New Printers with Windows filePro 5.7

Bob Rasmussen ras at anzio.com
Mon Oct 17 21:52:17 PDT 2022 

See inline responses...

On Mon, 17 Oct 2022, Scott Nelson wrote:

> There is a mkpcl command line string that is run on the Windows box that 
> loads the form into memory on the printer.

What is the command line parameter that specifies the printer to use? Does 
it allow a Windows printer name, or only a DOS device name such as PRN or 
LPT2 or COM1? If it allows only a DOS name, you'd have to jump through 
hoops to make it work with most Windows printers and connection methods.
OTOH, if you can use an arbitrary file name (as through it were the 
printer), you should get in that file a byte sequence that will load the 
form, if you can only push it to the printer. Then make your filePro 
program emit that to the printer right before printing the PCL that uses 
the form. Or make a printcode that does that. Please recognize that I'm 
flying blind here :-)

>
> I suspect with the changes to new drivers and other M$ junk, we are going to 
> loose the ability to keep cool stuff like mkpcl...

OTOH, with Windows gaining support for Linux, you might repurpose the 
Unix/Linux version of mkpcl (is there one?) to do your bidding. Though 
you'd still end up with an unsupported program.

>
> Can I do the same kind of thing with Print Wizard, where I have a form like 
> an invoice body, then merge it with filePro data and either print or PDF it, 
> all in a Windows 10 environment?

Yes, Print Wizard can do all that and more. You can use as an overlay a 
file of type PDF, EMF, BMP, PCL5 print-to-file, PNG, TIF, JPG, and a few 
more. You can even use the form file created by mkpcl (once I remember 
how). Of course you'd then be betting on my work/life expectancy for 
support.

