New workstation lacking parallel port poses printing challenge

I'm supporting a Netware 4.11 + sp9 small business network, which long ago
had a custom DOS-like database application written to manage rental
activities. The app allows the user to print out lists of things rented,
etc. It has been working very well for years. There are several
workstations, some DOS, some Windows XP, etc., and they all share the rental
database resident in the Netware 4.11 file server.
I have had various networked printers, starting with parallel-port lasers.
More recently I have had a large Canon printer that connects directly via
our Ethernet_802.2 IPX (as well as IP) intranet. In other words, this
printer works both for Windows programs, which use IP, and for our rental
program, which uses IPX.
What's the problem, then?
An important Windows 2000 Pro workstation died, and I replaced it with a new
Windows XP Pro workstation. This new Dell computer HAS NO PRINTER PORT. I
have YET to tinker with this, as I am hoping to get this request for help
posted as soon as possible.
All my workstation computers "CAPTURE" print jobs that the rental program
"thinks" are going to LPT ports. Once these jobs get into various queues, I
have no problem getting them into printed hard copy. The problem NOW is to
fool the DOS-like rental program, which will be running on the new Dell
computer, into seeing some kind of a parallel port that doesn't exist.
I suppose I could launch a major effort into modifying the BIOS of a Dell
computer, but I am hoping there must be a better way!
Can "net use" be of any assistance?
Can Unix "lpt" printing be of any assistance?
It is not likely this rental application can be chanaged. I am not the
author.
I read another thread regarding an "opposite" predicament. It won't help
me, then, to buy a USB->LPT adapter box, because what's important here is
NOT to actually connect a printer to this workstation computer, but to
supply something (a faux LPT port) that can be captured inside this
workstation.
Any ideas most welcome.
Thank you.
John B

This is neat. But I think the all-important DOS-like custom application
rigidly prints only to LPT1.
In the absence of a real LPT1, I need to find a "faux LPT1."
Over the weekend, I'll look at this utility..."printfil."
Thanks very much!
"Davide Guolo" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] s.com...
> John,
>
> > I wonder how long it will be before no such cards
> > are available?
> >
> > So any tips on "faux LPT ports" are still of interest.
>
> you may want to have a look at Printfil, which can capture LPT output
> and forward it to file or directly to a Windows printer, even if no
> LPT ports are physically available on the Windows machine.
>
> You can find more info and a free trial version to download at
> http://www.printfil.com
>
> Regards,
> Davide
> aSwIt s.r.l.
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> Printfil - Windows Printing System for Applications
> http://www.printfil.com
> Odbc4All - Connection to ODBC Data Sources for any Application
> http://www.aswit.com/odbc4all
> @Kill - Batch Close Windows Applications - Freeware
> http://www.aswit.com/akill
> --------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>

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Sir / Madam,
Greetings.
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import parport.ParallelPort;
class SimpleIO {
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This question was solved.
View Solution.

Hi khalidem,
Sounds like you have a communication problem with the printer cables. Have you tried a new parallel to USB cable or adapter?
I am an HP employee.
Say Thanks by clicking the Kudos Star in the post that helped you.
Please mark the post that solves your problem as "Accepted Solution"

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This log content follows
lp fstab
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StartJob: envp[7]="RIP_MAX_CACHE=8m"
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StartJob: statusfds = [ 7 8 ]
StartJob: filterfds[1] = [ 9 -1 ]
StartJob: filter = "/usr/lib/cups/filter/texttops"
StartJob: filterfds[0] = [ 10 11 ]
start_process("/usr/lib/cups/filter/texttops", 0xbffeff30, 0xbffef2a0, 9, 11, 8)
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StartJob: filter = "/usr/lib/cups/filter/pstops"
StartJob: filterfds[1] = [ 9 12 ]
start_process("/usr/lib/cups/filter/pstops", 0xbffeff30, 0xbffef2a0, 10, 12, 8)
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[snip]
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[Job 16] Page = 612x792; 0,0 to 612,792
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[Job 16] 0 %%CreationDate: Thu Mar 18 18:13:15 2004
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[Job 16] 0 %%BeginResource: font Courier-Bold
[Job 16] 0 %%CreationDate: Wed Dec 22 1999
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[Job 16] 0 %%BeginResource: font Courier
[Job 16] 0 %%CreationDate: Wed Dec 22 1999
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[Job 16] 0 %%Page: 1 1
[Job 16] 0 %%Page: 1 1
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[Job 16] PageLeft = 0.0, PageRight = 612.0
[Job 16] PageTop = 792.0, PageBottom = 0.0
[Job 16] PageWidth = 612.0, PageLength = 792.0
[Job 16] 0 %%Trailer
[Job 16] Saw Trailer!
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UpdateJob: job 16, file 0 is complete.
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StopJob: id = 16, force = 0
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Bill Barnes

RXTX Parallel port communication with Pin Printer

I have successfully installed and configured RXTX-2.0-7pre1 on Linux platform.
2 printers, one Laser jet printer connected to the Serial port and the other Pin Printer connected to the Parallel port.
I can print my files out successfully with RXTX on both my 2 printers. But, there is some problem with my Pin Printer performance. The print job is a little slow and the printing is word by word output.
While the Laser printer received the whole string of my RXTX output and printed them out asap.
RXTX read my data and write them to the Parallel/Serial port directly, so, for my laser jet printer, it buffered the RXTX output data and processed them all in one. No problem, laser printer works well. But to the Pin Printer, it got the RXTX output and printed them out with no buffer. I am not authorized to deal with the Pin Printer device driver.
So, my question is that, is there someone knows how to resolve this problem on RXTX side? That is to say, how to modify the source code of RXTX and customize it?
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Simple metrics from google should suffice the SUN team from understand the need/huge requirement for supporting Serial and parallel port programming in windows. Platforms would always change and the team at SUN should remain commited in supporting new platforms.

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Hi
You ask for the best way?
Well, you have got only one way?
You need an USB to parallel adapter. Check in the google for some offers.
I searched in the google and found some good options.
Maybe this could be a good choice;
http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/usb_printer_cable.htm#UP6C
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I typically stay away from Dell PC's. I always have problems with them..
I'm surprised to read that a new PC doesn't support Win-98. Have you / can you try Win-NT 4?
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How is the parallel port configured?
What are you doing
with it, etc?
Any information that can help figure out a solution.
Regards,
JLV

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@PB1941
‎Thank you for using HP Support Forum. I have brought your issue to the appropriate team within HP. They will likely request information from you in order to look up your case details or product serial number. Please look for a private message from an identified HP contact. Additionally, keep in mind not to publicly post ( serial numbers and case details).
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