Using LPT1.OS2, LPT1.DOS, or FILE: Ports When Printing (82749)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows 3.1
- Microsoft Windows 3.11
This article was previously published under Q82749 SUMMARY
In Microsoft Windows version 3.1, the LPT1.DOS printer port connection has
exactly the same effect as typing LPT1.DOS (or LPT1.OS2) when printing to a
FILE:. If you type LPT1.DOS (or LPT1.OS2), a message box asking "Overwrite
existing file?" appears. Choose the Yes button to print. This message
appears because MS-DOS assumes that the file LPT1.xxx (where xxx is any
extension) always exists.
Note that the LPT1.OS2 or LPT1.DOS syntax is not required. It is
included in Windows 3.1 for backward compatibility only. Using LPT1
(or typing LPT1 in the FILE: output file dialog box) has the same
effect.
LPT2 and LPT3 connections behave similarly.
MORE INFORMATION
A problem in Windows 3.0 was corrected to allow binary files to be
printed to LPT1.xxx-style ports. In Windows 3.0, the output was copied
to the port using a command similar to the MS-DOS COPY command without
the /B parameter, which would stop the output if a CTRL+Z (^Z) End-of-
File (EOF) character was found in the output. The port is now written
to in a raw mode, allowing binary data containing EOF characters to be
written.
| Modification Type: | Major | Last Reviewed: | 10/10/2003 |
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| Keywords: | KB82749 |
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