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USB Printing problems

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    USB Printing problems

    Hello Alpha Four V8 users,

    Recently there were many complaints about printing to the USB printer using Alpha Four V8. We tested the issue by installing a Hp Deskjet 940C series printer on our network. Alpha Four V8 prints FINE using the USB printer. No problems.

    The Hp Deskjet printer was attached to a Windows 2000 professional machine. Then it was shared on the network. We printed natively using A4V8, and also on the network using a Windows 2000 and a Windows XP professional machine. We found out that we could print on the network also without any problems.

    The only issue may be, printing previleges. If somebody does not have Administrator previlege then, they cannot install the printer, and also add the printer to the list of printers shown. But, if you can see the USB printer in the list of printers, and, you can print any file, for example a word document or a text file, using that printer, then, A4V8 should not have any problems printing a report using that USB printer.

    Pawan.

    #2
    RE: USB Printing problems

    Where Can I Find more info about what the settings should be in Windows XP and in A4 . Can not print to USB Printer or to file.

    Comment


      #3
      RE: USB Printing problems

      Printing to a USB printer from Alpha 4 v7 or v8 requires that the Alpha 4 winagent be running.
      This agent is what makes windows and Alpha 4 talk to each other.
      If the agent isn't running, then forget trying to print to a windows printer. You'll waste time trying to make it work without it.

      The easy way to get this started is to be sure that the program that is run from your shortcut or bat file is a4.exe.
      This is a nice little program that makes sure that the winagent is running and then starts a4v8.exe (or a4v7 if that's your version).
      Check the shortcut or bat file that starts Alpha 4 and be sure that a4.exe is the program this is started. (per attached image)

      Now the next step is to configure the printer as a windows printer in A4.
      You should see the local printers and network printers in the A4 windows printer choices. Yes, the lpt's, usb's, and ip connected printers.
      If you don't, then exit A4 and restart it.
      You probably made a configuration change in windows while a4 was open (or you don't have the winagent running). Restart a4.exe to see the new choices.

      To know that the winagent is running you should see:
      1. a little blue icon of a lowercase a in the lower right hand corner your windows desktop.
      2. You can look at task manager to see the task winagent running.

      Note that attached image showing the choices.
      ____________________
      For text printing the important issue is to stay in the DOS environment for the text choice and the printer.

      In the Alpha 4 printer configuration screen, configure a DOS printer using the default printer choice.

      It doesn't have any fancy codes that are sent to the printer so the print to file from A4 then gives a clean text file with only the output that is needed.

      Beware, if you use the windows print to file as the choice for the windows port,
      you'll get the same file that is sent to the printer from windows and will have more characters in it then are needed.
      ____________________
      The size of the DOS window is dependant on the properties of the DOS window that A4v8 is running in.
      The sequence of events is A4.exe starts in it's own window, takes care of the winagent duties, and then starts A4V8 in a new DOS window.
      The best way to change the size of that window is to click on the upper left corner of that DOS window, set the properties to FULL SCREEN
      and any others that are needed to size it with your video driver, and then save those choices for all windows with the same title.

      Finding the actual window settings varies from computer to computer and is fun in any DOS window that is used in windows.
      Persistence pays off.
      Al Buchholz
      Bookwood Systems, LTD
      Weekly QReportBuilder Webinars Thursday 1 pm CST

      Occam's Razor - KISS
      Normalize till it hurts - De-normalize till it works.
      Advice offered and questions asked in the spirit of learning how to fish is better than someone giving you a fish.
      When we triage a problem it is much easier to read sample systems than to read a mind.
      "Make it as simple as possible, but not simpler."
      Albert Einstein

      http://www.iadn.com/images/media/iadn_member.png

      Comment


        #4
        RE: USB Printing problems

        please add this to paragraph about window sizes and properties.

        Setting the properties of the a4.exe window will not apply to the a4v8.exe window. They are two different windows, so it is best to start Alpha 4 and change the settings on the window that you see, not on the properties of something that isn't running. (ie desktop shortcuts...)
        Al Buchholz
        Bookwood Systems, LTD
        Weekly QReportBuilder Webinars Thursday 1 pm CST

        Occam's Razor - KISS
        Normalize till it hurts - De-normalize till it works.
        Advice offered and questions asked in the spirit of learning how to fish is better than someone giving you a fish.
        When we triage a problem it is much easier to read sample systems than to read a mind.
        "Make it as simple as possible, but not simpler."
        Albert Einstein

        http://www.iadn.com/images/media/iadn_member.png

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