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Groups > alt.comp.os.windows-10 > #194539 > unrolled thread
| Started by | micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> |
|---|---|
| First post | 2026-07-18 13:36 -0400 |
| Last post | 2026-07-25 20:47 -0400 |
| Articles | 20 on this page of 168 — 20 participants |
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How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-18 13:36 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file Roger Mills <mills37.fslife@gmail.com> - 2026-07-18 18:59 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2026-07-18 18:21 +0000
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-18 19:55 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-19 01:50 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-18 21:17 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-19 09:16 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-19 22:15 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-19 22:05 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-19 23:24 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-19 18:14 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-20 03:10 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-20 01:12 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-20 03:16 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-20 13:06 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-20 18:51 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-08-16 21:19 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-20 18:48 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file... PDF? Acrobat? "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-07-19 09:17 +0800
Re: How to print entire .txt file... PDF? Acrobat? knuttle <keith_nuttle@yahoo.com> - 2026-07-19 07:27 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file... PDF? Acrobat? Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-19 09:28 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file... PDF? Acrobat? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-07-19 15:33 -0700
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-18 21:32 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file Print Text <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-07-18 19:30 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-18 21:48 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-20 13:11 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file... using PRINT command "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-07-19 03:11 +0800
Re: How to print entire .txt file... using PRINT command micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-20 07:19 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-18 15:13 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-18 21:48 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-18 22:03 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-07-19 08:48 +0800
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-19 22:50 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-19 22:06 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-19 23:24 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-20 01:16 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-20 03:26 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-19 22:57 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> - 2026-07-20 07:45 +0000
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-20 07:19 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-20 08:09 -0400
Getting UTF-8 in Agen, was: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-20 10:07 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2026-07-20 17:51 +0000
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-20 14:25 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-20 09:36 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-20 19:05 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-20 14:23 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-20 21:06 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2026-07-20 19:51 +0000
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-20 22:04 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2026-07-21 12:57 +0000
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-21 11:38 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-21 19:47 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2026-07-21 19:00 +0000
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-21 21:19 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> - 2026-07-21 17:53 +0000
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-21 22:51 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-21 18:41 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-22 01:36 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file Sam E <no.email@here.invalid> - 2026-07-22 15:53 +0000
Re: How to print entire .txt file Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2026-07-22 14:16 +0000
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-23 11:05 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2026-07-23 13:42 +0000
OT buggy websites (was: Re: How to print entire .txt file) "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-23 15:14 +0100
Re: OT buggy websites "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-23 18:45 +0200
Re: OT buggy websites "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-23 20:01 +0100
Re: OT buggy websites "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-23 22:22 +0200
Re: OT buggy websites micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-23 17:37 -0400
Re: OT buggy websites Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-23 20:24 -0400
Re: OT buggy websites (was: Re: How to print entire .txt file) Mark Lloyd <not.email@all.invalid> - 2026-07-24 17:00 +0000
Re: OT buggy websites "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-24 19:36 +0100
