Dot Matrix printer progressively misaligns when printing forms

I recently purchased an OKI Microline 491 24 Pin Dot Matrix printer to print
continuous forms (1000s at a time) onto a pre printed form. The information
an research done on this purchase stated that the printer was compatible with
XP.

The form is 7.50 (W) X 4.25 (L).

I have gone into Start/Printer&Faxes set up custom size in server properties
and properties. Set this same information up in page set up etc.

With each form printed the text moves higher up until finally it is totally
misaligned.

The drivers are for XP. I am using XP Professional 2002 and the program is
in WORD. It is one page on the computer but will need to print XXXX amount of
copies (sometimes up to a 1000 of this document).

Originally the program was on Windows 3.1 and did fine printing from the
WORD in 3.1. Antoher office took this information and placed it on their
computer..........they finally got it to work with some tweaking...........I
have called them and gotten their information as to margins
etc..............but it still does not make mine print any better..........it
doesn't get any worse though when changing margins...........but it also does
not get any better.

Are there any fixes for this or suggestions. I have scoured the internet,
microsoft help etc. and tried everything I find..........nothing has helped.
I also tried overriding the computer by programing the information into the
printer.........this did not help either since the paper size I need is not
in the printer setup.

Any help will be appreciated.

Debbie

When you set the form length, you also need to account for the space between
forms.
Generally, "RAW" mode works better than using built in printer fonts.
Make sure that the printer options (on the printer, not the driver) are set
just like the other office has set theirs. Next, check the driver settings.
As a last resort, you may need to use an alternate driver for text only
printers.
(It's been quite some time since I fought this problem.)

"Debbie" <Debbie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:A0563D01-529D-42CF-91A7-9F0FBC826E29@microsoft.com...
> I recently purchased an OKI Microline 491 24 Pin Dot Matrix printer to
print
> continuous forms (1000s at a time) onto a pre printed form. The
information
> an research done on this purchase stated that the printer was compatible
with
> XP.
>
> The form is 7.50 (W) X 4.25 (L).
>
> I have gone into Start/Printer&Faxes set up custom size in server
properties
> and properties. Set this same information up in page set up etc.
>
> With each form printed the text moves higher up until finally it is
totally
> misaligned.
>
> The drivers are for XP. I am using XP Professional 2002 and the program is
> in WORD. It is one page on the computer but will need to print XXXX amount
of
> copies (sometimes up to a 1000 of this document).
>
> Originally the program was on Windows 3.1 and did fine printing from the
> WORD in 3.1. Antoher office took this information and placed it on their
> computer..........they finally got it to work with some
tweaking...........I
> have called them and gotten their information as to margins
> etc..............but it still does not make mine print any
better..........it
> doesn't get any worse though when changing margins...........but it also
does
> not get any better.
>
> Are there any fixes for this or suggestions. I have scoured the internet,
> microsoft help etc. and tried everything I find..........nothing has
helped.
> I also tried overriding the computer by programing the information into
the
> printer.........this did not help either since the paper size I need is
not
> in the printer setup.
>
> Any help will be appreciated.
>
> Debbie

Chuck,

Thanks for trying. I am not sure what you mean by "RAW" mode??

I tried changing the length of paper........now instead of gradually
shifting the text up after so many copies..........it shifts it down (so the
reverse of the same problem).

The information I am printing is TEXT information with some underline areas
that are MANUALLY (hand checked with a pen by the truck drivers)........there
are no Graphics etc.

You mentioned trying alternate driver for text only
printers.............where do I find these and how can I tell if they are for
text only?

Thanks again!!

Debbie


"Chuck" wrote:

