APL-PLUs + usb printer

Does anyone know if it's possible to get APL+PLUS (PC, running under win
xp) to print to a printer attached to a USB port, and if so, how? The
ARBIN system function only recognizes the lpt and com ports for this
purpose (or at least it looks that way to me). At my office, I can re-
route lpt1 to a network printer (via net use), but that doesn't seem to
be possible for a local printer (or at least, a local printer attached
to USB001).

Thanks!

--
Phil Viton
Ohio State University

In <MPG.21c1d3cbfab3495d98971a@nntp.service.ohio-state.edu>, on 12/06/2007

at 09:40 AM, Philip A. Viton <viton.1@osu.edu> said:

>Does anyone know if it's possible to get APL+PLUS (PC, running under win
>xp) to print to a printer attached to a USB port, and if so, how? The
>ARBIN system function only recognizes the lpt and com ports for this
>purpose (or at least it looks that way to me). At my office, I can re-
>route lpt1 to a network printer (via net use), but that doesn't seem to
>be possible for a local printer (or at least, a local printer attached
>to USB001).

Does XP have a SPOOL command similar to the OS/2 one that could be used to
redirect from the parallel port to another port? Perhaps if you share the
printer queue attached to the USB printer you could NET USE it yourself on
an LPTx port for use from APL*PLUS.

-- Dave
-----------------------------------------------------------
dhdurgee<at>verizon<dot>net
-----------------------------------------------------------

Keywords:
In article <MPG.21c1d3cbfab3495d98971a@nntp.service.ohio-state.edu>, Philip A. Viton <viton.1@osu.edu> wrote:
>
>
>Does anyone know if it's possible to get APL+PLUS (PC, running under win
>xp) to print to a printer attached to a USB port, and if so, how? The
>ARBIN system function only recognizes the lpt and com ports for this
>purpose (or at least it looks that way to me). At my office, I can re-
>route lpt1 to a network printer (via net use), but that doesn't seem to
>be possible for a local printer (or at least, a local printer attached
>to USB001).

It is theoretically possible. I discuss this very briefly in the Windows
XP setup info contained in:

http://marthallama.org/apl/APLXP_SETUP.zip

To save you the trouble of downloading this for a piece of one paragraph:

"From my research on the Web, the same procedure that works for network
printers works with USB printers, but with a few twists. Apparently you
have to set it up as a network printer, and then use the Microsoft
"Loopback" adapter program to tell Windows to treat your local printer as
if it was on the network."

If you get this to work, I'd appreciate any info on the process you could
provide so I can add more details to the above instructions. I think if
you do a search on USB printing and loopback, you will get the required
info.

Doug White

More detailed informatio found here: http://geekswithblogs.net/dtotzke/articles/26204.aspx

In article <cad55528-ccad-4b26-8d41-
7dea242c400c@e23g2000prf.googlegroups.com>, AA2e72E@lycos.co.uk says...
> More detailed informatio found here: http://geekswithblogs.net/dtotzke/articles/26204.aspx
>


Many thanks to all responders. I got it to work by following the
instructions at the link given above. For convenience, I've taken the
liberty of expanding this a bit (copy sent to the author of the
instructions; I don't know if the'll use them). At any rate, here
it is. Most of this is fairly obvious, though the point about
setting the Default Data Type (step 3) to Text only
comes out in the discussion further down the page.
(Also, it may not be necessary: try first without it.
In my case, with the Raw data type, stuff got sent
to the printer, but never actually emerged).




Expanded Step 2 : Configure the Adapter
=======================================

a) The Loopback Adapter is a virtual network adapter and can
be configured the same as a regular adapter. To do this:
b) Open the Control Panel, select Network Connections.
c) Let your mouse hover over any LAN or Hi-Speed Internet connections.
d) One of them will say Microsoft LoopBack Adaptor. Select the
OTHER one (which will be your network card).
e) Double click on it.
f) In the General Tab, select Internet Protocol
g) Click Properties
h) On the General tab, note the IP address assigned to the card.
This is one you DON'T want to use for the loopback adapter.
i) Close the window by repeatedly clicking Cancel
(you don't want to change anything)
j) Open the LAN connection corresponding to the Loopback Adapter
k) On the General tab, select Internet Protocol, click Properties
l) Under IP address, enter an IP address. A suggestion here is
192.168.1.1. You do not want to duplicate the one on your
real network card.
The Subnet Mask should automatically set itself to 255.255.255.0
m) Click OK and back out


Expanded Step 3: Share the Printer
===================================

a) Open the Printers folder (or do Start -> Setting -> Printers and
Faxes)
b) Select the USB printer you want to use
c) Click Properties
d) Select the Sharing tab
e) If it is not already selected, select Share this printer
f) If there is no share name provided, choose one. It will
be easier if you choose a short name which does not contain spaces.
If it is already named, note the name.
g) Select the Advanced tab
h) At the bottom, click Print Processor
i) If it is not already selected, set the Default Data Type to Text
(it may currently be set to Raw).
j) Click OK to back out.


In Step 4 (the net use command), if either your computer name
or your printer's share name contains spaces, the part of the command
\\[computer_name]\[printer_name]
must be enclosed in double quotes ("). The quotes are OK
if there are no spaces, too.




--
Philip A. Viton
Ohio State University