Re: OT buggy websites Mark Lloyd <not.email@all.invalid> - 2026-07-25 17:19 +0000
Re: OT buggy websites "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-25 21:39 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-23 11:07 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "....winston" <winstonmvp@gmail.com> - 2026-07-23 13:41 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-23 19:55 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file "....winston" <winstonmvp@gmail.com> - 2026-07-24 01:10 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-24 14:21 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file "....winston" <winstonmvp@gmail.com> - 2026-07-24 09:32 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-24 10:09 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-24 21:49 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-07-24 15:15 -0700
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-25 12:57 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-07-25 08:15 -0700
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-25 19:14 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-07-25 11:03 -0700
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-25 21:17 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-07-25 16:05 -0700
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-26 15:04 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-07-26 12:36 -0700
Re: How to print entire .txt file Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2026-07-26 18:22 +0000
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-07-25 01:18 +0800
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-24 21:57 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file "....winston" <winstonmvp@gmail.com> - 2026-07-24 23:51 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-07-26 09:01 +0800
Re: How to print entire .txt file Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2026-07-24 10:25 +0000
Re: How to print entire .txt file "....winston" <winstonmvp@gmail.com> - 2026-07-24 09:23 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2026-07-24 13:47 +0000
Re: How to print entire .txt file "....winston" <winstonmvp@gmail.com> - 2026-07-25 00:05 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2026-07-25 10:11 +0000
Re: How to print entire .txt file "....winston" <winstonmvp@gmail.com> - 2026-07-25 11:30 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file knuttle <keith_nuttle@yahoo.com> - 2026-07-18 17:44 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-18 21:46 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-18 22:54 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-19 00:09 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-20 10:29 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file Herbert Kleebauer <klee@unibwm.de> - 2026-07-19 09:41 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> - 2026-07-19 16:54 +0000
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-20 07:35 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-20 07:44 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-20 19:12 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file Daniel70 <daniel47@nomail.afraid.org> - 2026-07-20 22:51 +1000
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-20 09:30 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-20 19:30 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-20 19:13 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-19 09:27 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-19 10:18 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-20 07:53 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-20 12:55 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-20 14:17 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-20 19:48 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-20 19:20 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-20 14:32 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-20 09:27 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-20 13:22 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file JJ <jj4public@gmail.com> - 2026-07-19 17:40 +0700
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-20 09:27 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-24 08:34 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-24 14:40 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-24 20:06 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-24 15:17 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-24 22:01 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-24 22:09 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-24 23:15 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-24 19:56 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-25 13:05 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-25 21:48 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-24 23:09 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2026-07-25 10:26 +0000
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-25 15:27 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-25 11:49 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-25 17:17 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-25 19:27 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-25 21:58 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2026-07-26 18:28 +0000
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-26 22:03 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-26 21:32 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-26 22:48 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-27 14:50 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-27 20:10 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-08-02 20:42 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-26 16:11 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-25 17:02 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2026-07-26 18:42 +0000
