Windows XT or Windows NT 2000
NOVELL ???
Alaska 1.90.331

First time in my  experience with alaska (and clipper since 1986)  happened
below :

function ISPRINTER( 'LPT1' ) hangt program - only Task Menager and End Task
(3 time) stops program

but   ISPRINTER('LPT2').   ..lpt3, lpt4, com1, ....com4  return properly
TRUE

Any sugestion, solve or help ?

Best regards for all

Hi
in my little experience with Alaska i use xbpprinter()

but in clipper i create my own IsPrinter()
was very basic...

Function DetImpre( pPORT )

   Local A2, A3, A4, RET :=.t.
   A3 :=Set( _SET_DEVICE, 'PRINTER' )
   A2 :=Set( _SET_PRINTFILE, pPORT )
   A4 :=ErrorBlock()
   BEGIN SEQUENCE
   SetPRC( 0, 0 )
   DevOut( MyInitPrinter( M->IMPRESORA ) )
   RECOVER USING A4
   Alert( 'Error en Impresora !' )
   RET :=.f.
   END SEQUENCE
   ErrorBlock( A4 )
   Set( _SET_DEVICE, A2 )
   Set( _SET_PRINTER, A3 )
   Return ( RET )


regards


"Wojciech Karcz" <wojtekkarcz@interia.pl> escribió en el mensaje de noticias 
news:4bbf8fa3$11718c3d$44463@news.alaska-software.com...
> Windows XT or Windows NT 2000
> NOVELL ???
> Alaska 1.90.331
>
> First time in my  experience with alaska (and clipper since 1986) 
> happened
> below :
>
> function ISPRINTER( 'LPT1' ) hangt program - only Task Menager and End 
> Task
> (3 time) stops program
>
> but   ISPRINTER('LPT2').   ..lpt3, lpt4, com1, ....com4  return properly
> TRUE
>
> Any sugestion, solve or help ?
>
> Best regards for all
>
>
>

The docs say:


      Description

The environment function IsPrinter() tests the readiness of an output 
device connected to a print or output channel. The function tests LPT1 
to LPT<n> or COM1 to COM<n>. When no argument is specified, the 
readiness of LPT1 is tested.

Caution

When print output occurs using the spooler or print queue, IsPrinter() 
reports the readiness of the spooler and not of the physical printer. In 
this situation the function generally returns the value .T. (true). If 
the actual output device is not ready, the condition is reported by the 
operating system.

////////////////////////////////

IOW, you can't depend on the IsPrinter function to tell you if the 
printer is ready - it will most likely report the status of the spooler 
or print queue.

Most printing in Xbase++ is done using an XbpPrinter object and Gra.... 
functions.  It gives much greater flexibility and if done in a separate 
thread will result in much quicker return of program control to the user.

-Joe

Wojciech Karcz wrote:
> Windows XT or Windows NT 2000
> NOVELL ???
> Alaska 1.90.331
>
> First time in my  experience with alaska (and clipper since 1986)  happened
> below :
>
> function ISPRINTER( 'LPT1' ) hangt program - only Task Menager and End Task
> (3 time) stops program
>
> but   ISPRINTER('LPT2').   ..lpt3, lpt4, com1, ....com4  return properly
> TRUE
>
> Any sugestion, solve or help ?
>
> Best regards for all
>
>
>

Hello,

As mentioned before, you can use xbpPrinter.
The code below works ok for me.
The best part is that you do not have to know wich port the printer is 
assigned.
You can even print raw data (escape sequences) as you did in clipper.
Make sure you haven the correct printerdriver installed.

Regards,
Jack Duijf


#define XBPPRN_STATUS_PAUSED                    0
#define XBPPRN_STATUS_READY                     1
#define XBPPRN_STATUS_BUSY                      (-1)
#define XBPPRN_STATUS_SERVICE                   (-2)
#define XBPPRN_STATUS_NOPAPER                   (-3)
#define XBPPRN_STATUS_NOT_READY                 (-4)
#define XBPPRN_STATUS_NA                        (-5)
#define XBPPRN_STATUS_ERROR                     (-6)
#define XBPPRN_STATUS_OFFLINE                   (-7)