> When you set the form length, you also need to account for the space between
> forms.
> Generally, "RAW" mode works better than using built in printer fonts.
> Make sure that the printer options (on the printer, not the driver) are set
> just like the other office has set theirs. Next, check the driver settings.
> As a last resort, you may need to use an alternate driver for text only
> printers.
> (It's been quite some time since I fought this problem.)
>
> "Debbie" <Debbie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:A0563D01-529D-42CF-91A7-9F0FBC826E29@microsoft.com...
> > I recently purchased an OKI Microline 491 24 Pin Dot Matrix printer to
> print
> > continuous forms (1000s at a time) onto a pre printed form. The
> information
> > an research done on this purchase stated that the printer was compatible
> with
> > XP.
> >
> > The form is 7.50 (W) X 4.25 (L).
> >
> > I have gone into Start/Printer&Faxes set up custom size in server
> properties
> > and properties. Set this same information up in page set up etc.
> >
> > With each form printed the text moves higher up until finally it is
> totally
> > misaligned.
> >
> > The drivers are for XP. I am using XP Professional 2002 and the program is
> > in WORD. It is one page on the computer but will need to print XXXX amount
> of
> > copies (sometimes up to a 1000 of this document).
> >
> > Originally the program was on Windows 3.1 and did fine printing from the
> > WORD in 3.1. Antoher office took this information and placed it on their
> > computer..........they finally got it to work with some
> tweaking...........I
> > have called them and gotten their information as to margins
> > etc..............but it still does not make mine print any
> better..........it
> > doesn't get any worse though when changing margins...........but it also
> does
> > not get any better.
> >
> > Are there any fixes for this or suggestions. I have scoured the internet,
> > microsoft help etc. and tried everything I find..........nothing has
> helped.
> > I also tried overriding the computer by programing the information into
> the
> > printer.........this did not help either since the paper size I need is
> not
> > in the printer setup.
> >
> > Any help will be appreciated.
> >
> > Debbie
>
>
>

Are the forms "tractor feed" and used with the holes engaged in the
printer's feed mechanism or are you relying on friction feed? e.g. Epson
FX-890

Tom
MSMVP
Windows Shell/User


"Debbie" <Debbie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:A0563D01-529D-42CF-91A7-9F0FBC826E29@microsoft.com...
:I recently purchased an OKI Microline 491 24 Pin Dot Matrix printer to
print
: continuous forms (1000s at a time) onto a pre printed form. The
information
: an research done on this purchase stated that the printer was compatible
with
: XP.
:
: The form is 7.50 (W) X 4.25 (L).
:
: I have gone into Start/Printer&Faxes set up custom size in server
properties
: and properties. Set this same information up in page set up etc.
:
: With each form printed the text moves higher up until finally it is
totally
: misaligned.
:
: The drivers are for XP. I am using XP Professional 2002 and the program
is
: in WORD. It is one page on the computer but will need to print XXXX
amount of
: copies (sometimes up to a 1000 of this document).
:
: Originally the program was on Windows 3.1 and did fine printing from the
: WORD in 3.1. Antoher office took this information and placed it on their
: computer..........they finally got it to work with some
tweaking...........I
: have called them and gotten their information as to margins
: etc..............but it still does not make mine print any
better..........it
: doesn't get any worse though when changing margins...........but it also
does
: not get any better.
:
: Are there any fixes for this or suggestions. I have scoured the
internet,
: microsoft help etc. and tried everything I find..........nothing has
helped.
: I also tried overriding the computer by programing the information into
the
: printer.........this did not help either since the paper size I need is
not
: in the printer setup.
:
: Any help will be appreciated.
:
: Debbie

If you go far enough into the install new hardware process, under printers,
you should find "Generic", "Generic Text Printer".as a driver choice. This
driver may or may not be compatable with your application. It can sometimes
also be used to print to a file instead of the printer, and produce a
readable (in Notepad) file. This may help is determining why the printing
shifts on the forms.

Even though you are inputting text information it may be printed as a
graphic image on a printer. (RAW mode) The dot matrix printers generally
had both ASCII character print capability and graphics (raw) mode printing.
These days, windows ink & bubble jet printers generally operate in a
graphics modes only. A complication has to do with use of built-in vs.
downloadable printer fonts on the dot matrix printers. I have an Epson
printer that can use both (The last dot matrix printer I bought.) It worked
ok with win 3.1, and started having odd problems with later windows
versions. (Turned out that the printer's hardware buffer was not large
enough to buffer data that corresponded to a complete line of text.) Since
the printer was bi-directional, this might result in a "damaged" printed
character in the printed line. Since it was painfully slow in comparison to
even the early bubblejet printers, it was retired.