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-26 16:32 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file Hank Rogers <Hank@nospam.invalid> - 2026-07-26 18:02 -0500
Re: How to print entire .txt file Brian Gregory <void-invalid-dead-dontuse@email.invalid> - 2026-07-20 15:53 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-20 20:02 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file Brian Gregory <void-invalid-dead-dontuse@email.invalid> - 2026-07-23 20:02 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-23 20:26 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-23 17:47 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-23 21:12 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-24 14:48 +0200
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-24 14:35 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-21 22:58 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file Brian Gregory <void-invalid-dead-dontuse@email.invalid> - 2026-07-23 20:04 +0100
Re: How to print entire .txt file Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-07-25 01:01 -0400
Re: How to print entire .txt file micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-07-25 20:47 -0400
Page 8 of 9 — ← Prev page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 [8] 9 Next page →
| From | Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> |
|---|---|
| Date | 2026-07-25 11:49 -0400 |
| Subject | Re: How to print entire .txt file |
| Message-ID | <1142ltl$1jlob$1@dont-email.me> |
| In reply to | #194778 |
On Sat, 7/25/2026 10:27 AM, J. P. Gilliver wrote: > On 2026/7/25 11:26:46, Frank Slootweg wrote: >> J. P. Gilliver <G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote: > [] >>> ... I suspected that was the case. Does it not work because modern >>> printers don't know what to do if fed plain ASCII, or because the now >>> complex routing is a lot more, well, complex than a parallel (or >>> serial!) port used to be? Or both? >> >> Exactly. A 'modern' (read: last two decades or so) printer expects to >> be fed PCL (Printer Command Language) or some such protocol by a printer >> driver. The LPT device does not have such a protocol. > > Is your "Exactly" because they don't know what to do with plain ASCII, > or because you are agreeing with the routing suggestion (by which I > meant USB, wifi, network etc. ports)? I _think_ you meant the former. > > So what _would_ a modern printer do if sent some plain ASCII (including > newlines, and perhaps a Ctrl-Z at the end) - assuming the routing via > USB or whatever was handled? > [] > I ran this through CoPilot, and the answer is "moderately humorous". *********************** CoPilot Question ******************************* In Windows, on the local machine you can define a printer share using "net use" and then copy /b some text to that printer. According to the Microsoft documentation https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/openspecs/windows_protocols/ms-prsod/727b1901-dc2e-4d46-8ec4-cf233dcc22a9 this copy operation arrives at the "File Server Service" and then to the "Print spooler service" on the remote machine. And from there it is sent to the printer (could be a USB printer). Since the original file to be printed is just text, and it is copied into a stream of sorts, there does not appear to be any preamble to the printer, to tell the printer to switch modes or prepare for a kind of "line printer session". The question then, is what typically happens between the remote "print spooler service" and the printer attached to that remote machine ? *********************** CoPilot Answer ********************************* **Short answer:** When you do `copy /b file \\server\printer`, the remote Windows print spooler does *not* magically convert your plain text into a printer-friendly format. It treats your data as **RAW** and hands it directly to the printer driver’s “print processor.” What happens next depends entirely on the printer driver and the printer’s native capabilities. Below is the detailed, architecture‑level explanation. --- ## What the Windows print spooler actually receives The Microsoft documentation confirms that an SMB print share accepts the incoming bytes and passes them to the print subsystem as a **RAW** print job. - The spooler supports RAW jobs explicitly [Microsoft Learn](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/printdocs/print-spooler) - SMB/RAP redirector simply opens the print queue and writes the bytes into a spool file, then hands the job to the print processor associated with that queue ( https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/openspecs/windows_protocols/ms-prsod/a84201ad-7700-4c19-98c4-3981341c549c ) There is **no preamble**, no StartDoc/EndDoc from your side, and no GDI rendering. The spooler sees only a blob of bytes. --- ## What happens inside the remote print spooler Once the spooler has the RAW job, the following components act: ### 1. **Print Processor** The print processor is responsible for interpreting the job’s data type. For RAW jobs, the processor typically does **no transformation** and simply streams the bytes to the printer driver. This is explicitly described in the Windows printing architecture: RAW data is passed through unchanged to the printer driver ( https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/openspecs/windows_protocols/ms-rprn/cb939ecf-6d7b-4139-87fb-d94ef6dc861a ) ### 2. **Printer Driver** This is the critical part. Most modern Windows printers are **GDI printers** (also called “host‑based printers”). These printers **do not understand plain text** or PCL/PostScript directly. They expect a fully rendered raster page produced by the driver. If you send plain text RAW data to such a printer, the driver will typically: - Treat the RAW data as already-formatted printer language (PCL/PS/etc.) - Attempt to send it directly to the