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RM/Cobol - Printing in XP
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| Hello all!
We are running an application that is using RM/COBOL-85 Runtime - Version
5.35.00 for DOS 3.3+. The problem that we are running into is that when we
try to print to LPT4 or LPT5 from Windows XP the application hangs and
nothing is printed. I have heard rumors that this is a problem with this
version or RM/Cobol and that there is a fix for it. Can anyone lead me in
the right direction? Thanks!!
Dan
| |
| James J. Gavan 2004-04-07, 2:30 pm |
| Dan wrote:
>Hello all!
>
>We are running an application that is using RM/COBOL-85 Runtime - Version
>5.35.00 for DOS 3.3+. The problem that we are running into is that when we
>try to print to LPT4 or LPT5 from Windows XP the application hangs and
>nothing is printed. I have heard rumors that this is a problem with this
>version or RM/Cobol and that there is a fix for it. Can anyone lead me in
>the right direction? Thanks!!
>
>Dan
>
>
>
>
I don't think your problem is RM/COBOL - I think you get the same
problem with any COBOL compiler running under any version of Windows.
However, if he doesn't pick up on your message - contact Tom Morrison at
Liant to see if there is an RM solution. (I use Net Express - totally
'Windows' and I can't use a conventional print to LPTx. The only way is
to write to file and print the disk file subsequently. That's why Micro
Focus provide their PC_PRINT routines. Other alternatives are going to
specific windows-based Report Writers, Crystal etc....).
Meanwhile, I'll send you an old, (DOS) PC Magazine file 'prn2file.com' -
it might work for you. It writes to disk and is 'readable' when you
view the file. When your report file has been written to disk then you
need to issue an instruction to print the disk file.
start - prn2fileS.bat : c:\batch\prn2file\full path and filename......
.... now your COBOL program does its 'thing'......
cancel - prn2fileC.bat : c:\batch\prn2file
One rider - this routine was written when we were using continuous
stationery - so you were using either 'portrait' or 'landscape'
continuous. If using 'landscape' with condensed characters (say a line
of about 185 characters) - then you would firstly have to go into the
Windows print settings to make it 'write landscape'.
Jimmy, Calgary AB
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| Thank you for the fast response. After reading your response I wanted to
clarify something. The Cobol application that we are running is able to
print fine from Windows 98se machines without any issues. We are only
running into issues with Windows XP clients. I dont know if this may be a
difference in the DOS emulation between 98se and XP. Does that change the
field at all.
"James J. Gavan" <jjgavan@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:G4Xcc.42359$Pk3.644@pd7tw1no...
> Dan wrote:
>
we[color=darkred]
in[color=darkred]
> I don't think your problem is RM/COBOL - I think you get the same
> problem with any COBOL compiler running under any version of Windows.
> However, if he doesn't pick up on your message - contact Tom Morrison at
> Liant to see if there is an RM solution. (I use Net Express - totally
> 'Windows' and I can't use a conventional print to LPTx. The only way is
> to write to file and print the disk file subsequently. That's why Micro
> Focus provide their PC_PRINT routines. Other alternatives are going to
> specific windows-based Report Writers, Crystal etc....).
>
> Meanwhile, I'll send you an old, (DOS) PC Magazine file 'prn2file.com' -
> it might work for you. It writes to disk and is 'readable' when you
> view the file. When your report file has been written to disk then you
> need to issue an instruction to print the disk file.
>
> start - prn2fileS.bat : c:\batch\prn2file\full path and filename......
> .... now your COBOL program does its 'thing'......
> cancel - prn2fileC.bat : c:\batch\prn2file
>
> One rider - this routine was written when we were using continuous
> stationery - so you were using either 'portrait' or 'landscape'
> continuous. If using 'landscape' with condensed characters (say a line
> of about 185 characters) - then you would firstly have to go into the
> Windows print settings to make it 'write landscape'.