    ... All for now ... Bob

>
>
>
>
> On 10/17/2022 03:58 PM, Bob Rasmussen wrote:
>> If you're looking to use a Windows printer driver to preload the form file, 
>> made with MkPCL, into the printer, you won't find it there. A Windows 
>> printer driver does not have that feature.
>> 
>> I don't remember the details of how the late Jim Asman instructed a user to 
>> preload the forms file. He may not have covered the Windows side of things.
>> 
>> If you don't get an answer for free, I can provide some analysis and an 
>> answer for a fee. Contact me off-list.
>> 
>> On Mon, 17 Oct 2022, Scott Nelson wrote:
>> 
>>> I am using MkPCL and have a form to load into memory, and it needs the 
>>> PCL5 for that...
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 10/17/2022 12:46 PM, Bob Rasmussen wrote:
>>>> I've struggled to keep on top of HP's driver support, and it looks like 
>>>> HP has too, internally. Here are some quick notes:
>>>> 
>>>> 1. See 
>>>> https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_4952109-2831856-16#:~:text=The%20Universal%20Print%20Driver%20has,PostScript%2Demulation%20(PS)
>>>> 
>>>> 2. If you search HP's website for a driver for a particular printer, and 
>>>> specify an OLD version of Windows, you can often find the Universal PCL-5 
>>>> driver. Just now I searched for HP 4014, Vista 64-bit, and got a download 
>>>> link on this page:
>>>> 
>>>> https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-laserjet-p4014-printer-series/3558788 
>>>> 3. For filePro output that contains PCL-5 control sequences, you DO NOT 
>>>> NEED a PCL-5 printer driver for Windows. The Windows printer driver 
>>>> functions to convert high-livel (GDI) printing to PCL-5 codes, but you 
>>>> already have PCL-5 codes. What you NEED is a driver that will pass data 
>>>> TRANSPARENTLY to the printer. I believe that most HP PCL-6 drivers will 
>>>> NOT do this; most HP PCL-5 drivers WILL. The Windows-provided Generic 
>>>> driver might even work.
>>>> 
>>>> BUT, many drivers will not work this way for USB connections to the 
>>>> printer. I advise using "Standard TCP/IP" port, "raw" mode.
>>>> 
>>>> 4. If you do have a CD with a printer driver from HP (or anyone else), 
>>>> that driver is probably out of date. Don't use it.
>>>> 
>>>> On Mon, 17 Oct 2022, Scott Nelson wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> I called HP specifically to find out which printer did PCL5 and they 
>>>>> told me the 4001dn would. They did Not tell me they removed all the PCL5 
>>>>> drivers from their website, and they are not providing CDs for install 
>>>>> with the printers any longer.
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> On 10/16/2022 10:05 PM, Bob Rasmussen wrote:
>>>>>> It looks to me like a risky site. Who knows what you'll end up 
>>>>>> downloading?
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> The situation with HP printers and FilePro has changed little in 10 
>>>>>> years. You need a printer that can handle incoming PCL-5; or you need 
>>>>>> outside software.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Sun, 16 Oct 2022, Scott Nelson via Filepro-list wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> I see this driver from this site and from driverscloud.com.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Has anyone used drivers from these sites?  I want to be sure they are 
>>>>>>> safe.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On 09/26/2022 08:41 AM, Reggie Freedman GM wrote:
>>>>>>>> This may work.... 
>>>>>>>> https://www.hpdrivers.net/universal-pcl5-print-driver-for-hp-v5-9-0-18326/
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>>> From: Reggie Freedman GM <rdfreedman at gmail.com>
>>>>>>>> To: Scott Nelson <scott at logicdatasystems.com>
>>>>>>>> Sent: 9/26/2022 9:39:40 AM
>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: New Printers with Windows filePro 5.7
>>>>>>>> ________________________________________________________________________________ 
>>>>>>>> Reggie here
>>>>>>>> PCL6 is NOT filePro compatible to PCL5  Sad - It is not an upgrade, 
>>>>>>>> more like a whole new windows driver.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> filePro will not print through or using a PCL6 driver.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> You might search for a PCL5 driver for your HP209dwe:
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> "pcl5 driver for hp209dwe"
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>>> From: Scott Nelson via Filepro-list 
>>>>>>>> <filepro-list at lists.celestial.com>
>>>>>>>> Reply-To: Scott Nelson <scott at logicdatasystems.com>
>>>>>>>> To: filePro Mailing List <filepro-list at lists.celestial.com>
>>>>>>>> Sent: 9/26/2022 7:45:58 AM
>>>>>>>> Subject: New Printers with Windows filePro 5.7
>>>>>>>> ________________________________________________________________________________ 
>>>>>>>> We gave up on the Inkjet printer, and now trying to print to a wi-fil 
>>>>>>>> HP laserjet.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> I am using the basic HPLASER print codes that worked on the Dell 
>>>>>>>> printer. When I try to print to the new HP209dwe printer, it behaves 
>>>>>>>> the same as the other wi-fi printers. The printer wakes up and sounds 
>>>>>>>> like it will begin, the nothing happens. No paper movement at all.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> I wonder if this is because it is wi-fi or just not liking the escape 
>>>>>>>> codes in the filePro printer table for HPLASER.  I tried many of the 
>>>>>>>> other printer types and they all behave the same way.   I am trying 
>>>>>>>> this without the MKPCL overlay, but will need to use that with the 
>>>>>>>> invoice printout once I get the printer to behave.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> The barely capable support at HP says this printer is PCL6 and they 
>>>>>>>> no longer publish escape code data for printers.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Has anyone else had these issues?
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Are their other USB printers that would work better than all the new 
>>>>>>>> wi-fi winderz based printers?
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> What newer laser printers (B&W) are you using with windows filePro on 
>>>>>>>> windows 10?   Which fP printer driver?
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Thanks
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> Filepro-list mailing list
>>>>>>>> Filepro-list at lists.celestial.com
>>>>>>>> Subscribe/Unsubscribe/Subscription Changes
>>>>>>>> http://mailman.celestial.com/mailman/listinfo/filepro-list
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> Filepro-list mailing list
>>>>>>> Filepro-list at lists.celestial.com
>>>>>>> Subscribe/Unsubscribe/Subscription Changes
>>>>>>> http://mailman.celestial.com/mailman/listinfo/filepro-list
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>> ....Bob Rasmussen,   President,   Rasmussen Software, Inc.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> personal e-mail: ras at anzio.com
>>>>>>  company e-mail: rsi at anzio.com
>>>>>>           voice: (US) 503-624-0360
>>>>>>             fax: no longer available
>>>>>>             web: http://www.anzio.com
>>>>>> Mailing address: Rasmussen Software, Inc.   NEW AS OF JULY 1, 2022
>>>>>>                  6265 SW Erickson Ave.
>>>>>>                  Beaverton OR 97008  USA
>>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Regards,
>>>> ....Bob Rasmussen,   President,   Rasmussen Software, Inc.
>>>> 
>>>> personal e-mail: ras at anzio.com
>>>>  company e-mail: rsi at anzio.com
>>>>           voice: (US) 503-624-0360
>>>>             fax: no longer available
>>>>             web: http://www.anzio.com
>>>> Mailing address: Rasmussen Software, Inc.   NEW AS OF JULY 1, 2022
>>>>                  6265 SW Erickson Ave.
>>>>                  Beaverton OR 97008  USA
>>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>> 
>> Regards,
>> ....Bob Rasmussen,   President,   Rasmussen Software, Inc.
>> 
>> personal e-mail: ras at anzio.com
>>  company e-mail: rsi at anzio.com
>>           voice: (US) 503-624-0360
>>             fax: no longer available
>>             web: http://www.anzio.com
>> Mailing address: Rasmussen Software, Inc.   NEW AS OF JULY 1, 2022
>>                  6265 SW Erickson Ave.
>>                  Beaverton OR 97008  USA
>> 
>
>

Regards,
....Bob Rasmussen,   President,   Rasmussen Software, Inc.

personal e-mail: ras at anzio.com
  company e-mail: rsi at anzio.com
           voice: (US) 503-624-0360
             fax: no longer available
             web: http://www.anzio.com
Mailing address: Rasmussen Software, Inc.   NEW AS OF JULY 1, 2022
                  6265 SW Erickson Ave.
                  Beaverton OR 97008  USA

More information about the Filepro-list mailing list