Access a local/shared printer without Reports

Question

Hi,
Our envirronment: Forms 6i + Windows 2000 / XP + Oracle 9i
We are using some thermal printers in our point of sales and the speed is an issue.
I'm actually using the HOST command to send a text file to a printer: This text file is created with the package text_io.
Host('copy test.txt > prn');
I now have to use a Windows printer and I have to change my code for something like
Host('print /d:\\aComputer\aprinter test.txt');
I think that's how I will send it but my tests are negative at the moment. The printer is on the port USB001 and it may be my problem.
Question:
Is there a way to send my data directly to the printer without using Reports? If I can send it directly to a USB printer port, I'm pretty sure that will work.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance and have a great day,
JF

Answer 1

To make you more clear :
Steps 1:
Write the java class to format the output.
formatted string could be like :
for printing
abc
bcd
StringBuffer printData= new StringBuffer();
printData.append("abc");
printData.append('10');
printData.append('13');
printData.append("bcd");
String arr = abc.toString();
let \\n7003\awb_printer be the printer name
String      printerName = "\\n7003\awb_printer";
          try {
          FileOutputStream printerConf = new FileOutputStream(printerName);
          printerConf.write(printData.toString().getBytes());
          printerConf.flush();
          printerConf.close();
          catch(Exception e)     {
               System.out.println("Exception at writing to printer "+ e.getMessage());
Like FORM_FEED --> char(12)
WHITESPACE char(32)
2) sign the jar file
3) add a bean in the form. make it size small so that it is not visible(visible =false)
set its implementaion class.
in the custom event set the printer name, data to be printed etc..
Note : the printer speciifed is with respect to the client system unlike in reports.
hope this helps
deepa