Function Test_Printer(cPrinter)
LOCAL aList            := xbpPrinter():New():List()
LOCAL oPrinter       := nil
LOCAL nStatus        := nil
LOCAL cMsg           := ""
if ValType(aList) <> "A"
   aList          := {}
endif

 aList is a list of availeble printers.
 Now we open the first printer in the list (if none defined in cPrinter):

if Len(aList) >0  At least 1 printer is availeble on this machine.
    Default cPrinter to aList[1]
    oPrinter       := xbpPrinter():New():Create(cPrinter)
    nStatus        := oPrinter:PrinterStatus()
    cMsg           := ""
    do while nStatus <> XBPPRN_STATUS_READY
           do case
              case nStatus = XBPPRN_STATUS_OFFLINE
                 cMsg        := "is off line."
              case nStatus = XBPPRN_STATUS_NOPAPER
                 cMsg        := "out of paper."
              case nStatus = ....  See other constants
                 cMsg        := "out of paper."
           otherwise
                 cMsg        := "not ready."
           endcase
           cMsg              :=AllTrim(oPrinter:devname) + CR + cMsg
           MsgBox(cMsg)
           nStatus           := oPrinter:PrinterStatus()
    Enddo
    
     And now print some raw data as we did in clipper.
    
      SET PRINTER TO OBJECT oPrinter
      SET PRINTER ON
      SET CONSOLE OFF
      ?? Chr(27) + Chr(..) + Chr(..)
      ? "Hello on a printer page""
      @ 10,10 say "Any other text"
      SET CONSOLE ON
      SET PRINTER OFF
      SET PRINTER TO

endif
Return oPrinter

Hello Jack:
good afternoon.
Second my understanding, your function is printing using QQOut() and QOut() and 
control chars for any printer, including USB printers.
Does it really work ok with USB printers?

Beling
TIA

Jack Duijf escreveu:
> Hello,
> 
> As mentioned before, you can use xbpPrinter.
> The code below works ok for me.
> The best part is that you do not have to know wich port the printer is 
> assigned.
> You can even print raw data (escape sequences) as you did in clipper.
> Make sure you haven the correct printerdriver installed.
> 
> Regards,
> Jack Duijf
> 
> 
> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_PAUSED                    0
> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_READY                     1
> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_BUSY                      (-1)
> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_SERVICE                   (-2)
> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_NOPAPER                   (-3)
> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_NOT_READY                 (-4)
> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_NA                        (-5)
> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_ERROR                     (-6)
> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_OFFLINE                   (-7)
> 
> Function Test_Printer(cPrinter)
> LOCAL aList            := xbpPrinter():New():List()
> LOCAL oPrinter       := nil
> LOCAL nStatus        := nil
> LOCAL cMsg           := ""
> if ValType(aList) <> "A"
>   aList          := {}
> endif
> 
>  aList is a list of availeble printers.
>  Now we open the first printer in the list (if none defined in cPrinter):
> 
> if Len(aList) >0  At least 1 printer is availeble on this machine.
>    Default cPrinter to aList[1]
>    oPrinter       := xbpPrinter():New():Create(cPrinter)
>    nStatus        := oPrinter:PrinterStatus()
>    cMsg           := ""
>    do while nStatus <> XBPPRN_STATUS_READY
>           do case
>              case nStatus = XBPPRN_STATUS_OFFLINE
>                 cMsg        := "is off line."
>              case nStatus = XBPPRN_STATUS_NOPAPER
>                 cMsg        := "out of paper."
>              case nStatus = ....  See other constants
>                 cMsg        := "out of paper."
>           otherwise
>                 cMsg        := "not ready."
>           endcase
>           cMsg              :=AllTrim(oPrinter:devname) + CR + cMsg
>           MsgBox(cMsg)
>           nStatus           := oPrinter:PrinterStatus()
>    Enddo
>    
>     And now print some raw data as we did in clipper.
>    
>      SET PRINTER TO OBJECT oPrinter
>      SET PRINTER ON
>      SET CONSOLE OFF
>      ?? Chr(27) + Chr(..) + Chr(..)
>      ? "Hello on a printer page""
>      @ 10,10 say "Any other text"
>      SET CONSOLE ON
>      SET PRINTER OFF
>      SET PRINTER TO
> 
> endif
> Return oPrinter
> 
>

Absolutely!  Windows handles it automatically regardless of what port 
the printer is connected to.