printer - The printer will then either: - Print garbage, - Print nothing, - Or reject the job. This is because GDI printers rely on the Windows driver to convert text into raster graphics. RAW bypasses that pipeline entirely. ### 3. **Printer Hardware** Only certain classes of printers can make sense of raw text: - **Line printers / dot‑matrix printers** that accept ASCII directly - **PCL printers** (if your text happens to be valid PCL commands) - **PostScript printers** (if your text is valid PS) - **Receipt printers** (ESC/POS) - **Label printers** (ZPL, EPL, TSPL) If the printer is one of these, the RAW text may print as expected. If the printer is a USB‑connected GDI printer (very common for consumer inkjets and lasers), it cannot interpret plain text at all. --- ## Why no preamble is added Because RAW jobs are defined as "already device-ready." The spooler assumes the client has produced the printer’s native language. It does **not** insert form feeds, page breaks, or mode switches. This is by design: RAW is meant for specialized printers and automation workflows. --- ## So what *actually* happens between spooler and printer? Putting it all together: 1. Your copy /b sends bytes to the SMB print share. 2. SMB server hands them to the print spooler as a RAW job. 3. The print processor does no conversion. 4. The printer driver sends the bytes directly to the printer port. 5. The printer either: - Interprets the bytes as valid printer language and prints correctly, **or** - Fails to interpret them and prints garbage or nothing. There is **no automatic text-to-raster conversion**, no “line printer mode,” and no fallback formatting. --- ## Why this works on some printers but not others If you have ever used `copy /b file LPT1:` on old dot‑matrix printers, it works because those printers *natively* understood ASCII and simple control codes. Modern USB printers do not. They expect a fully rendered page from the driver. --- ## Final takeaway **RAW printing bypasses all formatting.** The remote spooler does not add a preamble, does not convert text, and does not switch the printer into any special mode. It simply streams your bytes to the printer driver, which then sends them to the printer. Whether the printer can interpret those bytes is entirely dependent on the printer’s native language. If you want predictable output on modern printers, you must either: - Use GDI printing (StartDocPrinter + EMF), or - Generate the printer’s native language (PCL, PS, ESC/POS, ZPL, etc.) and send *that* as RAW. *********************** END: CoPilot Answer *************************** So this process then, is "dumb as a rock" :-) Life is full of mysteries. Paul
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| From | "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> |
|---|---|
| Date | 2026-07-25 17:17 +0100 |
| Subject | Re: How to print entire .txt file |
| Message-ID | <1142njk$1h96r$5@dont-email.me> |
| In reply to | #194781 |
On 2026/7/25 16:49:8, Paul wrote: [] > ## Why this works on some printers but not others > If you have ever used `copy /b file LPT1:` on old dot‑matrix printers, it works because > those printers *natively* understood ASCII and simple control codes. > > Modern USB printers do not. They expect a fully rendered page from the driver. [] It used to be: printers expected plain text bytes _by default_, and printed the text (if they were a dot matrix printer rather than a daisywheel or golfball, using a character generator within the printer); if you wanted them to produce anything _other_ than plain text, you had to send a control sequence _embedded in your text_ (often called an "Escape sequence", because they started with the escape character, 27). Nowadays, many (perhaps most) printers _expect_ the computer to have created a graphical representation of what is to be printed, and wouldn't know what to do with plain text if they _did_ receive it. (Incidentally, "dot matrix" is _not_ a good name for those printers which had a vertical row of pins in a print head - because _all_ printers [_except_ daisywheels and golfballs, and typesetting machines if anyone still uses those] print a matrix of dots. I used to call them "impact printers", but it's just occurred to me that golfball/daisywheel ones are impact too.) -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()ALIS-Ch++(p)Ar++T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf Proving you wrong is not an attack.
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| From | "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> |
|---|---|
| Date | 2026-07-25 19:27 +0200 |
| Subject | Re: How to print entire .txt file |
| Message-ID | <nck9v4F2q15U3@mid.individual.net> |
| In reply to | #194782 |
On 2026-07-25 18:17, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
> On 2026/7/25 16:49:8, Paul wrote:
> []
>> ## Why this works on some printers but not others
>> If you have ever used `copy /b file LPT1:` on old dot‑matrix printers, it works because
>> those printers *natively* understood ASCII and simple control codes.
>>
>> Modern USB printers do not. They expect a fully rendered page from the driver.
> []
> It used to be: printers expected plain text bytes _by default_, and
> printed the text (if they were a dot matrix printer rather than a
> daisywheel or golfball, using a character generator within the printer);
> if you wanted them to produce anything _other_ than plain text, you had
> to send a control sequence _embedded in your text_ (often called an
> "Escape sequence", because they started with the escape character, 27).
That was on impact printers (including dot matrix printers), because
they processed a line (or a char) at a time. It is not on a laser printer.
> Nowadays, many (perhaps most) printers _expect_ the computer to have
> created a graphical representation of what is to be printed, and
> wouldn't know what to do with plain text if they _did_ receive it.