>
> Jimmy, Calgary AB
| |
| JerryMouse 2004-04-07, 5:30 pm |
| Dan wrote:
> Thank you for the fast response. After reading your response I
> wanted to clarify something. The Cobol application that we are
> running is able to print fine from Windows 98se machines without any
> issues. We are only running into issues with Windows XP clients. I
> dont know if this may be a difference in the DOS emulation between
> 98se and XP. Does that change the field at all.
DOS write to ports. Pre-XP/NT/2000 Windows "captured" ports. XP(NT/2000)
writes to printers and assigns these printers to actual ports.
Possible solutions:
1. You can re-configure your program to write to LPT1.
2. You can re-configure your program to write to a file then use the free
RPV (Report Program Viewer) to send it to a Win printer.
| |
| mkozelka 2004-04-07, 5:30 pm |
| Xref: kermit comp.lang.cobol:86831
Hi,
Way back when, DOS only recognized LPT1, LPT2 and LPT3. Just yesterday I
tried to write to LPT3 from a QuickBasic program and I got an error on
device R - nothing printed. It would work to LPT2 though. So if you can
print to LPT1, 2 & 3, it may be a limitation of your compiler.
You could possibly set up bat files to "net use" the printers you want
before executing the DOS program, then "net use /delete" when done, assuming
you're on a network.
"Dan" <me@here.com> wrote in message
news:TTVcc.12642905$Of.2109953@news.easynews.com...
> Hello all!
>
> We are running an application that is using RM/COBOL-85 Runtime - Version
> 5.35.00 for DOS 3.3+. The problem that we are running into is that when
we
> try to print to LPT4 or LPT5 from Windows XP the application hangs and
> nothing is printed. I have heard rumors that this is a problem with this
> version or RM/Cobol and that there is a fix for it. Can anyone lead me in
> the right direction? Thanks!!
>
> Dan
>
>
| |
|
| The application that we are using has the following setup. LPT1 is used for
the physical local printer port on the clients computer. LPT2 through LPT5
go to various network printers. I have now found that I can print to LPT1
through LPT5 to any of the network printers as long as it is set up with the
NET USE command.
The question of the day is....through XP....can we find a way to print to
LPT4 and LPT5? We can do this without issue in 98se. Just not XP. (DOS
Emulation)
Once again thank you so much for the help!!!!
Dan
"Dan" <me@here.com> wrote in message
news:TTVcc.12642905$Of.2109953@news.easynews.com...
> Hello all!
>
> We are running an application that is using RM/COBOL-85 Runtime - Version
> 5.35.00 for DOS 3.3+. The problem that we are running into is that when
we
> try to print to LPT4 or LPT5 from Windows XP the application hangs and
> nothing is printed. I have heard rumors that this is a problem with this
> version or RM/Cobol and that there is a fix for it. Can anyone lead me in
> the right direction? Thanks!!
>
> Dan
>
>
| |
| Richard 2004-04-07, 11:30 pm |
| "JerryMouse" <nospam@bisusa.com> wrote
> Possible solutions:
> 1. You can re-configure your program to write to LPT1.
That doesn't seem particularly useful when he wants to print to some
other printer.
> 2. You can re-configure your program to write to a file then use the free
> RPV (Report Program Viewer) to send it to a Win printer.
RPV is not free. There are 30 day demo versions available, but RPV
Steel costs $US295 for a single user and $US1200 or so for 10 users.
The PRO version is much cheaper but is for developers.
| |
| Hugh Candlin 2004-04-08, 12:30 am |
|
Dan <me@here.com> wrote in message news:qQZcc.12656834$Of.2111706@news.easynews.com...
> The application that we are using has the following setup. LPT1 is used for
> the physical local printer port on the clients computer. LPT2 through LPT5
> go to various network printers. I have now found that I can print to LPT1
> through LPT5 to any of the network printers as long as it is set up with the
> NET USE command.
>
> The question of the day is....through XP....can we find a way to print to
> LPT4 and LPT5? We can do this without issue in 98se. Just not XP. (DOS
> Emulation)
>
> Once again thank you so much for the help!!!!
>
> Dan
Call Microsoft. There is a patch available to fix that bug.
| |
| JerryMouse 2004-04-08, 9:30 am |
| Richard wrote:
> "JerryMouse" <nospam@bisusa.com> wrote
>
>
> That doesn't seem particularly useful when he wants to print to some
> other printer.