-Joe

Carlos A Beling wrote:
> Hello Jack:
> good afternoon.
> Second my understanding, your function is printing using QQOut() and 
> QOut() and control chars for any printer, including USB printers.
> Does it really work ok with USB printers?
> 
> Beling
> TIA
> 
> Jack Duijf escreveu:
>> Hello,
>>
>> As mentioned before, you can use xbpPrinter.
>> The code below works ok for me.
>> The best part is that you do not have to know wich port the printer is 
>> assigned.
>> You can even print raw data (escape sequences) as you did in clipper.
>> Make sure you haven the correct printerdriver installed.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Jack Duijf
>>
>>
>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_PAUSED                    0
>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_READY                     1
>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_BUSY                      (-1)
>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_SERVICE                   (-2)
>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_NOPAPER                   (-3)
>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_NOT_READY                 (-4)
>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_NA                        (-5)
>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_ERROR                     (-6)
>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_OFFLINE                   (-7)
>>
>> Function Test_Printer(cPrinter)
>> LOCAL aList            := xbpPrinter():New():List()
>> LOCAL oPrinter       := nil
>> LOCAL nStatus        := nil
>> LOCAL cMsg           := ""
>> if ValType(aList) <> "A"
>>   aList          := {}
>> endif
>> 
>>  aList is a list of availeble printers.
>>  Now we open the first printer in the list (if none defined in 
>> cPrinter):
>> 
>> if Len(aList) >0  At least 1 printer is availeble on this machine.
>>    Default cPrinter to aList[1]
>>    oPrinter       := xbpPrinter():New():Create(cPrinter)
>>    nStatus        := oPrinter:PrinterStatus()
>>    cMsg           := ""
>>    do while nStatus <> XBPPRN_STATUS_READY
>>           do case
>>              case nStatus = XBPPRN_STATUS_OFFLINE
>>                 cMsg        := "is off line."
>>              case nStatus = XBPPRN_STATUS_NOPAPER
>>                 cMsg        := "out of paper."
>>              case nStatus = ....  See other constants
>>                 cMsg        := "out of paper."
>>           otherwise
>>                 cMsg        := "not ready."
>>           endcase
>>           cMsg              :=AllTrim(oPrinter:devname) + CR + cMsg
>>           MsgBox(cMsg)
>>           nStatus           := oPrinter:PrinterStatus()
>>    Enddo
>>    
>>     And now print some raw data as we did in clipper.
>>    
>>      SET PRINTER TO OBJECT oPrinter
>>      SET PRINTER ON
>>      SET CONSOLE OFF
>>      ?? Chr(27) + Chr(..) + Chr(..)
>>      ? "Hello on a printer page""
>>      @ 10,10 say "Any other text"
>>      SET CONSOLE ON
>>      SET PRINTER OFF
>>      SET PRINTER TO
>>
>> endif
>> Return oPrinter
>>
>>

Hello Joe:
good night.
Very, very interesting.
Does it mean that nobody needs converting @ Say... to graphic coordinates when 
using XbpPrinter()?

Beling
Best regards

Joe Carrick escreveu:
> Absolutely!  Windows handles it automatically regardless of what port 
> the printer is connected to.
> 
> -Joe
> 
> Carlos A Beling wrote:
>> Hello Jack:
>> good afternoon.
>> Second my understanding, your function is printing using QQOut() and 
>> QOut() and control chars for any printer, including USB printers.
>> Does it really work ok with USB printers?
>>
>> Beling
>> TIA
>>
>> Jack Duijf escreveu:
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> As mentioned before, you can use xbpPrinter.
>>> The code below works ok for me.
>>> The best part is that you do not have to know wich port the printer 
>>> is assigned.
>>> You can even print raw data (escape sequences) as you did in clipper.
>>> Make sure you haven the correct printerdriver installed.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>> Jack Duijf
>>>
>>>
>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_PAUSED                    0
>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_READY                     1
>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_BUSY                      (-1)
>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_SERVICE                   (-2)
>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_NOPAPER                   (-3)
>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_NOT_READY                 (-4)
>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_NA                        (-5)
>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_ERROR                     (-6)
>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_OFFLINE                   (-7)
>>>
>>> Function Test_Printer(cPrinter)
>>> LOCAL aList            := xbpPrinter():New():List()
>>> LOCAL oPrinter       := nil
>>> LOCAL nStatus        := nil
>>> LOCAL cMsg           := ""
>>> if ValType(aList) <> "A"
>>>   aList          := {}
>>> endif
>>> 
>>>  aList is a list of availeble printers.
>>>  Now we open the first printer in the list (if none defined in 
>>> cPrinter):
>>> 
>>> if Len(aList) >0  At least 1 printer is availeble on this machine.
>>>    Default cPrinter to aList[1]
>>>    oPrinter       := xbpPrinter():New():Create(cPrinter)
>>>    nStatus        := oPrinter:PrinterStatus()
>>>    cMsg           := ""
>>>    do while nStatus <> XBPPRN_STATUS_READY
>>>           do case
>>>              case nStatus = XBPPRN_STATUS_OFFLINE
>>>                 cMsg        := "is off line."
>>>              case nStatus = XBPPRN_STATUS_NOPAPER
>>>                 cMsg        := "out of paper."
>>>              case nStatus = ....  See other constants
>>>                 cMsg        := "out of paper."
>>>           otherwise
>>>                 cMsg        := "not ready."
>>>           endcase
>>>           cMsg              :=AllTrim(oPrinter:devname) + CR + cMsg
>>>           MsgBox(cMsg)
>>>           nStatus           := oPrinter:PrinterStatus()
>>>    Enddo
>>>    
>>>     And now print some raw data as we did in clipper.
>>>    
>>>      SET PRINTER TO OBJECT oPrinter
>>>      SET PRINTER ON
>>>      SET CONSOLE OFF
>>>      ?? Chr(27) + Chr(..) + Chr(..)
>>>      ? "Hello on a printer page""
>>>      @ 10,10 say "Any other text"
>>>      SET CONSOLE ON
>>>      SET PRINTER OFF
>>>      SET PRINTER TO
>>>
>>> endif
>>> Return oPrinter
>>>
>>>

