bs"d
Hi,

You can also use GhostView to change printer files into PDF document files.

Maybe you can help me with my XP printing problem.

My LPT1 port stopped printing from XP (including from the DOS prompt). I
can't seem to print at all from XP, although if I boot up the pc on an old
DOS disk it prints fine. I'm even trying to print using the Microsoft
Generic/Text Only driver (to eliminate driver problems) and I still get only
an error message - failed to print - and the doc stays stuck in the spool.
(Print preview works ok on MS-Word.) Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Yochanan

"Tom Ferguson":

> A printer file is just what the name implies. It contains a data stream
> that will result in the printer producing a page image without further
> intervention by Windows or the printer driver. Since it is basically the
> printer driver output, its physical appearance depends on the printer
> type. As such, it is difficult to predict if it will be intelligible to a
> typical reader unless the printer type is known. At best (in this context)
> it might look like snippets of regular text mixed with undecipherable
> gibberish.
>
> That being said, there is nothing to prevent you opening the file in
> WordPad, Notepad, or other text editor or word processor and having a
> look.
>
> If the printer file was intended for a HP laser or HP JL compatible using
> a PCL driver, try opening it in a graphics application.
>
> By the way, to print the file, the printer connected to lpt1 must be the
> same printer as, or a printer compatible with, the printer driver for the
> printer specified when the file was made.
>
> Tom
> MSMVP
> Windows Shell/User
>
>
>
> "toddb" <toddb@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:55CC3B3A-4244-45BD-9A14-3DCB38B4EE95@microsoft.com...
> : Thanks for the info but is there any way to just view these files? tb
> :
> : "Byte" wrote:
> :
> : > Go to the "DOS Prompt" or the "Command Prompt"
> : > (Start>All Programs>Accessories>Command Prompt)
> : > Assuming that the file you're about to print is called my_chart.prn
> and your
> : > printer is connected to LPT1: (parallel port number one), type:
> : >
> : > COPY my_chart.prn LPT1 /B
> : >
> : > Press Enter and it will print to your default printer on LPT1
> : > --
> : > XP-WNP
> : > Today is the first day of the
> : > rest of your life.
> : >
> : >
> : > "toddb" wrote:
> : >
> : > > when you print to file and create a .pm file, what do you use to
> open those
> : > > files later? please help. tb
>
>
>

Have you worked through Bruce Sanderson's page at:
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/printfromdos.htm
--
Cari (MS-MVP)
Printing & Imaging



"?????" <@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6401788A-20AB-42B8-9870-5A5BB7F3288B@microsoft.com...
> bs"d
> Hi,
>
> You can also use GhostView to change printer files into PDF document
> files.
>
> Maybe you can help me with my XP printing problem.
>
> My LPT1 port stopped printing from XP (including from the DOS prompt). I
> can't seem to print at all from XP, although if I boot up the pc on an old
> DOS disk it prints fine. I'm even trying to print using the Microsoft
> Generic/Text Only driver (to eliminate driver problems) and I still get
> only
> an error message - failed to print - and the doc stays stuck in the spool.
> (Print preview works ok on MS-Word.) Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
>
> Yochanan
>