He didn't say he wants "to print to some other printer." He said he's having
trouble printing to LPT4 or LPT5. Didn't mention printers at all. In fact,
there is no way of telling, just by the information in the post, whether he
even HAS a printer.
>
>
> RPV is not free. There are 30 day demo versions available, but RPV
> Steel costs $US295 for a single user and $US1200 or so for 10 users.
>
> The PRO version is much cheaper but is for developers.
RPV is free.
Admittedly, the company no longer distributes the free version, but the free
version is still available if you know where to look (on my hard drive, for
example).
| |
| JerryMouse 2004-04-08, 9:30 am |
| Dan wrote:
> The application that we are using has the following setup. LPT1 is
> used for the physical local printer port on the clients computer.
> LPT2 through LPT5 go to various network printers. I have now found
> that I can print to LPT1 through LPT5 to any of the network printers
> as long as it is set up with the NET USE command.
>
> The question of the day is....through XP....can we find a way to
> print to LPT4 and LPT5? We can do this without issue in 98se. Just
> not XP. (DOS Emulation)
>
> Once again thank you so much for the help!!!!
>
> Dan
Dan, you've got another nascent problem: What happens when the local printer
is a USB or so-called "WinPrinter?" Neither of these will accept DOS stuff.
USP ports can't be accessed from a DOS program and WinPrinters take some
chips from the printer and emulate them in the printer drivers (thereby
saving about 87 cents per printer). If your DOS program is writing directly
to a port (locally), well, you're screwed when the client gets either of
these two new type printers.
| |
| E P Chandler 2004-04-08, 5:30 pm |
| "Dan" <me@here.com> wrote in message news:<qQZcc.12656834$Of.2111706@news.easynews.com>...[color=darkred]
> The application that we are using has the following setup. LPT1 is used for
> the physical local printer port on the clients computer. LPT2 through LPT5
> go to various network printers. I have now found that I can print to LPT1
> through LPT5 to any of the network printers as long as it is set up with the
> NET USE command.
>
> The question of the day is....through XP....can we find a way to print to
> LPT4 and LPT5? We can do this without issue in 98se. Just not XP. (DOS
> Emulation)
>
> Once again thank you so much for the help!!!!
>
> Dan
>
>
> "Dan" <me@here.com> wrote in message
> news:TTVcc.12642905$Of.2109953@news.easynews.com...
> we
Google, and ye shall find. A google search on "lpt4 lpt5 xp" indicated
that a registry patch does the trick on Windows 2000 and might work on
XP.
see http://support.microsoft.com
enter Q262032 in the search box
Also see some earlier posts there on RM/85 and LPTX ports.
Another poster's registry patch file [modified] is:
===== cut here ====
REGEDIT4
& #91;HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsof
t\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Ports]
"LPT4:"=""
"LPT5:"=""
===== cut here =====
Note: There is a space between Windows and NT in the path name above
which may have been transformed into a line break when I posted this
message. The stuff in square bracketes must be on one line.
| |
| Richard 2004-04-08, 5:30 pm |
| "JerryMouse" <nospam@bisusa.com> wrote
>
> He didn't say he wants "to print to some other printer."
What are you implying ? That all printers can be accessed through
LPT1: ??
> He said he's having
> trouble printing to LPT4 or LPT5. Didn't mention printers at all.
What are you saying ? That 'printing' does not refer to 'printers' ?
> In fact,
> there is no way of telling, just by the information in the post, whether he
> even HAS a printer.
Is that right ? Strange then that everyone else seemed to understand.
> RPV is free.
> Admittedly, the company no longer distributes the free version, but the free
> version is still available if you know where to look (on my hard drive, for
> example).