Well...... only if you are really happy with simple text output and no 
(or at least very little) control of fonts, spacing, etc.

Personally, I like to provide much more "Pizzazz" in my printed output.



Carlos A Beling wrote:
> Hello Joe:
> good night.
> Very, very interesting.
> Does it mean that nobody needs converting @ Say... to graphic 
> coordinates when using XbpPrinter()?
> 
> Beling
> Best regards
> 
> Joe Carrick escreveu:
>> Absolutely!  Windows handles it automatically regardless of what port 
>> the printer is connected to.
>>
>> -Joe
>>
>> Carlos A Beling wrote:
>>> Hello Jack:
>>> good afternoon.
>>> Second my understanding, your function is printing using QQOut() and 
>>> QOut() and control chars for any printer, including USB printers.
>>> Does it really work ok with USB printers?
>>>
>>> Beling
>>> TIA
>>>
>>> Jack Duijf escreveu:
>>>> Hello,
>>>>
>>>> As mentioned before, you can use xbpPrinter.
>>>> The code below works ok for me.
>>>> The best part is that you do not have to know wich port the printer 
>>>> is assigned.
>>>> You can even print raw data (escape sequences) as you did in clipper.
>>>> Make sure you haven the correct printerdriver installed.
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>> Jack Duijf
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_PAUSED                    0
>>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_READY                     1
>>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_BUSY                      (-1)
>>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_SERVICE                   (-2)
>>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_NOPAPER                   (-3)
>>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_NOT_READY                 (-4)
>>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_NA                        (-5)
>>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_ERROR                     (-6)
>>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_OFFLINE                   (-7)
>>>>
>>>> Function Test_Printer(cPrinter)
>>>> LOCAL aList            := xbpPrinter():New():List()
>>>> LOCAL oPrinter       := nil
>>>> LOCAL nStatus        := nil
>>>> LOCAL cMsg           := ""
>>>> if ValType(aList) <> "A"
>>>>   aList          := {}
>>>> endif
>>>> 
>>>>  aList is a list of availeble printers.
>>>>  Now we open the first printer in the list (if none defined in 
>>>> cPrinter):
>>>> 
>>>> if Len(aList) >0  At least 1 printer is availeble on this machine.
>>>>    Default cPrinter to aList[1]
>>>>    oPrinter       := xbpPrinter():New():Create(cPrinter)
>>>>    nStatus        := oPrinter:PrinterStatus()
>>>>    cMsg           := ""
>>>>    do while nStatus <> XBPPRN_STATUS_READY
>>>>           do case
>>>>              case nStatus = XBPPRN_STATUS_OFFLINE
>>>>                 cMsg        := "is off line."
>>>>              case nStatus = XBPPRN_STATUS_NOPAPER
>>>>                 cMsg        := "out of paper."
>>>>              case nStatus = ....  See other constants
>>>>                 cMsg        := "out of paper."
>>>>           otherwise
>>>>                 cMsg        := "not ready."
>>>>           endcase
>>>>           cMsg              :=AllTrim(oPrinter:devname) + CR + cMsg
>>>>           MsgBox(cMsg)
>>>>           nStatus           := oPrinter:PrinterStatus()
>>>>    Enddo
>>>>    
>>>>     And now print some raw data as we did in clipper.
>>>>    
>>>>      SET PRINTER TO OBJECT oPrinter
>>>>      SET PRINTER ON
>>>>      SET CONSOLE OFF
>>>>      ?? Chr(27) + Chr(..) + Chr(..)
>>>>      ? "Hello on a printer page""
>>>>      @ 10,10 say "Any other text"
>>>>      SET CONSOLE ON
>>>>      SET PRINTER OFF
>>>>      SET PRINTER TO
>>>>
>>>> endif
>>>> Return oPrinter
>>>>
>>>>

