Problems with Multiple Copies on QMS PS 410

ID: Q79665

4.00 5.00 5.50 6.00 MS-DOS kbprint

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word for MS-DOS, versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0

SUMMARY

When using the QMS PS 410 printer with Microsoft Word for MS-DOS, the printer uses ESP (emulation sensing process) to detect the data type, PCL or PostScript, being sent by the computer and to automatically switch to either Hewlett-Packard (HP) PCL mode or PostScript. In some cases, when using the PostScript printer driver to print multiple copies or a print merged document, the printer will inadvertently switch back to HP PCL mode. As a result, the first pages of the output will be right but the rest of the pages will be printed in PostScript code.

This error is due to the fact that when you print multiple copies or a print merged document while using the PostScript printer driver, Microsoft Word does not send the PostScript initialization file before every copy or before a print merged document. Therefore, when printing either of these, there may be a short delay between copies or merges while the printer may assume that the PostScript job is over and default back to PCL.

MORE INFORMATION

One way to correct this problem is to increase the emulation wait time-out by using the PS Executive Utility Program available from QMS. This will increase the time that the printer waits for more data while processing a PostScript job before it defaults back to PCL.

Another way to correct this problem is to disable the ESP feature of the printer and force it to stay in PostScript mode. This can either be done through the PS Executive Utility Program or by sending the following PostScript code to the printer:

serverdict begin 0 exitserver
statusdict begin
0 setsoftwareiomode
^D

The ^D is a CTRL+D and is entered by holding down the CTRL key and pressing D at the command prompt, or in Microsoft Word, by holding down ALT and pressing 4 on the numeric keypad.

To reactivate ESP, send the following PostScript code to the printer:

serverdict begin 0 exitserver
statusdict begin
200 setsoftwareiomode
^D

The above PostScript code sequences should be saved in separate text-only ASCII files and copied to the printer port when needed using the MS-DOS COPY command.

For more information or help with setting ESP or using the PS Executive Utility Program, contact QMS Technical Support at (205) 633-4300.

Reference(s):

"QMS PS 410 User's Guide," pages 3-1 to 3-7

Additional query words: 4.00 5.00 5.50 6.00

Keywords : kbprint
Version : MS-DOS:4.0,5.0,5.5,6.0
Platform : MS-DOS
Issue type :