>
> (Incidentally, "dot matrix" is _not_ a good name for those printers
> which had a vertical row of pins in a print head - because _all_
> printers [_except_ daisywheels and golfballs, and typesetting machines
> if anyone still uses those] print a matrix of dots. I used to call them
> "impact printers", but it's just occurred to me that golfball/daisywheel
> ones are impact too.)
--
Cheers,
Carlos E.R.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
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| From | "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> |
|---|---|
| Date | 2026-07-25 21:58 +0100 |
| Subject | Re: How to print entire .txt file |
| Message-ID | <114381p$1h96r$7@dont-email.me> |
| In reply to | #194785 |
On 2026/7/25 18:27:0, Carlos E. R. wrote: > On 2026-07-25 18:17, J. P. Gilliver wrote: >> On 2026/7/25 16:49:8, Paul wrote: >> [] >>> ## Why this works on some printers but not others >>> If you have ever used `copy /b file LPT1:` on old dot‑matrix printers, it works because >>> those printers *natively* understood ASCII and simple control codes. >>> >>> Modern USB printers do not. They expect a fully rendered page from the driver. >> [] >> It used to be: printers expected plain text bytes _by default_, and >> printed the text (if they were a dot matrix printer rather than a >> daisywheel or golfball, using a character generator within the printer); >> if you wanted them to produce anything _other_ than plain text, you had >> to send a control sequence _embedded in your text_ (often called an >> "Escape sequence", because they started with the escape character, 27). > > That was on impact printers (including dot matrix printers), because > they processed a line (or a char) at a time. It is not on a laser printer. A laser printer prints a whole page at a time (it can't do part of a page and pause); thus it must have a store for a while page, in dot-matrix form. Simpler ones assume/expect the computer to create that image for them; more advanced ones (such as the ones that can be fed a postscript file, or from what some here are saying a PDF) are capable of doing the graphics generation themselves. There's no reason why they shouldn't be able to do that for just plain text too; whether any do, I don't know. [] Inkjets are similar, except they _can_ pause between _passes_ of the print head, so in theory could get away with less (graphical) storage; in practice, I suspect few of them do any graphics generation, relying on the driving computer to do it all. (Even old impact dot matrix ones - the ones that could print graphics - the same applies, though I think their storage was even less, maybe even requiring the computer to feed them graphics at the same speed they printed them.) -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()ALIS-Ch++(p)Ar++T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf I still think that one of Rachmaninoff's best works was done by Addinsel - @cosmeamenta3474 7 years before 2025-10-23
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| From | Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> |
|---|---|
| Date | 2026-07-26 18:28 +0000 |
| Subject | Re: How to print entire .txt file |
| Message-ID | <1145qkt.lss.1@ID-201911.user.individual.net> |
| In reply to | #194778 |
J. P. Gilliver <G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote: > On 2026/7/25 11:26:46, Frank Slootweg wrote: > > J. P. Gilliver <G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote: > [] > >> ... I suspected that was the case. Does it not work because modern > >> printers don't know what to do if fed plain ASCII, or because the now > >> complex routing is a lot more, well, complex than a parallel (or > >> serial!) port used to be? Or both? > > > > Exactly. A 'modern' (read: last two decades or so) printer expects to > > be fed PCL (Printer Command Language) or some such protocol by a printer > > driver. The LPT device does not have such a protocol. > > Is your "Exactly" because they don't know what to do with plain ASCII, > or because you are agreeing with the routing suggestion (by which I > meant USB, wifi, network etc. ports)? I _think_ you meant the former. Yes, I mean(t) the former. > So what _would_ a modern printer do if sent some plain ASCII (including > newlines, and perhaps a Ctrl-Z at the end) - assuming the routing via > USB or whatever was handled? As you wrote elsewhere, a modern printer *could* theorically handle a plain ASCII input stream, providid it had the logic/processing capability do do the neccessary work, especially for laserprinters and inkjet printer (which are normally bi-directional). But that's theory. In practice, I think they will just fail.
