Hello to all,
i have a problem at a customer:
we changed from a unix system to a windows server 2003.
the customer have much Dot Matrix Printers for printing.
at unix we have installed them as direkt printer (the driver from $BSE/lib/printif) was used, and the spool was sended via PCL escape sequences. Everything was fine...
but now at the windows server, we have performance problems at printing. shure i know that windows dont print about pcl escape sequences, he user the pixel printing... it look like the printer is (painting *gg*) i think you know what i mean.. now my problem is, is must get a solution for the problem, cause the printing is to slow..
i tried it with the generic text only driver, but it dont look like verry well.. i also installed a linux printserver to spool the spools true this server and get a pcl escape sequence... but the linux pc also printing about pixel :-(

a correct driver for a x64 system for the printers are dont avaliable.

have anyone an idea? printserver ? driver ???

please help me !!!!

We recently switched from Tru64 Unix to Win2008R2 and face the same issue with our dot matrix printers...
I would be quite keen to learn about any ideas on how to operate dot matrix printers under Windows OS like UNIX/LINUX in text mode rather than in the far too slow graphic mode.

If anyone of you guys has an idea on how to achieve this - please post a reply.

@HomerSimpson: As your post is now quite a while ago: How did you manage the issue?

Thanks in advance.
Kdhagemann

If I am correct you can change the generic printer driver and add own start and end init codes like you do in unix.

At least that's how we solved this before at other customers. Do you have a programmers manual available of the printer?

Han, thanks a lot for the info!

I did some tests with the driver "Generic / Text Only". It allows to specify ESC sequences for Job-init and -exit plus some ESC sequences for font sizes and -styles. Problem is that using this generic driver the whole text-formatting as specified in the report is lost ("Text only"). Means for our invoices/packing slips etc: No bold font, one font-size only, etc. :(

Just a thought:
If I would be able to generate a textfile having all the required ESC sequences (ie. like specified in $BSE/lib/printinf/i/ibm_pro) it would may be possible to output this file by a shellscript to the printer queue on the server...? Propably ttstpconv opens some doors here?

Backgrounder: We are using 7 OKI Dotmatirx Printers with tons of pre-printed stationery (fanfold)...

Would be glad for any ideas in this matter.

Hi,

Did you already get support involved in this? I understand that you are quite dependend on these printers ...
And the printer supplier? Are they not willing to deliver you a driver? Or do they have only 32-bit drivers?

Would have been more easier if you sticked to unix or went for Linux (which is quite popular in Germany).

What version are you running? ERP-LN or BaaNIV?

Regards,

raaaaaa - If it would have been up to me, we would have tsayed with Linux forever!!! But I got overruled somehow :-(
For some reasons Linux is considered as being "stoneage" in some minds.

Support told me there are known issues with Matrix printers on a Windows server. Hm - that helps.

I am a little step further:
The issue seems to be located in bwprint.exe on the Windows server. Found the way to change the settings of bwprint for all users (registry; HKLM) - now I have to find a way on how to use/set the device internal fonts, as printing with those is by far faster than pixel-graphic-mode. Will post further findings here, if of interest.

Our Version is IVc4_SP25 (currently on SLES10.2, soon Win2K8R2).

Regards,

hello kdhagemann,

wich settings you are using at the bwprint.exe for a fast printing??!