Print to a file (Word 97 on NT network)

[dale.lacey]

Hi

When printing In Word, you can choose to print to a file. The output gets saved as a *.prn file.

My question is, how do you print the *.prn file?

(I used to do it on a standalone PC, but copying the *.prn file to PRN. But this doesn't seem to work on an NT network. I've also tried copying the file to the UNC for the printer, but that doesn't work either. And I've tried dragging it over the network printer's icon.)

Any ideas?

Thanks
Dale

[Phil Rabichow]

Hi Dale:

There are 3 ways to print a .prn file:
1. Associate .prn with Wordpad or Notepad.
2. Rename the .prn file into .txt.
3. Go to a C prompt & type "copy/b filename LPT"
or try "copy filename.prn lpt1 /b". The "/b" tells the system you're processing a "binary" (machine language) file, not text.

Hope this helps.

[dale.lacey]

Thanks, Phil

I've tried options 2 and 3, but can't get it working.

OPTION 2
I renamed the file to filename.txt, right-clicked, and selected Print. It prints okay, but so do all the special printer codes.

OPTION 3
Both formats give me "The system cannot find the file specified".


With Option 3, maybe the environment doesn't have LPT1 defined for some reason. (I'm not a technical person, so am getting a bit lost.)

With Option 2, maybe I haven't understood you correctly.

Thanks for your help
Dale

[jscher2000]

At the command line, confirm the printer queue names using:

net print ServerName

Then try to copy to the queue name:

copy myfile.prn "ServerNameQueueName" /b

[dale.lacey]

Thanks

We're stretching my level of technical competence here.

Two issues:

1. If I go "net print" at a command prompt, it tells me that the correct format is computernamesharename. It won't accept computername.

2. If I go to Windows Explorer and click Printers, the printer I'm working with is called "P104_LJ4050TN_099.CORP.SHAMR.ACC on ACC". What is the "computername" and what is the "sharename"?

Sorry to be so slow
Dale

[jscher2000]

I tested on Windows 98, so that could explain the difference. (?) I'm making this up as I go along, too.

Anyway, in your example, ACC is the server, and the other string (!) may well be the share name. If you go into the Add Printer wizard and browse the server, you can confirm the share name

[Phil Rabichow]

Hi Dale:

Sorry, I missed the fact that you are on NT. I'm on a standalone using Win98SE and this is a tip that I copied. However, LPT1 is my printer port. Perhaps someone familiar with NT can tell you the printer port. If I come up with any additional information, I'll post back.

[dale.lacey]

Thanks

Me and my predeliction for unusual filenames. I had a "^" in the filename, and DOS didn't like it !!!

Anyway, I've renamed the prn file, and am now getting more sensible error messages, but still can't get it to copy to the printer. I've tried both "accp104....shamr.corp.acc" and "accshamr.corp.acc", and neither work.

The message is now "unknown user name or password", which I presume means I don't have the correct rights.

Thanks for your (and Phil's) help
Dale

[Andrew Lockton]

Dale

Does this link go some way to solving your problem.
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/pca.nsf/docid/1997122345512>Symantec Support</A>
It talks about the limitations of NT in stopping applications from accessing the printer and how to enable this control.

[dale.lacey]

Thanks, Andrew

That looks interesting, and I'll have a look at it. (It'll take a little while, as the standard setup here doesn't allow me to change those settings.)

By the way, this all started with me wanted to take advantage of Word's facility for printing to a file. Wouldn't you think that, since Microsoft provide the facility, they'd also provide a simple Windows method of printing the damn file. Grrrmp.

Thanks again
Dale

[angiew]

net use lpt1: serverprintername to redirect network share to LPT1.

If you have the share right to print to the printer in a "normal" Windows NT environment - you should be able to use the above statement to capture the LPT1 port . You should also be able to go into network neightbor and right click on the printer share and install it and when asked if you want to print from "DOS" say yes and that should capture the LPT1 port.

angiew

PS if you already had this info or it does not apply please forgive.

[dale.lacey]

Thanks

"Net use" gives me "Type the password for ...", which seems to confirm that I've entered a valid printer name, but need a password.

Everything seems to be pointing to a tightly controlled environment. (For example, I don't have a Network Neighbourhood.)

I'll check with our technical support people.

Thanks for your help
Dale