vg55611@ihuxy.ATT.COM (Gopal) (05/02/89)
In article <739@rocksanne.UUCP> andresen@rocksanne.UUCP (Kevin Andresen) writes: >We have a QMS PSJet+ hanging off the serial port of a PC. We are looking >for a driver under DOS that: >-- Supports XON/XOFF handshaking (else large PS files crash the printer) >-- Captures data sent back from the printer (e.g. error messages) >-- Tacks on the infamous CTRL-D end-of-job indicator >Does such a beast exist? Any and all pointers and suggestions are welcome. >Kevin Andresen [andresen.wbst@xerox.com, ...!rochester!rocksanne!andresen] I have the very thing (for MS-DOS) except that it is not a driver but a program (called "comsend", I wrote it), so you need to save your output into a file and feed it to the program. The problem with trying to do it as a driver is that most programs talk to the serial port hardware directly. Also, the driver will not know when to send a ^D etc. Most programs that support postscript, in my experience, will allow you to capture it into a file. This program can be configured to send a text string before file transmission (ex. if you want to send a "%!<cr>") and send a text string after file transmission (ex. the infamous control-D). It also saves any returned messages in a buffer which you can display at the end of file transmission. It can handle multiple files, and will set the DOS errorlevel so you can test for success in a batch file etc.). The program supports xon/xoff flow control. Mucho hours were spent writing it; if you need it I'll be glad to send it to you. If there is more than 10 people interested, I'll post. If you have access to simtel, you will probably find it there. Venu P. Gopal UUCP: att!ihuxy!vg55611 Internet: vg55611@ihuxy.att.com BITNET: com%"vg55611@ihuxy.att.com" or com%"vg55611%ihuxy@research.att.com" Silence those silent letters and save the world 500 million keystrokes a day.
tj@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca (Terry Jones) (05/09/89)
I use two tools. One is called SIO and was given to me by the author and another I got off the net was lptcom1 sio is like the progam someone else described in that it sends a file of postscript with handshaking and displays messages. the other is lptcom1 which takes lpt port data and redirects it to the com1 port with xon/xoff handshaking. It seems quite reliable. The problem with receiving messages back from the printer is what do you do with them? For example if you make the driver blort the message on the screen then it gets almost impossible to see what mode the screen is in. If it is in graphics mode and not text mode then you might not get what you want. tj
mark@isi.UUCP (Mark Bailey) (05/10/89)
In article <1989May9.143733.15209@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca>, tj@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca (Terry Jones) writes: > I use two tools. One is called SIO and was given to me by the author > and another I got off the net was lptcom1 > > sio is like the progam someone else described in that it sends a file > of postscript with handshaking and displays messages. > > > The problem with receiving messages back from the printer is what do > you do with them? For example if you make the driver blort the message > I have had great success (on an Amiga) using a terminal emulator and copying PostScript files to a LaserWriter. The terminal emulator sets up XON/XOFF and error messages appear on the screen. (You could even type in a ^D). Hope this helps! -- Mark Bailey, Integral Systems Inc. (301) 731-4233 5000 Philadelphia Way Suite A via: ...!uunet!pyrdc!isi!mark Lanham, MD 20706-4417 -----HAVE A :-| DAY!!!!!!!!!! DISCLAIMER: This may not even be my opinion...much less my employers!!!