PRINTERS.WRI from Windows for Workgroups 3.11 (Part 2)

Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
Article ID: Q111742

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11

SUMMARY

The following information was taken from the Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11 PRINTERS.WRI file.

MORE INFORMATION

4.8 Troubleshooting PostScript Printer Problems with TESTPS.TXT

Windows for Workgroups 3.11 comes with a file called TESTPS.TXT. This file is copied into the \WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory if you install a PostScript printer. TESTPS.TXT is used to test PostScript printers for connection and functionality problems. To use TESTPS.TXT, copy it to the port to which the PostScript printer is connected as follows:

COPY C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\TESTPS.TXT LPTx or COPY C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\TESTPS.TXT COMx where x is the port number

If the printer is functioning correctly, it will print a page that contains the following information:

Max Printer VM (KB):          xxx.x
Max Suggested VM (KB):          xxx.x
Bit Rate:                    19.2 kilobits per second (Kbps) or less
Data Bits:                    7
Parity:                              None
Stop Bits:                    1
Flow Control:                    Hardware

If the printer is not functioning or is not connected properly, no page is printed. If no output occurs, check the following:

  Is the printer plugged in? Is the power on? Try turning off the

power and turning it back on again.

  Is there paper in the printer?

  Is the correct port being used to copy TESTPS.TXT? Try copying the

file to other available ports.

  Is the printer cable functioning properly? Try a different cable.

  Is the LPT or serial card/port configured correctly? Check the DIP

switches or software setup for the card.

  Are the settings in the Ports window of the Control Panel

configured according to the TESTPS.TXT output? To verify this, use the following steps:

   Open Control Panel, and then double-click the Ports icon.
   Select the active port, and then choose the Settings button.
   Compare the settings with the TESTPS.TXT output.

5.0 Notes About Hewlett-Packard, Canon, and PCL Printers and Plotters

This section contains information specific to printing on Hewlett-Packard, Canon, and PCL printers and plotters.

5.1 Configuring Memory on PCL Printers

If you are using a PCL printer, you may want to configure printer memory to reserve a portion of it for permanently downloaded fonts or macros. To do this, you can add two settings to the [HPPCL,Ports] section of your WIN.INI file:

  MemReserve=<kilobytes> specifies the amount of total printer memory

that is reserved. For example, if you are using permanently downloaded soft fonts that occupy 300K of memory, you can add MemReserve=300 to your WIN.INI file. You do not need to add this setting if you use the Font Installer program provided with Windows for Workgroups to download your fonts. In this case, the printer driver can automatically detect how much memory is taken up by the fonts.

  ResetPrinter=<0, 1, 2> specifies when the driver should reset

printer memory. If the value is 0, the driver resets printer memory when the amount of memory available for printing (the total amount less the value for MemReserve) is low. If the value is 1, the driver resets printer memory after printing each page. If the value is 2, the driver never resets printer memory. In most cases, a value of 0 works, providing that the value for MemReserve is accurate. If you are printing a large document that contains complex graphics, you may want to specify a value of 1.

For more information about editing the WIN.INI file, see the WININI.WRI online document.

5.2 Simulating Bold Type on PCL Printers

The Windows for Workgroups PCL driver no longer simulates bold for a font that does not include a bold font style. For example, if you use a cartridge or soft font in your application that includes only a regular font style and you format text as bold, the text prints in the regular font style on a PCL printer.

5.3 Printing from PageMaker Version 3.x to a PCL Printer

Aldus PageMaker version 3.x expects a text band to be sent if you are printing to a PCL printer. If you are using a 3.x version of PageMaker, you need to add the following line to the [HPPCL,Port] section of your WIN.INI file in order to print successfully:

ForceTextBand=1

For more information about editing the WIN.INI file, see the WININI.WRI online document.

5.4 Using the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet IIIsi in PostScript Mode

If you are using a LaserJet IIIsi printer in PostScript mode, make sure the PRT PS ERRS option on your printer panel's menu is turned off (this is the factory-default setting), unless you are writing PostScript programs and need error information for debugging. If this option is on, your print jobs pause and a message appears on your printer's panel each time a PostScript error is encountered. In most cases, your documents still print, but the printing process is interrupted.

5.5 Using Intellifont for Windows Version 1.0 with Hewlett-Packard LaserJet III Printers

If you install Intellifont for Windows version 1.0 after setting up Windows for Workgroups version 3.11, you must reinstall the LaserJet III printer driver by using the Printers option in Control Panel or the Printer Setup command in Print Manager. The installation program for Intellifont for Windows installs an earlier version of the LaserJet III printer driver. This driver does not work correctly with Windows for Workgroups.

