Dot Matrix Printers

rbuser

Hello Digital Metaphors:

We print on pre-printed custom reports using dot matrix printers. Some
of these reports exceed 26 inches. This is no problem so long as the printer
driver supports custom sizes this large.

We have a large customer who wants us to support a dot matrix printer
( Lexmark ) with a max size of 18 inches.

Are there any options for us to accomplish this on those 24 inch long
reports ???

The tech tips suggests using a generix text printer driver set at 1/6
inch intervals. Is this our only option ???

Is it possible to employ somebody to modify a printer driver ??? Is that
possible or practical ??? Any ideas would be appreciated.

Also, we are running into issues in Windows 2000. WIndows 2000 requires
different drivers than 9x and NT. Many of the new drivers coming out have
reduced the supported custom paper length down to 17 inches max ( Okidata
for instance ). We are concerned that future windows platforms will make it
almost impossible for us to support our customers needs for long pre-printed
reports.


Thanks for your help.



Sincerely,


Neil Huhta
Profit Monster Data Systems LLC

digitalmetaphors

---------------------------------------------
Article: Custom Paper Sizes on Windows NT
---------------------------------------------

Win NT (and Win 2000) have a completely different printing architecture
from Win 9x. This is particularly apparent when it comes to custom paper
sizes.

Windows NT handles paper sizes via Forms that are defined at the
operating system level.

1. Open the Windows NT printer panel
2. Select File | Server Properties. The Print Server Properties dialog
is displayed.
3. From this dialog you can view all of the Forms currently defined for
your machine.

There are basic forms installed by the operating system. Additional
forms may be added by printer driver installations or applications.

ReportBuilder defines a Custom paper size as one that is NOT already
defined and known to the printer driver. There are Win API calls
ReportBuilder uses to retrieve a list of available paper sizes known to
the printer driver.

When printing a report, ReportBuilder first tries to find a pre-defined
paper size it can use - one that matches the paper dimensions of the
report. If it cannot find one, then it uses a Win API call to add/modify
a Form named 'Custom'.

Security Issues:
----------------

Each printer installed to Win NT has security rights associated with it.

1. Open the Windows Printer panel
2. Select the printer icon for the printer
3. Press the right mouse button to display the popup menu and select
Properties.
4. From the properties dialog select the Security tab
5. From the Security tab, press the Permissions button
6. A list of user groups and their associated rights will be displayed.
7. The rights are: No Access, Print, Manage Documents, Full Control.

*** A group must have at Manage Documents or Full Control in order to
update forms.

By default Administrators have full control. However Users by default
have only Print rights.


General Troubleshooting Tips:
------------------------------

1. To test paper sizes you can run demo 121 in the main reports demo
app.
This demo displays a printer settings dialog and is very useful for
testing printer drivers with various paper sizes.

To test a paper size:

a. Selecting the printer
b. Specify the paper size
c. press preview
d. Press print to display the print dialog.
e. From the print dialog press the Properties button to display the
printer driver's built-in dialog. You should be able to verify the
printer setting from here.

These are the values communicated by RB to the printer. If
these are set correctly then RB has done its job, the rest is up to the
printer.

2. Open the Windows printers panel. Select File | Server Properties. The
Print Server Properties dialog is displayed. Select the Form named
'Custom' and check that its dimensions are set to the correct values for
your report.

3. Try printing to this same paper size using other apps such
as MS Excel and MS Word. If they cannot do it, then it is likely
a limitation of the printer.

4. Try downloading the latest printer driver from the manufacturers
web site.

5. Try testing with another printer.

If test number 1 above works properly then e-mail
support@digital-metaphors.com with the exact configuration
you are using: Delphi version, ReportBuilder version,
OS (NT4.0, Win95, Win98), and printer model.




Cheers,

Jim Bennett
Digital Metaphors

rbuser

Jim:

Thanks for the information on how ReportBuilder and Windows 2000 work
together. However, my original questions remain unanswered as follows. I
don't need definite answers, but if you guys could point me out in the right
direction, that would be appreciated.

Are there any options for us to accomplish this on those 24 inch long
reports if a windows driver does not support that length ???

The tech tips suggests using a generix text printer driver set at 1/6
inch intervals. Is this our only option ???

Is it possible to employ somebody to modify a printer driver ??? Is
that possible or practical ??? Any ideas would be appreciated.



Neil Huhta
Profit Monster Data Systems LLC

digitalmetaphors

If the driver does not support a custom paper size, then you could print to
a (non-graphical) report emulation text file and then send that to the
printer.


-----------------------------------------------
Tech Tip: Send TextFile to Printer
-----------------------------------------------

I designed a application that exports the report to a .txt
file using ReportTextFile device.

How can I Send the text file to the printer?

The following procedure will send the .txt file to
the printer using Delphi's TPrinter object.



uses
Printers;


procedure SendTextFileToPrinter(aFileName: String);
var
lsLines: TStringList;
lOutputFile: TextFile;
liIndex: Integer;
begin

lsLines := TStringList.Create;

try
lsLines.LoadFromFile(aFileName);

AssignPrn(lOutputFile);
Rewrite(lOutputFile);

for liIndex := 0 to lsLines.Count-1 do
Writeln(lOutputFile, lsLines[liIndex]);

CloseFile(lOutputFile);

finally
lsLines.Free;
end;


end;


Cheers,

Jim Bennett
Digital Metaphors

rbuser

Jim:

Thanks again for the input. However, I still would like an answer to the
following specific questions:

Is it possible to employ somebody to modify a printer driver ??? Is
that possible or practical ???

Are there any options for us to accomplish this on those 24 inch long
reports if a windows driver does not support that length ???

The tech tips suggests using a generix text printer driver set at 1/6
inch intervals. Is this our only option ???



Neil Huhta

rbuser

Jim:

How do I print to a "(non-graphical) report emulation Text file" ??? Is
this done by setting the report properties to send output to a text file and
then calling the ppreport.print method ???

Also, does this require adherence to the 1/6 inch placement ???


Thanks


Neil Huhta

digitalmetaphors

Sorry for my reluctance on responding to your question. We have not
modified print drivers and we are not claiming to be experts on this. It
may be possible, but modifying a print driver appears to be difficult, to
say the least. I was hoping that someone else has had a similar experience,
found enlightenment, and is willing to share the solution.

I would try using the generic text driver first, and if that doesn't work,
then use the report emulation text file and send the text file to the
printer. Those are the best two options at this point.


Cheers,

Jim Bennett
Digital Metaphors

digitalmetaphors

Non-graphical means that only the text in the report is sent to the report
emulation text file. The Report.DeviceType property can be set to
dtReportTextFile. Set Report.AllowPrintToFile to true. Set the
Report.TextFileName. Calling print will send it to the file.

See demo 107 in the main reports demo project. I would recommend using the
1/6 inch placement, to ensure the correct mapping of the text to the
character grid.


Cheers,

Jim Bennett
Digital Metaphors