DOS Printing From XP

[KennyAcker]

XP's limited DOS emulator (System-Prompt icon et al) works just fine for my old DOS-based FoxPlus database program. It allows me to get into the program and do absolutely everything I was able to do in my previous OS (Win98) ... except I can't print anything out ... which kind-of makes FoxPlus useless. When I issue print commands from within Fox, it goes through all the right "motions" (printer voice says "Printing Started" and "Printing Complete") but nothing comes out.

I'm using a brand new (inexpensive) printer (Lexmark Z22) on LPT1 via parallel cable, the XP driver for which had to be downloaded from Lexmark. The printer works just fine for everything except DOS printing. Is there a way to capture LPT1 or tell XP that its working with a DOS program or something? There is no FoxPlus applications window so I don't have the option of accessing the printer settings from within Fox. All FoxPlus allows you to do is determine where the report will be sent (e.g., "SET PRINTER TO LPT1"). I've looked at all the printer settings (via the XP Settings) but nothing I do helps the situation.

Will be eternally grateful if someone has a fix. I'm so very close ... and yet so very far away.

[HackinCowboy]

If you go to the properties for your printer. I'm not sure how the properties are set up for WinXP, but if there is a Details Tab click that and then click Port Settings. There should be a check box next to Spool MS-DOS Print Jobs.

[KennyAcker]

Thanks for the tip. The solution was to change Data Type from RAW to TEXT in the advanced printer properties window. Don't yet know what that's going to do when I try to print non-text stuff (like pages from the web or something) but at least there's hope. Bottom-line is that DOS does live in a Windows XP environment. It might not be a wonderful life ... but life nonetheless.

Good luck in school. After 200+ credit hours I still don't know what I want to grow up to be. And I'm 55!!!