Printing from Dos (Is DOSPrint the answer?)

[Robert E. Carneal]

I have been looking over and trying Lance's DOSPrint, and I
wonder if it is the answer to my project.

I am working on a Cemetery recording application for people
with DOS programs, but run under Window operating systems. I
expect to share (i.e., give away) about 50 copies, but after
that would start asking people for something- perhaps $10.00
per copy.

Buying a copy of DOSPrint and including it with my program is
not the answer. It would make Lance mad to say nothing of being
illegal. So.... is there another option?

I have tried printing to a text file, and then use a batch file
to print the text file, but controlling the output becomes an
issue at this point. Sometimes my desired output is not lined
up on the printer end.

I can work with portrait mode output, but I really would like
to print sideways- hence my interest in DOSPrint- but it is a
commercial product.

If I can print 128 characters per line (hence the sideways
preferance)from Powerbasic, then I have the printing issue
resolved. 128 characters per line can be achieved with something
that will print 13CPI.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Robert

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[This message has been edited by Robert Carneal (edited April 20, 2003).]

[Michael Mattias]

Wouldn't it be easier to just print text file at 128-132 characters per line?

And don't start until you've sent the escape code or thrown the switch to "go into 16 cpi mode?"

That's easy: instead of LPRINT you just PRINT# to a file opened with OPEN "LPT1:" FOR OUTPUT.. (global search and replace, throw in an OPEN and a CLOSE, you're done).

MCM

[Gary Stout]

Originally posted by Robert Carneal:

Buying a copy of DOSPrint and including it with my program is
not the answer. It would make Lance mad to say nothing of being
illegal. So.... is there another option?

Lance can comment on this better than I can, but I believe that if
you buy a copy of Dosprint, it gives you the rights to use it and
distribute the necessary runtimes or libraries with your programs
royalty free. As far as I know, this applies to any of the 3rd party add-ons unless they say otherwise.

Maybe Lance can clarify...




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Gary Stout
[email protected]
[email protected]

[Jim Cody]

You apparently don't understand how DOSPrint(tm)and other PB/DOS
tools are generally licensed to developers. So long as you
license the DOSPRINT developer's package, you are entitled to
distribute the run-time essentials with your Cemetery
application.

Because you are developing but seem unsure about how to build
structured report streams (orientation, headings, widths, layout,
pagination, etc.), DOSPrint is probably the friendliest tool
for anyone in your position. When you master report formatting
for DOSPrint, you also solve your Windows printing problem.



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Jim C.

[This message has been edited by Jim Cody (edited April 20, 2003).]

[Lance Edmonds]

Jim has the situation correct. Oh, and thanks for the plug folks!

Michael: DOSPRINT allows folks to print to Windows-only printers, which is generally something that can't be done when you use LPRINT or OPEN "LPTn:"/PRINT# as those cannot access USB-connected printers (which are becoming the most common types available due to their relatively low purchase cost).

Regards,
Lance.