RPV is not free or 'free' it is and always was the property of the
author. There used to be a free licence to use available, but read the
actual licence, I believe that it does not allow redistribution. That
is, at the time, any person could obtain a copy from the author (who
holds the copyright) with a licence to use on their machine for
_non-business_purposes_. That licence did not allow further copying
or redistribution which would be a breach of the authors copyright.
| |
| JerryMouse 2004-04-08, 8:30 pm |
| Richard wrote:
> "JerryMouse" <nospam@bisusa.com> wrote
>
>
> What are you implying ? That all printers can be accessed through
> LPT1: ??
No. If XP doesn't like LPT4, he could rephrase his program to write to a
port that XP does permit.
>
>
> What are you saying ? That 'printing' does not refer to 'printers' ?
Yes. There's faxes and files, for example. But you knew that. Or maybe not.
>
>
> Is that right ? Strange then that everyone else seemed to understand.
And some evidently act on understandings not based on facts at hand.
>
>
>
> RPV is not free or 'free' it is and always was the property of the
> author. There used to be a free licence to use available, but read the
> actual licence, I believe that it does not allow redistribution. That
> is, at the time, any person could obtain a copy from the author (who
> holds the copyright) with a licence to use on their machine for
> _non-business_purposes_. That licence did not allow further copying
> or redistribution which would be a breach of the authors copyright.
Bzzt! Wrong answer, but thank you for playing.
The "free" version is/was available for personal or commercial use and
could/can be distributed at will.
The "license" did/does not prohibit unfettered distribution - just the
opposite. The "license" encourages re-distribution.
| |
| Hugh Candlin 2004-04-08, 11:30 pm |
|
JerryMouse <nospam@bisusa.com> wrote in message news:DIydneXBD8B7eOjd4p2dnA@giganews.com...
> Richard wrote:
>
> No. If XP doesn't like LPT4, he could rephrase his program to write to a
> port that XP does permit.
XP doesn't like LPT4 because of a bug, for which a patch exists.
Your suggestion is without merit.
| |
| Richard 2004-04-09, 3:30 am |
| "JerryMouse" <nospam@bisusa.com> wrote
>
> No. If XP doesn't like LPT4, he could rephrase his program to write to a
> port that XP does permit.
Even though that leads to the wrong printer ? Read the actual problem
description, his site has several printers mapped to specific ports to
enable the program, or user, to choose which should be used.
>
> Yes. There's faxes and files, for example. But you knew that. Or maybe not.
You may be completely surprised to hear that you cannot write to a
file via printer port LPT5:. While a printer driver may write to a
file this is done by _not_ using a LPT port.
As for FAXes, they are printers that are remote and over phone lines,
the result is (most often) a piece of paper with words printed on it.
> Bzzt! Wrong answer, but thank you for playing.
>
> The "free" version is/was available for personal or commercial use and
> could/can be distributed at will.
"""1. LICENSE GRANT. DASP SOFTWARE grants you a license to use this
SOFTWARE on a single computer for any period of time. Your use of the
Software is exclusively at home for non-business purposes. """
What part of 'non-business' do you not understand ?
> The "license" did/does not prohibit unfettered distribution - just the
> opposite. The "license" encourages re-distribution.
"""5. UNAUTHORIZED USE. You may not use, copy, rent, lease, sell,
modify, decompile, disassemble, otherwise reverse engineer, or
transfer the SOFTWARE except as provided in this agreement."""
What part of 'you may not' do you not understand ?
You may wish to provide some quotes that show where 'unfettered
distribution' is allowed, let alone encouraged, they certainly aren't
in any license that I can see.
| |
| JerryMouse 2004-04-09, 12:30 pm |
| Richard wrote:
>
> """1. LICENSE GRANT. DASP SOFTWARE grants you a license to use this
> SOFTWARE on a single computer for any period of time. Your use of the
> Software is exclusively at home for non-business purposes. """
>
> What part of 'non-business' do you not understand ?
Do you think I make this shit up? Mine says:
1. LICENSE GRANT. Dasp Software grants you a license to use this SOFTWARE on
a single computer for any period of time."You" means the company, entity or
individual. "Use" means storing, loading, installing, executing or
displaying the SOFTWARE.
