Enable DOS Printing through USB Printers

Enable DOS Printing through USB Printers

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Contents Enable DOS Printing through USB Printers Introduction... 1 When the Network Card is not present/ the Network is not enabled... 1 To set up a Loopback Adapter... 2 To add an IP address... 9 To add a Printer... 11 To share a Printer... 13 To route the Parallel Port to the shared Printer... 14 When the Printer is connected to the Network... 15 (Either locally or through another system on the LAN)... 15 i

Introduction In a retail environment, a dot matrix printer (DMP) is often preferred to print a bill due to its many advantages. To get the printer to print in top speed, the DOS mode of printing is used which is done by (typically) connecting it to a parallel port. There is often the need to support the DMP printing even on printers that are not physically connected to a parallel port since most of the new printers are available only with the USB interface. Again, users may need to print on a printer connected to another system, through the LAN facility. This document describes the settings required to be made in Windows to enable Shoper to print in draft mode on Dot Matrix printers. The basic process is simple: Redirect Shoper print commands that have been directed to the local parallel port, to a printer that is connected to another port/machine. Windows will permit this redirection only to a printer that shared on the network even if the printer is locally connected. This means that: 1. A network must be present 2. The printer must be shared across the network 3. The parallel port must be redirected to this shared printer In all these cases, the printer must also be a Dot Matrix Printer! Laser, Thermal, Inkjet or any other such printers are not to be used this way: Shoper has direct support for these printers. When the Network Card is not present/ the Network is not enabled 1. Set up Microsoft Loop Back Adapter 2. Set up the printer (install required drivers) 3. Share the printer 4. Route the LPT port output to the shared printer 1

To set up a Loopback Adapter Go to Start > Settings > Control Panel The Control Panel window is displayed. Figure 1. Add Hardware Double click Add Hardware The Welcome to the Add Hardware Wizard screen is displayed Click Next 2

The window to indicate the connection of the hardware is displayed. Figure 2. Add Hardware Wizard Select Yes, I have already connected the hardware Click Next to continue Though a software is being selected and installed, it is termed as hardware here. 3

The window with the list of installed hardware is displayed. Figure 3. Add New Hardware Device Select Add a new hardware device from the list Click Next 4

The options for installation are displayed. Figure 4. Install the hardware Select Install the hardware that I manually select from a list (Advanced) Click Next 5

A list of types of hardware for installation is displayed. Figure 5. Network adapters From the list displayed, choose Network adapters Click Next to continue 6

The option Select Network Adapter is displayed as shown. Figure 6. Select Network Adapters Select Microsoft as the Manufacturer and Microsoft Loopback Adapter as the Network Adapter Click Next to continue 7

The window with details of the hardware ready to be installed is displayed. Figure 7. Install Loopback Adapter Click Next to continue 8

The window with the message Completing the Add Hardware Wizard is displayed. Figure 8. Complete installing Loopback Adapters Click Finish to complete the installation On successful completion, the message local area successfully connected is displayed. To add an IP address The LoopBack Adapter requires the IP address to function correctly. To add an IP address to the LoopBack Adapter, Go to Desktop > My Network Places 9

The Network Connections window is displayed as shown. Figure 9. Internet Protocol Properties 1. Right click and select Properties > LAN or High-Speed Internet 2. The LoopBack Adapter Properties window is displayed 3. Right click on LoopBack Adapter and select Properties 4. The LoopBack Adapter Properties window is displayed 5. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and Click on Properties 6. The Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties window is displayed 7. Select Use the following IP address 8. Enter the IP address, Subnet mask (suggested 192.168.1.1 and 255.255.255.0) 9. Click OK 10

An IP address will now be added to your system, i.e., your system can now be identified with an IP address. To add a Printer Go to Start > Control Panel > Printers and Faxes > Add a Printer The Printers and Faxes window is displayed. Figure 10. Add a printer Select the option Add a printer and click the required printer 11

The Add Printer Wizard window is displayed. Figure 11. Add Printer Wizard Click Next to continue 12

The option to select Local or Network Printer is displayed. Figure 12. Select a printer Select Local printer attached to this computer and click Next Select the appropriate printer manufacturer and printer Install the driver specific to the printer To share a Printer A shared printer simulates a network environment. Go to Start > Settings > Control Panel > Printers and Faxes Select the printer you installed Right click and select Just enable Printer Sharing The Enable Printer Sharing window is displayed Click OK The Generic / Text Only Properties window is displayed Enter the Share name Click Apply and OK to save the settings 13

To route the Parallel Port to the shared Printer Run the following command from the DOS prompt. Net use lpt1 \\systemname\printersharename Example : Net use lpt1 \\shankar\hplaserj /persistent:yes When you use the command net use, you have the option of making it persistent - i.e. it reconnects after a reboot or logout: Persistent Drive Mapping Settings: /persistent:yes The dos window, C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe is displayed as shown. Figure 13. Route the printer The message The command completed successfully is displayed. The system displays the error message, System error 85 has occurred. The local device name is already in use if you run the command again, i.e., if you re-route the printer. To resolve the issue, delete the port setting and reset the same. To delete the setting, run the command net use lpt1 /delete. To set the printer path, run the command: Net use lpt1 \\systemname\printersharename 14

When the Printer is connected to the Network (Either locally or through another system on the LAN) Share the printer Route the parallel port to this shared printer 15