[JBrown]

We’ve had problems printing from NV. We have a Lexmark Winwriter that was printing fine and it has all of a sudden just stopped. This particular printer is showing in the printers folder but it is not listed in available printers for NV. I’ve never used NV before I am trying to get this to work for the co-ordinator of our Co-op. As it is I’ve built them a new computer and will have to go through this all over again once they give the signal to connect it all up. For now we are using a Celeron 400MHz system. Any ideas. Any help would be appreciated.

[SBibace]

What are you using as your printer under Printer Options? Try using ASCII or NOFORM. If you are already using those and still have a problem, I think the trick is to make the printer think that it’s a different kind of printer. That’s what our IT guy did here, but I have no idea how he did it.

[HMah]

You say it was working before. Do you mean with NV? Have you confirmed that it will print from DOS? Is the printer printing from other programs?

Many newer printers will not accept print info from dos programs. There are several, well two, programs which allow Dos programs to use the newer and even USB port printers. One is mentioned in the NV2 forum and is available from one of the NV consultants and works fine.

[RJohnson]

Henry:

Would you mind posting here the name of that dos-printer program and the consultant from whom it can be obtained? I don’t have access to the NV2 forum.

RR Johnson

[HMah]

Here is the post from David in the NV2 forum:

Author: DEholnikof (—.151.141-ip019.ica.net)
Date: 12-01-03 03:56

Hi,

Perhaps this is not the best place, maybe not even the correct place to speak about nvPRNq – but methods of reaching NV users at large, are very VERY Limited. So, if I’ve erred, I apologize – and no doubt will be admonished !! :~/

I think the nvPRNq is necessary as a “Production Piece” but also to show both QW Page, and NewViews have continued movement into the windows world.

I also think nvPRNq could be an alterative method for NV2 printing. I would think that many have Excel – BUT I know that not everybody does (IE – users of Corel, and StarOffice)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The new Demo version of the nvPRNq is ready. You can download a copy from http://www.prgms.com/newviews/nvPRNq/demo/index.html

The program includes all the necessary files for Windows and NewViews. If you have an older nvPRNft or nvPRNq, please un-install first. Please follow the basic steps in order:
FROM Windows
1: Download the zip file
2: Expand all files to a temp directory
3: run the “setup.exe” (Please use the defaults)
4: Start the nvPRNq.exe program

FROM NewViews
1: From NewViews, import c:nvRUNONCE using GETPROCS
2: If the print drivers (PRC) ASCIIQ or NOFORMQ exist, please delete
3: Run the RUNONCE

You are now ready to print.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NOTE:
– The nvPRNq will attach to your Windows Default Printer. If the printer is not connected, the nvPRNq will not start. This is by design.

– The features of printing (Quality, Landscape, Etc) combined with Font size with network printers can sometimes give unusual print results.

[DEholnikof]

Opps – sorry guys – I have fixed the link – and put a “redirect page” to send any one looking – to the new correct beta download home page.

The new home is http://www.prgms.com/newviews/nvPRNq/Beta2/index.html

Thanks

[BHalpin]

Printing problems fall into two broad categories:

1 – You can’t print at all – you get an error or there is absolutely no output on the page.

This is a ‘system’ issue and at this point the printer driver used in NewViews is irrelevant. One (or more) of the following is the cause:

– You have a ‘Windows only’ printer, and David’s nvPRNq will get you going.

– The system needs to be configured so DOS programs can print. Under Win 2000 & XP the “NET USE” command is often just the ticket. For example, if the printer share name is HPLASERJ on machine SERVER1 you would type (at a DOS prompt)

NET USE LPT1 \SERVER1HPLASERJ /PERSISTENT:YES

This sets up a ‘permanent’ connection between LPT1 and the desired printer. (This can even get you printing on some USB printers.)

The bottom line when solving this problems is this: Shut NewViews down and simply work at a DOS prompt. The test is to do this:

DIR > LPT1

When the system is configured properly for DOS promting, this command will result in a directory listing going to the printer. When that works, NewViews will be able to print. We often council people to do this when they are dealing with a 3rd-party support person, like a printer manufacturer. We find that many times they tell a user a printing problem is NewViews’ fault when in fact it isn’t. If NewViews isn’t even running then they are often forced to actually solve the problem.

2 – You get output, but it doesn’t look right.

This is now a driver issue, and the name of the printer in the Print Options prompt becomes relevant.

[DEholnikof]

FYI – Back ground info

The simple difference between a “Windows” Vs “DOS” printer – lies in how the printer receives its data. DOS printers receive “characters” while WINDOW printers receive a Bit Map Data Stream. NEVER The two shall meet !!

Most Window’s printers are “dos capable” even when they don’t want to print. BUT it usually requires hexadecimal programing to coerce it – and can vary greatly between manufactures and even down to the model version.