5.6 Upgrading HP LaserJet Series III Printer Drivers

The HP LaserJet III printer driver included with Windows for Workgroups is named HPPCL5MS.DRV. In earlier versions of Windows, this driver was named HPPCL5A.DRV. If you upgrade to Windows for Workgroups, the Setup program updates the printer driver for the HP LaserJet III printer. However, some applications store the information about the printer-driver file with the document, and if you try to print a document that you created before you upgraded to Windows for Workgroups, you may receive a message notifying you that the printer driver cannot be found. If this happens, choose the Printer Setup command in your application to update the driver information stored in the document.

5.7 Using the Hewlett-Packard DeskJet 500 Printer Driver

If you are using the HP DeskJet 500 printer driver provided by Hewlett-Packard with the HP DeskJet 500 printer, you need to adjust the resolution setting to print at 300 dpi. To do this, first try adjusting the resolution setting in the printer setup dialog box by using the Printers option in Control Panel or the Printer Setup command in Print Manager. If this doesn't work, add the following line to the [DJ500,Port] section of your WIN.INI file:

prtresfac=0

For more information about editing the WIN.INI file, see the WININI.WRI online document.

5.8 Printing Envelopes in Word for Windows Version 2.0 on a Hewlett-Packard DeskJet 500 Printer

If you are using the DeskJet 500 printer driver provided with Windows for Workgroups, you may encounter difficulties when using Word for Windows version 2.0 to print envelopes on a Hewlett-Packard DeskJet 500 printer.

To correct the problem:

In Word for Windows, choose the Options command from the Tools menu.
In the Category list, select the Win.ini button.
In the Option box, type hpdskjet
In the Setting box, type +1
Choose the Close button.

You can also add the following line to the [Microsoft Word 2.0] section of your WIN.INI file:

hpdskjet=+1

For more information about editing the WIN.INI file, see the WININI.WRI online document.

5.9 Printing TrueType Fonts on Canon Series II and III Laser Printers

The Canon series II and III laser printers do not support incremental downloading of TrueType fonts. To print TrueType fonts by using one of these printers, you must select the Enable TrueType Fonts check box in the printer setup dialog box for the printer. This option supports the printing of TrueType fonts on these printers by printing them as graphics. This check box is selected by default when a Canon series II or III printer is installed.

If the Enable TrueType Fonts check box is not selected, TrueType fonts cannot be printed on these printers and are not available in your Windows-based applications; only printer and plotter fonts are available. For more information about setting printer options, see Help for Print Manager.

5.10 Printing Graphics on a Canon Bubble-Jet BJ-10e or BJ-130e

If you are printing in 360x360 dpi graphics mode and part of the graphics images in your documents are missing, make sure the DIP switch that controls graphics image density is set to HIGH.

5.11 Adjusting Hewlett-Packard Plotter Margins

If you are using one of the plotters in the following list, you can probably correct margin problems by experimenting with the margin settings in your application and by turning on the Expand switch on your plotter:

   HP 7580 A,B (hardware switch on back panel, pin #9)
   HP 7585 A,B (hardware switch on back panel, pin #9)
   HP DraftPro DXL, EXL (hardware switch on back panel, pin #9)
   Draftmaster I, II (front panel selection)

Turning on the Expand switch increases the plotting area by setting the outer margins to the area under the grid wheels. However, this might decrease plot quality.

5.12 Adding Distinct DocI/Comp Pub I and Brilliant Pres I/Comp Pub II Font Cartridges

If you need to install these font cartridges for your LaserJet III printer, you can do so by using the Font Installer.

To install the font cartridges:

In Print Manager, choose Printer Setup from the Options menu.
In the Printers dialog box, select your printer from the list of

installed printers, and then choose the Setup button.

In the printer driver dialog box, choose the Fonts button.
In the Font Installer dialog box, choose the Add Fonts button.
In the dialog box that appears, type the path for your Windows

SYSTEM directory for example:

     c:\windows\system

Select the name of the cartridge you want to install, and then choose the OK button.

5.13 Using the Hewlett-Packard HP-GL/2

Support for HP-GL/2 is in the HPPCL5E driver. Under the Options Dialog in the Printer Setup, an option of "Graphics Mode" is available. Two options are present: HP-GL/2 or Raster. The first choice enables HP-GL/2 which will increase print performance. The second choice uses raster only. The default graphics mode is set to raster for the HP LaserJet 4L. The default mode is set to HP-GL/2 for the HP LaserJet 4/4M and 4Si/4Si MX.

For the HP LaserJet 4/4M and 4Si/4Si MX, if you encounter print difficulties in the default Graphics Mode, it is recommended that you change the mode to Raster and try your print job again. Additional information on this topic may be found in the help files that accompany this driver. Choose Help from the driver dialog screens or the HP font installer screens to access the HELP information.

6.0 Notes About Additional Printers and Font Packages

This section contains information specific to font packages and printing on dot-matrix, 24-pin, Epson, and IBM printers.