One of the things to look for on sprocket feed forms is a periodic variation
between forms. We used to see this when the backing paper was perf'ed across
at around 11", and there were multiple labels/forms between each perf. (You
set the form length to the distance between these perfs.)
Another issue was that some of the printers had a "skip over perf" feature
that seemed to screw up the driver's line count. This is part of a set of
forms control functions that were referred to as a "VFU" on mainframe
printers. If the internal printer "VFU" functions are enabled, they may
conflict with the windows drivers.

Another gotcha had to do with setting how the printer responded to form
feeds and line feeds with or without a C/R. There used to be switches or
control panel settings on the printers.

An old "trick" in setting up dot matrix printers was to generate a text file
with a text editor (notepad) That had a number or character in the first
and last character positions that corresponded to the width of the form.
This was repeated until the number of line was enough to span more than on
or two forms, or pages of forms if needed.

The text file was then copied to LPT1: via the copy command with a binary
option. This generally shows if such things as skip over perf are active, or
other strangeness is occurring.

..

"Debbie" <Debbie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B654C83D-5923-4A63-AD89-5E1A77D2FB26@microsoft.com...
> Chuck,
>
> Thanks for trying. I am not sure what you mean by "RAW" mode??
>
> I tried changing the length of paper........now instead of gradually
> shifting the text up after so many copies..........it shifts it down (so
the
> reverse of the same problem).
>
> The information I am printing is TEXT information with some underline
areas
> that are MANUALLY (hand checked with a pen by the truck
drivers)........there
> are no Graphics etc.
>
> You mentioned trying alternate driver for text only
> printers.............where do I find these and how can I tell if they are
for
> text only?
>
> Thanks again!!
>
> Debbie
>
>
> "Chuck" wrote:
>
> > When you set the form length, you also need to account for the space
between
> > forms.
> > Generally, "RAW" mode works better than using built in printer fonts.
> > Make sure that the printer options (on the printer, not the driver) are
set
> > just like the other office has set theirs. Next, check the driver
settings.
> > As a last resort, you may need to use an alternate driver for text only
> > printers.
> > (It's been quite some time since I fought this problem.)
> >
> > "Debbie" <Debbie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:A0563D01-529D-42CF-91A7-9F0FBC826E29@microsoft.com...
> > > I recently purchased an OKI Microline 491 24 Pin Dot Matrix printer to
> > print
> > > continuous forms (1000s at a time) onto a pre printed form. The
> > information
> > > an research done on this purchase stated that the printer was
compatible
> > with
> > > XP.
> > >
> > > The form is 7.50 (W) X 4.25 (L).
> > >
> > > I have gone into Start/Printer&Faxes set up custom size in server
> > properties
> > > and properties. Set this same information up in page set up etc.
> > >
> > > With each form printed the text moves higher up until finally it is
> > totally
> > > misaligned.
> > >
> > > The drivers are for XP. I am using XP Professional 2002 and the
program is
> > > in WORD. It is one page on the computer but will need to print XXXX
amount
> > of
> > > copies (sometimes up to a 1000 of this document).
> > >
> > > Originally the program was on Windows 3.1 and did fine printing from
the
> > > WORD in 3.1. Antoher office took this information and placed it on
their
> > > computer..........they finally got it to work with some
> > tweaking...........I
> > > have called them and gotten their information as to margins
> > > etc..............but it still does not make mine print any
> > better..........it
> > > doesn't get any worse though when changing margins...........but it
also
> > does
> > > not get any better.
> > >
> > > Are there any fixes for this or suggestions. I have scoured the
internet,
> > > microsoft help etc. and tried everything I find..........nothing has
> > helped.
> > > I also tried overriding the computer by programing the information
into
> > the
> > > printer.........this did not help either since the paper size I need
is
> > not
> > > in the printer setup.
> > >
> > > Any help will be appreciated.
> > >
> > > Debbie
> >
> >
> >

Chuck,

Thanks for trying. I am not sure what you mean by "RAW" mode??

I tried changing the length of paper........now instead of gradually
shifting the text up after so many copies..........it shifts it down (so the
reverse of the same problem).

The information I am printing is TEXT information with some underline areas
that are MANUALLY (hand checked with a pen by the truck drivers)........there
are no Graphics etc.

You mentioned trying alternate driver for text only
printers.............where do I find these and how can I tell if they are for
text only?

Thanks again!!

