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A5 Printer issue??

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    #1

    A5 Printer issue??

    Beginning with the power up and after a lot of disk activity, presumably because of those mysterious updates, something seems to have affected A5v11. I have been using my application for years with no problems until 6/23/14. Alpha will no longer recognize more than one printer. It appears to only recognize the last printer installed. I removed and installed both of my printers several times and in different order and A5 only recognizes the last one installed regardless of which one it is. I can print fine to either printer from all applications outside of Alpha. I can even print preview and send to PDF any reports and then print the PDF to either printer.

    What I normally do is to set the default printer to the one of choice prior to each report/letter printing using the following:

    Tbl = table.open("SysPrntrs",FILE_RW_SHARED)
    nrecs = tbl.records_get()
    tbl.fetch_first()

    while cnt < nrecs + 1
    if tbl.Report_Printer = .t.
    Rprt_Prntr = tbl.Name
    fnd = .t.
    'set the printer override, and capture the current override printer name to a variable
    a5_previous_printer_name = :report.Printer_override(Rprt_Prntr)
    tbl.fetch_next()
    cnt = cnt + 1
    else
    tbl.fetch_next()
    cnt = cnt + 1
    end if
    End While

    This has worked fine for years but now after running the above code and then

    filter = "vcode = [varC->parameter1]"
    query.filter = replace_parameters(filter,local_variables())
    query.order = ""



    'Prompt user whether to print, or preview the layout. Set default to Print
    prompt_result = ui_get_print_or_preview("Print")
    If prompt_result = "Print" then

    :Report.Print("Print_Prgm",query.filter,query.order)

    the :Report_Print line generates an error indicating that A5 has trouble communicating with the printer.

    Anybody else experiencing this problem?

    Thanks for your attention and help.

    Gene FitzPatrick
    Tags: None
    #2
    Re: A5 Printer issue??

    Further information. I copied my application directory, cleared all data files including the list of printers and tried it again. This time, while my software returned a message that the user has yet to set up the printers, as expected, A5 continued on to present the "print" window. This begs the question does the :report.Printer_override function have a limit to the length of the printer name? I verified that the variable that contains the printer name (Rprt_Prntr) has the correct data in it but it is a rather long name. Perhaps a ridiculous question but I have to ask if anyone out there can answer it.

    Comment

      #3
      Re: A5 Printer issue??

      TO ONE AND ALL

      As crazy as it seems, I hit the nail on the head. I shortened the name of the printer and everything works. TO ANYONE SHAKING THEIR HEAD ALONG WITH ME, A WORD TO THE WISE. RENAME YOUR PRINTERS USING SHORT NAMES.

      Thanks to all that are interested.

      Gene

      Comment

        #4
        Re: A5 Printer issue??

        Glad you posted your solution. Did you establish what the limit is or just really shorten the name?
        There can be only one.

        Comment

          #5
          Re: A5 Printer issue??

          Hi Stan,

          I just shortened the name. I do have one more question though. My report printer (named Brother) is connected via USB001 but when I ask the user to select from the list of system printers which printer to use for reports, the list presents Brother on Ne02: Is Ne02: the same as USB001? I would expect the list to present Brother on USB001.

          Gene

          Comment

            #6
            Re: A5 Printer issue??

            To all concerned. One more finding. Though I selected the form and receipt printers as found and listed by Ui_printers_get(), I had to subsequently change the port on the report printer name line to that of the receipt printer for both to work.

            Example: The line in the DBF that read Brother on USB001: had to be changed to match the Receipt printer (Receipt on Ne00:) to read Brother on Ne00: though in Windows the report printer (the Brother) communicates through USB001.

            Perhaps it has to do with the fact that the receipt printer sharing flag has to be set as a requirement to allow opening of the cash drawer. I don't know. However, for whatever reason, this does work.

            Gene

            Comment

              #7
              Re: A5 Printer issue??

              Does anyone know why Ui_printers_get() returns a port number that does not always match the one used by Windows? It appears that the port number used is the "next number in the sequence." This is causing a problem with Alpha finding the printer.

              Gene

              Comment

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