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| From | "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> |
|---|---|
| Date | 2026-07-26 22:03 +0200 |
| Subject | Re: How to print entire .txt file |
| Message-ID | <ncn7gnFgl5cU2@mid.individual.net> |
| In reply to | #194798 |
On 2026-07-26 20:28, Frank Slootweg wrote:
> J. P. Gilliver <G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:
>> On 2026/7/25 11:26:46, Frank Slootweg wrote:
>>> J. P. Gilliver <G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:
>> []
>>>> ... I suspected that was the case. Does it not work because modern
>>>> printers don't know what to do if fed plain ASCII, or because the now
>>>> complex routing is a lot more, well, complex than a parallel (or
>>>> serial!) port used to be? Or both?
>>>
>>> Exactly. A 'modern' (read: last two decades or so) printer expects to
>>> be fed PCL (Printer Command Language) or some such protocol by a printer
>>> driver. The LPT device does not have such a protocol.
>>
>> Is your "Exactly" because they don't know what to do with plain ASCII,
>> or because you are agreeing with the routing suggestion (by which I
>> meant USB, wifi, network etc. ports)? I _think_ you meant the former.
>
> Yes, I mean(t) the former.
>
>> So what _would_ a modern printer do if sent some plain ASCII (including
>> newlines, and perhaps a Ctrl-Z at the end) - assuming the routing via
>> USB or whatever was handled?
>
> As you wrote elsewhere, a modern printer *could* theorically handle a
> plain ASCII input stream, providid it had the logic/processing
> capability do do the neccessary work, especially for laserprinters and
> inkjet printer (which are normally bi-directional).
>
> But that's theory. In practice, I think they will just fail.
I posted two days ago about this scenario by testing it. My laserjet
prints text (not ascii) if sent directly to it. It is using the latin-1
aka 850 codepage, 8 bits.
It is a modern printer of about 10 years of age.
Why does it have this feature, no idea, I see no practical use to it.
--
Cheers,
Carlos E.R.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
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| From | "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> |
|---|---|
| Date | 2026-07-26 21:32 +0100 |
| Subject | Re: How to print entire .txt file |
| Message-ID | <1145qsk$236q6$3@dont-email.me> |
| In reply to | #194801 |
On 2026/7/26 21:3:35, Carlos E. R. wrote: [] > I posted two days ago about this scenario by testing it. My laserjet > prints text (not ascii) if sent directly to it. It is using the latin-1 > aka 850 codepage, 8 bits. > > It is a modern printer of about 10 years of age. > > > Why does it have this feature, no idea, I see no practical use to it. > It allows you to print text from anything that can send data to it, without needing a driver. Useful if, for example, you've got some text you need to print, but have no internet to get a driver, or if the manufacturer has gone out of business or stopped (or never started) supporting the combination of that printer model and your OS. > > -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()ALIS-Ch++(p)Ar++T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf "Good artists copy, great artists steal." - Pablo Piacsso
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| From | "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> |
|---|---|
| Date | 2026-07-26 22:48 +0200 |
| Subject | Re: How to print entire .txt file |
| Message-ID | <ncna5eFgl5cU5@mid.individual.net> |
| In reply to | #194804 |
On 2026-07-26 22:32, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
> On 2026/7/26 21:3:35, Carlos E. R. wrote:
> []
>> I posted two days ago about this scenario by testing it. My laserjet
>> prints text (not ascii) if sent directly to it. It is using the latin-1
>> aka 850 codepage, 8 bits.
>>
>> It is a modern printer of about 10 years of age.
>>
>>
>> Why does it have this feature, no idea, I see no practical use to it.