Get your free copy here (and lots of other places):
http://www.downloadplanet.net/info4896.htm
I think I see the source of confusion. My version is "2.0" (current version
is 2.2). The company apparantly changed the distribution license terms by
the time you started prowling around trying to prove someone wrong.
>
> You may wish to provide some quotes that show where 'unfettered
> distribution' is allowed, let alone encouraged, they certainly aren't
> in any license that I can see.
I can send you a link to download it yourself - matter of fact, I just did.
That's pretty close to "unfettered."
| |
| Richard 2004-04-09, 6:30 pm |
| "JerryMouse" <nospam@bisusa.com> wrote
[color=darkred]
> Get your free copy here (and lots of other places):
>
> http://www.downloadplanet.net/info4896.htm
> I think I see the source of confusion. My version is "2.0" (current version
> is 2.2). The company apparantly changed the distribution license terms by
> the time you started prowling around trying to prove someone wrong.
Exactly. The link you gave is of version 2.2 and has exactly the
license that I quoted from. It is not for business use and does not
allow redistribution. Perhaps the download site does have a license,
or other permission, to make it available, perhaps it does not.
The protection of the author's work is guaranteed under the
international copyright agreements. He may issue license's with any
provisions that he wishes. If you agree to the terms of the license
(such as to only use for personal home use) then you may use the
product. If you do not agree to the conditions and do not abide by
them then you may be in breach of copyright.
I notice that you didn't make any quotes from the license that you
have as to the ability or restriction on redistributing or assigning,
just some vauge hand waving about 'it must be'.
| |
| ShadowFox 2004-04-10, 11:30 am |
| You can also just print to a file and then copy the file to any printer you
want.
Enjoy Bob
"Dan" <me@here.com> wrote in message
news:TTVcc.12642905$Of.2109953@news.easynews.com...
> Hello all!
>
> We are running an application that is using RM/COBOL-85 Runtime - Version
> 5.35.00 for DOS 3.3+. The problem that we are running into is that when
we
> try to print to LPT4 or LPT5 from Windows XP the application hangs and
> nothing is printed. I have heard rumors that this is a problem with this
> version or RM/Cobol and that there is a fix for it. Can anyone lead me in
> the right direction? Thanks!!
>
> Dan
>
>
| |
| Tom Morrison 2004-04-12, 2:30 pm |
| "James J. Gavan" <jjgavan@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:G4Xcc.42359$Pk3.644@pd7tw1no...
> Dan wrote:
we[color=darkred]
[color=darkred]
> I don't think your problem is RM/COBOL - I think you get the same
> problem with any COBOL compiler running under any version of Windows.
> However, if he doesn't pick up on your message - contact Tom Morrison at
> Liant to see if there is an RM solution. [snip]
(Jimmy, I don't peruse c.l.cobol much these days...too much noise.)
Dan,
You don't mention the name of the application, but you should first s
assistance from your application vendor. RM/COBOL is on release 8 these
days, and version 5.35 is very, very old. The application vendor might have
already dealt with the problems you are encountering.
Our current Windows runtime works well with Windows XP. We no longer
produce runtimes for DOS.
Best regards,
Tom Morrison
Liant Software Corporation
| |
| rearl306 2004-06-14, 8:55 pm |
| I have had similar problems printing to LPT1 and LPT2 from DOS versions of
RM/COBOL on Windows XP. I switched to the Windows version, both 7.5 and
8.0, and it fixed my problems printing to those ports. The Windows
version also allows you to print to other devices, such as USB ports, as
well.
| |
| Davide Guolo 2004-06-18, 3:55 am |
| rearl306,
> I have had similar problems printing to LPT1 and LPT2 from DOS versions of
> RM/COBOL on Windows XP. I switched to the Windows version, both 7.5 and
> 8.0, and it fixed my problems printing to those ports.
The problem can be solved also using Printfil, which is cheaper then RPV.
Kind regards
Davide Guolo
--------------------------------------------------------------
Printfil - Windows Printing System for Applications
http://www.guolo.com/printfil
Odbc4All - Connection to ODBC Data Sources for any Application
http://www.guolo.com/odbc4all
--------------------------------------------------------------
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