Debbie


"Chuck" wrote:

> When you set the form length, you also need to account for the space between
> forms.
> Generally, "RAW" mode works better than using built in printer fonts.
> Make sure that the printer options (on the printer, not the driver) are set
> just like the other office has set theirs. Next, check the driver settings.
> As a last resort, you may need to use an alternate driver for text only
> printers.
> (It's been quite some time since I fought this problem.)
>
> "Debbie" <Debbie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:A0563D01-529D-42CF-91A7-9F0FBC826E29@microsoft.com...
> > I recently purchased an OKI Microline 491 24 Pin Dot Matrix printer to
> print
> > continuous forms (1000s at a time) onto a pre printed form. The
> information
> > an research done on this purchase stated that the printer was compatible
> with
> > XP.
> >
> > The form is 7.50 (W) X 4.25 (L).
> >
> > I have gone into Start/Printer&Faxes set up custom size in server
> properties
> > and properties. Set this same information up in page set up etc.
> >
> > With each form printed the text moves higher up until finally it is
> totally
> > misaligned.
> >
> > The drivers are for XP. I am using XP Professional 2002 and the program is
> > in WORD. It is one page on the computer but will need to print XXXX amount
> of
> > copies (sometimes up to a 1000 of this document).
> >
> > Originally the program was on Windows 3.1 and did fine printing from the
> > WORD in 3.1. Antoher office took this information and placed it on their
> > computer..........they finally got it to work with some
> tweaking...........I
> > have called them and gotten their information as to margins
> > etc..............but it still does not make mine print any
> better..........it
> > doesn't get any worse though when changing margins...........but it also
> does
> > not get any better.
> >
> > Are there any fixes for this or suggestions. I have scoured the internet,
> > microsoft help etc. and tried everything I find..........nothing has
> helped.
> > I also tried overriding the computer by programing the information into
> the
> > printer.........this did not help either since the paper size I need is
> not
> > in the printer setup.
> >
> > Any help will be appreciated.
> >
> > Debbie
>
>
>

Are the forms "tractor feed" and used with the holes engaged in the
printer's feed mechanism or are you relying on friction feed? e.g. Epson
FX-890

Tom
MSMVP
Windows Shell/User


"Debbie" <Debbie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:A0563D01-529D-42CF-91A7-9F0FBC826E29@microsoft.com...
:I recently purchased an OKI Microline 491 24 Pin Dot Matrix printer to
print
: continuous forms (1000s at a time) onto a pre printed form. The
information
: an research done on this purchase stated that the printer was compatible
with
: XP.
:
: The form is 7.50 (W) X 4.25 (L).
:
: I have gone into Start/Printer&Faxes set up custom size in server
properties
: and properties. Set this same information up in page set up etc.
:
: With each form printed the text moves higher up until finally it is
totally
: misaligned.
:
: The drivers are for XP. I am using XP Professional 2002 and the program
is
: in WORD. It is one page on the computer but will need to print XXXX
amount of
: copies (sometimes up to a 1000 of this document).
:
: Originally the program was on Windows 3.1 and did fine printing from the
: WORD in 3.1. Antoher office took this information and placed it on their
: computer..........they finally got it to work with some
tweaking...........I
: have called them and gotten their information as to margins
: etc..............but it still does not make mine print any
better..........it
: doesn't get any worse though when changing margins...........but it also
does
: not get any better.
:
: Are there any fixes for this or suggestions. I have scoured the
internet,
: microsoft help etc. and tried everything I find..........nothing has
helped.
: I also tried overriding the computer by programing the information into
the
: printer.........this did not help either since the paper size I need is
not
: in the printer setup.
:
: Any help will be appreciated.
:
: Debbie

If you go far enough into the install new hardware process, under printers,
you should find "Generic", "Generic Text Printer".as a driver choice. This
driver may or may not be compatable with your application. It can sometimes
also be used to print to a file instead of the printer, and produce a
readable (in Notepad) file. This may help is determining why the printing
shifts on the forms.

Even though you are inputting text information it may be printed as a
graphic image on a printer. (RAW mode) The dot matrix printers generally
had both ASCII character print capability and graphics (raw) mode printing.
These days, windows ink & bubble jet printers generally operate in a
graphics modes only. A complication has to do with use of built-in vs.
downloadable printer fonts on the dot matrix printers. I have an Epson
printer that can use both (The last dot matrix printer I bought.) It worked
ok with win 3.1, and started having odd problems with later windows
versions. (Turned out that the printer's hardware buffer was not large
enough to buffer data that corresponded to a complete line of text.) Since
the printer was bi-directional, this might result in a "damaged" printed
character in the printed line. Since it was painfully slow in comparison to
even the early bubblejet printers, it was retired.

