Sending Binary Files to a Printer After Print to File (22734)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 1.1
  • Microsoft Windows 2.03
  • Microsoft Windows 2.1
  • Microsoft Windows 2.11
  • Microsoft Windows 3.0
  • Microsoft Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows 3.11
This article was previously published under Q22734

SYMPTOMS

If you use a dot-matrix printer that is not connected to your personal computer, and you first print Microsoft Windows files to an output file on a disk and then you use the standard Print command on the computer connected to the printer to print the files, your files do not print properly.

CAUSE

Because Windows places a dot-matrix printer in graphics mode when it prints, the print output file you create is a binary file with graphics information.

RESOLUTION

Instead of using the standard Print command, you should use the COPY command with the /B option to send the binary print file to the printer.

For example, if your printer was connected to LPT1 and you are trying to send a binary print file named PR.PRN to the printer, type the following:

copy pr.prn lpt1: /b

Use this same method to print any document when you use the Print to File option at the application level.

REFERENCES

See your MS-DOS manual for more information on the COPY command.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/6/2003
Keywords:KB22734
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.