CPI to fit properly on the page.
2. I thought I would be able to create 2 printers in the Windows print queue, 1 set to print at 10cpi and the other set to print at 12cpi. So I could choose one or the other printer when the Windows printer select screen appears.
3. On the face of the printer I have "CHARACTER PITCH" which has 10 12 15 17 20 and PROP to choose from. However making a selection the printer doesn't honor my selection.

How can I command that printer to print either 10 CPI - COURIER NEW OR 12 CPI - COURIER NEW?

I can set up 2 printers calling them "OKI 10 CPI" and "OKI 12 CPI". Then at print time, I could choose whichever one I need for that specific report. The problem is that I can't seem to configure the printer on the fly.

What's my solution?

[Jos]

You have the RAW option in the LPT printer directive in config.txt?

Something like:
LPT1 = SEL: "OKIDATA ML320_1 TURBO" RAW

If so and it still doesn’t work: Submit your config.txt and #LPT1.asc files in the vDos directory.

Jos

[mikeryll]

Ok. I'm not having much luck trying to print using the vDos option. I may be able to accomplish my needs through selecting the Windows printer select screen. This is what I'm trying to accomplish:
1. print 2 documents. The 1st document prints 10 CPI. My thought is 10 CPI is standard or default. (but it's not working out that way). The 2nd document prints at 12 CPI to fit properly on the page.
2. I thought I would be able to create 2 printers in the Windows print queue, 1 set to print at 10cpi and the other set to print at 12cpi. So I could choose one or the other printer when the Windows printer select screen appears.
3. On the face of the printer I have "CHARACTER PITCH" which has 10 12 15 17 20 and PROP to choose from. However making a selection the printer doesn't honor my selection.

How can I command that printer to print either 10 CPI - COURIER NEW OR 12 CPI - COURIER NEW?

I can set up 2 printers calling them "OKI 10 CPI" and "OKI 12 CPI". Then at print time, I could choose whichever one I need for that specific report. The problem is that I can't seem to configure the printer on the fly.

What's my solution?

[Jos]

You duplicated your message, ignoring my response???

Jos

[mikeryll]

LPT2.asc (311 B)LPT3.asc (311 B)LPT1.asc (311 B)

I have finally attached the files you asked for. Sorry I'm so clumsy but I'm still trying to learn about this message board.


Mike

[mikeryll]

autoexec.txt (456 B)config.txt (5.25 KB)

[Jos]

The "vDos should not run elevated" exception is a safeguard: If vDos does run elevated, security is off on your system. Search for elevated on this forum.

Selecting a pitch at the printer panel will set the default. That is only respected if the PC sends ASCII data and that does not include any ESC/P set CPI commands.

vDos basically has two print methods:

1. It interpreters the ASCII data a program sends. Formats, scales, positions etc. the actual text according to the embedded print commands. And let Windows converts that to GDI output, used by a printer driver to send a graphic presentation (dots) to the printer. The print quality is eventually set in the parameters of the printer driver.
2. If the RAW option is used, the ASCII data stream of the program goes as-is to the printer. To be interpreted and rendered by the printers firmware. The printer driver is bypassed with this option, so it doesn’t matter what driver is used, or what is set in the driver parameters.

As said before the LPT2 = /SEL'OKIDATA ML320_1 TURBO' /RAW in your config.txt is completely off. Again, read the Printing.pdf document on what it should be.

Jos