One of the things to look for on sprocket feed forms is a periodic variation
between forms. We used to see this when the backing paper was perf'ed across
at around 11", and there were multiple labels/forms between each perf. (You
set the form length to the distance between these perfs.)
Another issue was that some of the printers had a "skip over perf" feature
that seemed to screw up the driver's line count. This is part of a set of
forms control functions that were referred to as a "VFU" on mainframe
printers. If the internal printer "VFU" functions are enabled, they may
conflict with the windows drivers.

Another gotcha had to do with setting how the printer responded to form
feeds and line feeds with or without a C/R. There used to be switches or
control panel settings on the printers.

An old "trick" in setting up dot matrix printers was to generate a text file
with a text editor (notepad) That had a number or character in the first
and last character positions that corresponded to the width of the form.
This was repeated until the number of line was enough to span more than on
or two forms, or pages of forms if needed.

The text file was then copied to LPT1: via the copy command with a binary
option. This generally shows if such things as skip over perf are active, or
other strangeness is occurring.

..

"Debbie" <Debbie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B654C83D-5923-4A63-AD89-5E1A77D2FB26@microsoft.com...
> Chuck,
>
> Thanks for trying. I am not sure what you mean by "RAW" mode??
>
> I tried changing the length of paper........now instead of gradually
> shifting the text up after so many copies..........it shifts it down (so
the
> reverse of the same problem).
>
> The information I am printing is TEXT information with some underline
areas
> that are MANUALLY (hand checked with a pen by the truck
drivers)........there
> are no Graphics etc.
>
> You mentioned trying alternate driver for text only
> printers.............where do I find these and how can I tell if they are
for
> text only?
>
> Thanks again!!
>
> Debbie
>
>
> "Chuck" wrote:
>
> > When you set the form length, you also need to account for the space
between
> > forms.
> > Generally, "RAW" mode works better than using built in printer fonts.
> > Make sure that the printer options (on the printer, not the driver) are
set
> > just like the other office has set theirs. Next, check the driver
settings.
> > As a last resort, you may need to use an alternate driver for text only
> > printers.
> > (It's been quite some time since I fought this problem.)
> >
> > "Debbie" <Debbie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:A0563D01-529D-42CF-91A7-9F0FBC826E29@microsoft.com...
> > > I recently purchased an OKI Microline 491 24 Pin Dot Matrix printer to
> > print
> > > continuous forms (1000s at a time) onto a pre printed form. The
> > information
> > > an research done on this purchase stated that the printer was
compatible
> > with
> > > XP.
> > >
> > > The form is 7.50 (W) X 4.25 (L).
> > >
> > > I have gone into Start/Printer&Faxes set up custom size in server
> > properties
> > > and properties. Set this same information up in page set up etc.
> > >
> > > With each form printed the text moves higher up until finally it is
> > totally
> > > misaligned.
> > >
> > > The drivers are for XP. I am using XP Professional 2002 and the
program is
> > > in WORD. It is one page on the computer but will need to print XXXX
amount
> > of
> > > copies (sometimes up to a 1000 of this document).
> > >
> > > Originally the program was on Windows 3.1 and did fine printing from
the
> > > WORD in 3.1. Antoher office took this information and placed it on
their
> > > computer..........they finally got it to work with some
> > tweaking...........I
> > > have called them and gotten their information as to margins
> > > etc..............but it still does not make mine print any
> > better..........it
> > > doesn't get any worse though when changing margins...........but it
also
> > does
> > > not get any better.
> > >
> > > Are there any fixes for this or suggestions. I have scoured the
internet,
> > > microsoft help etc. and tried everything I find..........nothing has
> > helped.
> > > I also tried overriding the computer by programing the information
into
> > the
> > > printer.........this did not help either since the paper size I need
is
> > not
> > > in the printer setup.
> > >
> > > Any help will be appreciated.
> > >
> > > Debbie
> >
> >
> >