Hello Joe:
good morning.
I wrote a printer class where I can printing images and other "pizzas". But it 
is very, very interesting .

Beling
Cheers

Joe Carrick escreveu:
> Well...... only if you are really happy with simple text output and no 
> (or at least very little) control of fonts, spacing, etc.
> 
> Personally, I like to provide much more "Pizzazz" in my printed output.
> 
> 
> 
> Carlos A Beling wrote:
>> Hello Joe:
>> good night.
>> Very, very interesting.
>> Does it mean that nobody needs converting @ Say... to graphic 
>> coordinates when using XbpPrinter()?
>>
>> Beling
>> Best regards
>>
>> Joe Carrick escreveu:
>>> Absolutely!  Windows handles it automatically regardless of what port 
>>> the printer is connected to.
>>>
>>> -Joe
>>>
>>> Carlos A Beling wrote:
>>>> Hello Jack:
>>>> good afternoon.
>>>> Second my understanding, your function is printing using QQOut() and 
>>>> QOut() and control chars for any printer, including USB printers.
>>>> Does it really work ok with USB printers?
>>>>
>>>> Beling
>>>> TIA
>>>>
>>>> Jack Duijf escreveu:
>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>
>>>>> As mentioned before, you can use xbpPrinter.
>>>>> The code below works ok for me.
>>>>> The best part is that you do not have to know wich port the printer 
>>>>> is assigned.
>>>>> You can even print raw data (escape sequences) as you did in clipper.
>>>>> Make sure you haven the correct printerdriver installed.
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards,
>>>>> Jack Duijf
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_PAUSED                    0
>>>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_READY                     1
>>>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_BUSY                      (-1)
>>>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_SERVICE                   (-2)
>>>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_NOPAPER                   (-3)
>>>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_NOT_READY                 (-4)
>>>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_NA                        (-5)
>>>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_ERROR                     (-6)
>>>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_OFFLINE                   (-7)
>>>>>
>>>>> Function Test_Printer(cPrinter)
>>>>> LOCAL aList            := xbpPrinter():New():List()
>>>>> LOCAL oPrinter       := nil
>>>>> LOCAL nStatus        := nil
>>>>> LOCAL cMsg           := ""
>>>>> if ValType(aList) <> "A"
>>>>>   aList          := {}
>>>>> endif
>>>>> 
>>>>>  aList is a list of availeble printers.
>>>>>  Now we open the first printer in the list (if none defined in 
>>>>> cPrinter):
>>>>> 
>>>>> if Len(aList) >0  At least 1 printer is availeble on this machine.
>>>>>    Default cPrinter to aList[1]
>>>>>    oPrinter       := xbpPrinter():New():Create(cPrinter)
>>>>>    nStatus        := oPrinter:PrinterStatus()
>>>>>    cMsg           := ""
>>>>>    do while nStatus <> XBPPRN_STATUS_READY
>>>>>           do case
>>>>>              case nStatus = XBPPRN_STATUS_OFFLINE
>>>>>                 cMsg        := "is off line."
>>>>>              case nStatus = XBPPRN_STATUS_NOPAPER
>>>>>                 cMsg        := "out of paper."
>>>>>              case nStatus = ....  See other constants
>>>>>                 cMsg        := "out of paper."
>>>>>           otherwise
>>>>>                 cMsg        := "not ready."
>>>>>           endcase
>>>>>           cMsg              :=AllTrim(oPrinter:devname) + CR + cMsg
>>>>>           MsgBox(cMsg)
>>>>>           nStatus           := oPrinter:PrinterStatus()
>>>>>    Enddo
>>>>>    
>>>>>     And now print some raw data as we did in clipper.
>>>>>    
>>>>>      SET PRINTER TO OBJECT oPrinter
>>>>>      SET PRINTER ON
>>>>>      SET CONSOLE OFF
>>>>>      ?? Chr(27) + Chr(..) + Chr(..)
>>>>>      ? "Hello on a printer page""
>>>>>      @ 10,10 say "Any other text"
>>>>>      SET CONSOLE ON
>>>>>      SET PRINTER OFF
>>>>>      SET PRINTER TO
>>>>>
>>>>> endif
>>>>> Return oPrinter
>>>>>
>>>>>