6.1 Feeding Paper on Fujitsu Dot-Matrix Printers

The manual-feed option is not supported on Fujitsu dot-matrix printers. All paper is automatically fed to the printer from the roller.

6.2 Printing to an IBM Personal Pageprinter, Using the EPT Port

For best results, use the IBM Personal Pageprinter Adapter Program version 1.3.1 or later.

If you want to print to an IBM Personal Pageprinter assigned to the EPT port, you must set the LPT1 device contention to never issue a warning. For more information about managing device requests, see Help for Control Panel.

6.3 Printing to an IBM Proprinter X24 or XL24, Epson MX-80, or Okidata 24-Pin Printer

Because Print Manager sometimes interrupts the flow of data while printing, you might notice erratic output if you are using an IBM Proprinter X24 or XL24, Epson MX-80, or Okidata 24-pin dot-matrix printer when Print Manager is active. These printers cannot accommodate interruptions in data flow. To solve this problem, try deactivating Print Manager.

If you still have problems after deactivating Print Manager, use the following procedure.

To print to a file and then send the file to a printer:

Using the Printer Setup command in Print Manager or the Printers

option in Control Panel, connect to the port named FILE.

Choose the Print command in your Windows application.
Copy the print file to the port your printer is connected to.

For more information about activating and deactivating Print Manager and printing to a file, see Help for Print Manager. For more information about printing to a file, see your MS-DOS documentation.

Note: This problem should not occur when you are printing on an IBM Proprinter X24e or XL24e.

6.4 Using Fonts with the Epson LQ-510, LQ-850, and LQ-1050 Printers

The Epson LQ-510, LQ-850, and LQ-1050 printer drivers support the full set of fonts provided with the latest versions of these printer models. Earlier versions of these printer models support only the Roman and Sans Serif fonts.

6.5 Printing TrueType Fonts on Kyocera F-Series Printers

To print TrueType Fonts on Kyocera F-Series printers, you must select the Print TrueType As Graphics check box in the Options dialog box when configuring your printer. Otherwise, TrueType fonts may not print correctly. For more information about configuring printers, see Help for Print Manager.

6.6 Changing Printer Settings When Using Bitstream FaceLift Version 1.0

With some applications, you can change the settings for your printer on a per- page basis. If you are using the Facelift version 1.0 soft-font package from Bitstream, you cannot use this feature when you are printing multiple-page documents.

6.7 Using the Cut-Sheet Feeder on the NEC Pinwriter P7 Printer

The Paper Source option, Cut Sheet Feeder, does not work properly with the NEC Pinwriter P7 printer. To use the cut-sheet feeder as the paper source, you must specify a left margin of about three inches for your document so that text prints correctly on the page.

6.8 Using Separator Pages

If you are using one of the following printer models and the printer is a local printer (attached to your computer), do not use the separator-page feature in Print Manager. This feature is not supported in these printer models.

Canon LBP-4 Canon LBP-8 II Canon LBP-8 III IBM Laser Printer 4019 Olivetti DM 109 Olivetti DM 309

7.0 Troubleshooting

7.1 Troubleshooting Garbled Output

If you get garbled output on a printer, it may be due to one of the following problems:

Your network adapter and LPT1 port may have a conflicting IObase

address, such as 370. You need to change the IObase address of the network adapter.

If you are using a NetWare server and PRINTCON.DAT is set up for

text mode or is not in the SYS directory for your Novell network installation, Windows for Workgroups version 3.11 will not print TrueType fonts correctly. One of the functions of PRINTCON.DAT is to set up the default data stream type. Without a PRINTCON.DAT file, the default is a "TEXT" data stream.

To correct this problem, use the Novell PRINTCON utility to generate a PRINTCON.DAT file with a default data stream of "BITSTREAM". Once this is done, TrueType fonts should print normally.

8.0 Other Online Documents

The following table describes other online documents that contain important information about Windows for Workgroups that is not included in the Microsoft Windows for Workgroups User's Guide or in Help.

Document               Contains

____________________________________________________________

SETUP.TXT     Information about problems that may occur when you

set up Windows for Workgroups.

MAIL.WRI     Information about the MSMAIL.INI file
     and other Mail administration information.

README.WRI     Information about using Windows for Workgroups with

the Multimedia Extensions version 1.0, specific display-adapter and system configurations, and MS-DOS based applications, and information that was unavailable when the documentation was printed.

NETWORKS.WRI     Information about running Windows for Workgroups with

specific network configurations.

SYSINI.WRI     Information about the settings in the SYSTEM.INI file.

WININI.WRI     Information about the settings in the WIN.INI file.

KBCategory: kbnetwork kbdisplay kb3rdparty kbref
KBSubcategory:
Additional reference words: wfw wfwg 3.11

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Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
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