Printing with Pragma

Last update:
March 25, 2002

Pragma 4 does not print with "capture" and Novell 3.12. What can I do ?

You have installed Pragma 4 on a Novell 3.12 network and cannot print with "capture". Printing works from the DOS. Even a local printer works from Pragma.

The most likely problem lies in an obsolete PRINT.VLM file from Novell. Download the latest PRINT.VLM file and the problem will disappear.

Ronald Scheepstra (ronald@fevd.nl), September 1997

The best way is to upgrade to de Novell Client32 for Win95 or (if they do not have Windows 95) Novell Client32 for Dos/Windows 3.11.VLM's are no longer supported by Novell.

I run Pragma 4 on a Windows network . I can print on the local machine that runs on Windows 95. Can I print on other network printers?

No. You are limited to print to the local machine. The only way to print on other printers is to write a Pragma 5 programs for printers.

Remember that Pragma 5 can access the same PFM and Btrieve files as Pragma 4. See the Printing section in the Pragma 5 Various help for more details on how Pragma 5 handles printing.

Ronald Scheepstra (ronald@fevd.nl), September 1997

This is not entirely the case. Following must be done:

1. Capture the printer ports.
   If you use the Novell Client32 for Win95 instead of the Microsoft client you can capture up to 9 lpt-ports. (Setting can be changed by using the advanced settings tab in the Novell Client 32 Configuration utility (double left-click on the network Neighborhood on the desktop, choose properties)
   
   The easiest way to do this is in the login script of novell like:
   #capture /l=n /q=queuename /nb /ti=0 /nff
   /l= printer port
   /q= name of the queue.
   /nb = no banner
   /ti= no time out
   /nff= no form feed
   
   
2. When installing printers in windows 95 make sure the captures are there and assign printers to the queues.
   
   
3. When installing a printer Windows asks if the printer will be used by a DOS-program. Answer yes.
   
   
4. Within Pragma 4 make sure that every print job starts with:
   ASSIGN PRINTER to "LPT1" or any other port and end a print job with ASSIGN PRINTER to" " and you are able to print directly to a LPT port. Because it is captured all output will go the a network printer (even if that printer is on your own printerport). It works here.

I have to print complicate labels and forms in Pragma 5. What is the best way to go about it?

Use absolute printing, that is, printing commands indicating the exact position in millimeters of where you want to print something. The Pragma 5 Manual, Printing, absolute printing shows an example of how to do this.

Can I print more than one line when printing a header or footer in Pragma 5?

No, the verbs PRINT HEADER and PRINT FOOTER only print one line.

How can I  send a null value (Hex 00) to a printer from Pragma 4?

Just PRINT "_@"

2002-03-25
logo.gif, lip_faq.gif
faq_4.htm