Hallo Carlos,

You send any sequence to any printer, and bypass the windows driver.
You should be aware that the actual sequence should be supported by the 
printer.
Personaly i use these to controll the card movement of Cardprinters like 
Zebra and Evolis with Mifare card-readers.
1. Get 1 from the stack
2. Move card to the reader
3. Read/Write Mifare card
4. Move card back to the start of print position.
Then i close the xbpprinter, and print the text on the card using Express++

Some USB printers do not support PCL codes or any plain ACSII strings, but 
just accept graphic data,

Regards,
Jack Duijf




"Carlos A Beling" <beling@bipbip.com.br> schreef in bericht 
news:4061a9f1$4e03f409$49f75@news.alaska-software.com...
> Hello Jack:
> good afternoon.
> Second my understanding, your function is printing using QQOut() and 
> QOut() and control chars for any printer, including USB printers.
> Does it really work ok with USB printers?
>
> Beling
> TIA
>
> Jack Duijf escreveu:
>> Hello,
>>
>> As mentioned before, you can use xbpPrinter.
>> The code below works ok for me.
>> The best part is that you do not have to know wich port the printer is 
>> assigned.
>> You can even print raw data (escape sequences) as you did in clipper.
>> Make sure you haven the correct printerdriver installed.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Jack Duijf
>>
>>
>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_PAUSED                    0
>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_READY                     1
>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_BUSY                      (-1)
>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_SERVICE                   (-2)
>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_NOPAPER                   (-3)
>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_NOT_READY                 (-4)
>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_NA                        (-5)
>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_ERROR                     (-6)
>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_OFFLINE                   (-7)
>>
>> Function Test_Printer(cPrinter)
>> LOCAL aList            := xbpPrinter():New():List()
>> LOCAL oPrinter       := nil
>> LOCAL nStatus        := nil
>> LOCAL cMsg           := ""
>> if ValType(aList) <> "A"
>>   aList          := {}
>> endif
>> 
>>  aList is a list of availeble printers.
>>  Now we open the first printer in the list (if none defined in 
>> cPrinter):
>> 
>> if Len(aList) >0  At least 1 printer is availeble on this machine.
>>    Default cPrinter to aList[1]
>>    oPrinter       := xbpPrinter():New():Create(cPrinter)
>>    nStatus        := oPrinter:PrinterStatus()
>>    cMsg           := ""
>>    do while nStatus <> XBPPRN_STATUS_READY
>>           do case
>>              case nStatus = XBPPRN_STATUS_OFFLINE
>>                 cMsg        := "is off line."
>>              case nStatus = XBPPRN_STATUS_NOPAPER
>>                 cMsg        := "out of paper."
>>              case nStatus = ....  See other constants
>>                 cMsg        := "out of paper."
>>           otherwise
>>                 cMsg        := "not ready."
>>           endcase
>>           cMsg              :=AllTrim(oPrinter:devname) + CR + cMsg
>>           MsgBox(cMsg)
>>           nStatus           := oPrinter:PrinterStatus()
>>    Enddo
>>    
>>     And now print some raw data as we did in clipper.
>>    
>>      SET PRINTER TO OBJECT oPrinter
>>      SET PRINTER ON
>>      SET CONSOLE OFF
>>      ?? Chr(27) + Chr(..) + Chr(..)
>>      ? "Hello on a printer page""
>>      @ 10,10 say "Any other text"
>>      SET CONSOLE ON
>>      SET PRINTER OFF
>>      SET PRINTER TO
>>
>> endif
>> Return oPrinter
>>

Hello Jack:
good morning.
Thaks you.
I had many troubles trying using USB printers and new one that neither uses PCL 
nor escape sequences. It was not possible printing in other way different 
graphic printing. So I wrote a class that:
. uses tokens (ie: Chr(27) + meaning + token description). Many of them already 
are used in @ ... Say ...
. I used the preprocessor for converting @ ... Say to a funcion cal passing the
same parameters as QOut() or QQOut()
. The function translates in the string the found tokens into others that can be 
used in graphic printing and writes the new one string into a file
. The file is read by a thread that search for the tokens, translate them and 
prints.