Windows does not provide an Error Message for this simply because the DOS output is received by the printer – but is ignored because it is undecipherable (when the printer is in Windows Bit Map Mode).

However with the sheer volume of printers on the market today, it is no longer possible to consider a “generic” printing program to work in “dos mode”

[RJohnson]

I’ve had no luck with the nvPRNq demo and I’m guessing it’s because my printer is connected via USB, not LPT1. The NOFORMQ printer in NewViews has settings only for erial and [P]arallel. Am I right?

RR Johnson

[HMah]

I’ve got an HP 2175 usb printer connected and have just printed financial stmts from NV.

Did you setup nvPRNq and define where it’s to find nv documents? In addition you must change your Print Options Filename to something like:

C:NVQUEDOCU.PRN

The c:nvque is default directory where nvPRNq finds the documents

The DOCU.PRN is telling nv to print to the filename

[DEholnikof]

Hi,

The nvPRNq will print to anything, including a USB printer (providing you can print to this, for example From a Word Document?)
nvPRNq is not dependant upon HOW the printer is connected. Because it uses the Windows SubSystem (OS) its only dependance is – CAN Windows print to the printer?

Did you
“Open any books and Import (GETPROCS) for c:nvRUNONCE “
AND then do /GR RUNONCE
(sometimes it helps to close the books after this)
AND then start the nvPRNq.exe – then open the books?

Also there is an included “nvPRNq_help.html” ?

Let me know,
David

RJohnson wrote:

> I’ve had no luck with the nvPRNq demo and I’m guessing it’s
> because my printer is connected via USB, not LPT1. The NOFORMQ
> printer in NewViews has settings only for erial and
> [P]arallel. Am I right?
>
> RR Johnson

[DEholnikof]

HMah wrote:

> I’ve got an HP 2175 usb printer connected and have just printed
> financial stmts from NV.
I’m glad its working well for you Next week – I will return to complete the work on it – so that the Bells & Whisles are included.

> Did you setup nvPRNq and define where it’s to find nv
> documents? In addition you must change your Print Options
> Filename to something like:
>
> C:NVQUEDOCU.PRN
>
> The c:nvque is default directory where nvPRNq finds the documents
> The DOCU.PRN is telling nv to print to the filename

Uh – the SETPRNQ procedure will do this for you. And it will also create the 2 NV Print drivers (if they don’t exist) ASCIIQ and NOFORMQ. If they are deleted, they can easily be recreated by running the SETPRNQ. So if you think the drivers are giving you a problem – delete them, then run the SetPrnQ.

While I don’t think it will help – you could use any NV Print driver by copying the ASCIIQ Setup String “1A A5 4E 56 41 30 30 31 34 32 35 1B” (it can vary from system to system) and append this to any other Print Driver Setup String. (But I think that I digress too far into the details:-) However, this is unsupported.

I would like all my processes at the NV level to be as open and transparent as possible. All the NV Procedure code for the nvPRNq.exe will be “Open Source” and I would hope that other programmers begin to use it, too !!

Regards
David

[DEholnikof]

Hi,

Next week I will continue the work on nvPRNq so I have a general question, for those at large.

Anyone who is using or has used the nvPRNq – Any suggestions of how to make it easier to install or use would be welcomed !

Or difficulties encountered – would be most helpful to making it a simple product to use.

Regards
David

[HMah]

Hi David:

I found the installation very easy, but would suggest the following:

1. Have it create an Icon on the Windows desktop

2. Have it default to “Monitor On”

3. Set the timer to default to the Minimum delay before checking folder and printing.

[DEholnikof]

Thanks for the input – but I have a few questions?
HMah wrote:

> Hi David:
> I found the installation very easy, but would suggest the following:
>
> 1. Have it create an Icon on the Windows desktop
The program will make a “desktop shortcut” for you. When the shortcut does not exist – then in the bottom left corner there is a button “Make Shortcut”

> 2. Have it default to “Monitor On”
Uh – the program monitors – when ever it is running.
Sometimes it is “slow to start, if newviews is started before the nvPRNq. But this is for technical reasons and because of how newviews works.

I could have it “Autoload” when Windows starts up, and also I could have it reduce to the “Icon Tray” instead of the Task Bar. There are also built in options to have it start and run invisble. (but its really hard to close afterward – only from the Task Manager)

> 3. Set the timer to default to the Minimum delay before checking folder and printing.
Hmm – many computer are not as fast, as what we use.
But perhaps a “menu” to change / set the options would be more helpful?

And – do I want the “Demo” to run as fast as possible ?
OR lock it to a 10 second delay?

Thanks for the input – it gives me a few ideas for a smoother use !!

Regards
David

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