Beling
Best regards

Jack Duijf escreveu:
> Hallo Carlos,
> 
> You send any sequence to any printer, and bypass the windows driver.
> You should be aware that the actual sequence should be supported by the 
> printer.
> Personaly i use these to controll the card movement of Cardprinters like 
> Zebra and Evolis with Mifare card-readers.
> 1. Get 1 from the stack
> 2. Move card to the reader
> 3. Read/Write Mifare card
> 4. Move card back to the start of print position.
> Then i close the xbpprinter, and print the text on the card using Express++
> 
> Some USB printers do not support PCL codes or any plain ACSII strings, 
> but just accept graphic data,
> 
> Regards,
> Jack Duijf
> 
> 
> 
> 
> "Carlos A Beling" <beling@bipbip.com.br> schreef in bericht 
> news:4061a9f1$4e03f409$49f75@news.alaska-software.com...
>> Hello Jack:
>> good afternoon.
>> Second my understanding, your function is printing using QQOut() and 
>> QOut() and control chars for any printer, including USB printers.
>> Does it really work ok with USB printers?
>>
>> Beling
>> TIA
>>
>> Jack Duijf escreveu:
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> As mentioned before, you can use xbpPrinter.
>>> The code below works ok for me.
>>> The best part is that you do not have to know wich port the printer 
>>> is assigned.
>>> You can even print raw data (escape sequences) as you did in clipper.
>>> Make sure you haven the correct printerdriver installed.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>> Jack Duijf
>>>
>>>
>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_PAUSED                    0
>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_READY                     1
>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_BUSY                      (-1)
>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_SERVICE                   (-2)
>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_NOPAPER                   (-3)
>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_NOT_READY                 (-4)
>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_NA                        (-5)
>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_ERROR                     (-6)
>>> #define XBPPRN_STATUS_OFFLINE                   (-7)
>>>
>>> Function Test_Printer(cPrinter)
>>> LOCAL aList            := xbpPrinter():New():List()
>>> LOCAL oPrinter       := nil
>>> LOCAL nStatus        := nil
>>> LOCAL cMsg           := ""
>>> if ValType(aList) <> "A"
>>>   aList          := {}
>>> endif
>>> 
>>>  aList is a list of availeble printers.
>>>  Now we open the first printer in the list (if none defined in 
>>> cPrinter):
>>> 
>>> if Len(aList) >0  At least 1 printer is availeble on this machine.
>>>    Default cPrinter to aList[1]
>>>    oPrinter       := xbpPrinter():New():Create(cPrinter)
>>>    nStatus        := oPrinter:PrinterStatus()
>>>    cMsg           := ""
>>>    do while nStatus <> XBPPRN_STATUS_READY
>>>           do case
>>>              case nStatus = XBPPRN_STATUS_OFFLINE
>>>                 cMsg        := "is off line."
>>>              case nStatus = XBPPRN_STATUS_NOPAPER
>>>                 cMsg        := "out of paper."
>>>              case nStatus = ....  See other constants
>>>                 cMsg        := "out of paper."
>>>           otherwise
>>>                 cMsg        := "not ready."
>>>           endcase
>>>           cMsg              :=AllTrim(oPrinter:devname) + CR + cMsg
>>>           MsgBox(cMsg)
>>>           nStatus           := oPrinter:PrinterStatus()
>>>    Enddo
>>>    
>>>     And now print some raw data as we did in clipper.
>>>    
>>>      SET PRINTER TO OBJECT oPrinter
>>>      SET PRINTER ON
>>>      SET CONSOLE OFF
>>>      ?? Chr(27) + Chr(..) + Chr(..)
>>>      ? "Hello on a printer page""
>>>      @ 10,10 say "Any other text"
>>>      SET CONSOLE ON
>>>      SET PRINTER OFF
>>>      SET PRINTER TO
>>>
>>> endif
>>> Return oPrinter
>>>