>>
> It allows you to print text from anything that can send data to it,
> without needing a driver. Useful if, for example, you've got some text
> you need to print, but have no internet to get a driver, or if the
> manufacturer has gone out of business or stopped (or never started)
> supporting the combination of that printer model and your OS.
If I wanted to print plain text directly from the computer, raw, I would
not choose a laser, a one page at a time printer. It would be an inkjet
or a ribbon printer. Even a thermal printer. Anything that can print a
line at a time. Even better, a char at a time.
--
Cheers,
Carlos E.R.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
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| From | "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> |
|---|---|
| Date | 2026-07-27 14:50 +0100 |
| Subject | Re: How to print entire .txt file |
| Message-ID | <1147nnu$3830h$1@dont-email.me> |
| In reply to | #194805 |
On 2026/7/26 21:48:46, Carlos E. R. wrote: > On 2026-07-26 22:32, J. P. Gilliver wrote: >> On 2026/7/26 21:3:35, Carlos E. R. wrote: >> [] >>> I posted two days ago about this scenario by testing it. My laserjet >>> prints text (not ascii) if sent directly to it. It is using the latin-1 >>> aka 850 codepage, 8 bits. >>> >>> It is a modern printer of about 10 years of age. >>> >>> >>> Why does it have this feature, no idea, I see no practical use to it. >>> >> It allows you to print text from anything that can send data to it, >> without needing a driver. Useful if, for example, you've got some text >> you need to print, but have no internet to get a driver, or if the >> manufacturer has gone out of business or stopped (or never started) >> supporting the combination of that printer model and your OS. > > If I wanted to print plain text directly from the computer, raw, I would > not choose a laser, a one page at a time printer. It would be an inkjet > or a ribbon printer. Even a thermal printer. Anything that can print a > line at a time. Even better, a char at a time. > > I agree. However, if stuck somewhere without access to anything but the laser - for example, if you're in a business facility that provides a printer, but your laptop/tablet/whatever has no driver for the provided printer. Yes, ideally, you'd prefer a line - or even character - at a time printer, especially if you are wanting to type; however, if you had the text already in a file ... -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()ALIS-Ch++(p)Ar++T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf Old professors don't fade away - they just lose their faculties.
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| From | "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> |
|---|---|
| Date | 2026-07-27 20:10 +0200 |
| Subject | Re: How to print entire .txt file |
| Message-ID | <ncpl8oFtql1U2@mid.individual.net> |
| In reply to | #194812 |
On 2026-07-27 15:50, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
> On 2026/7/26 21:48:46, Carlos E. R. wrote:
>> On 2026-07-26 22:32, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
>>> On 2026/7/26 21:3:35, Carlos E. R. wrote:
>>> []
>>>> I posted two days ago about this scenario by testing it. My laserjet
>>>> prints text (not ascii) if sent directly to it. It is using the latin-1
>>>> aka 850 codepage, 8 bits.
>>>>
>>>> It is a modern printer of about 10 years of age.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Why does it have this feature, no idea, I see no practical use to it.
>>>>
>>> It allows you to print text from anything that can send data to it,
>>> without needing a driver. Useful if, for example, you've got some text
>>> you need to print, but have no internet to get a driver, or if the
>>> manufacturer has gone out of business or stopped (or never started)
>>> supporting the combination of that printer model and your OS.
>>
>> If I wanted to print plain text directly from the computer, raw, I would
>> not choose a laser, a one page at a time printer. It would be an inkjet
>> or a ribbon printer. Even a thermal printer. Anything that can print a
>> line at a time. Even better, a char at a time.
>>
>>
> I agree. However, if stuck somewhere without access to anything but the
> laser - for example, if you're in a business facility that provides a
> printer, but your laptop/tablet/whatever has no driver for the provided
> printer. Yes, ideally, you'd prefer a line - or even character - at a
> time printer, especially if you are wanting to type; however, if you had
> the text already in a file ...
Sure. Completeness. :-)
I just remember that my ribbon and pin printer had a typewriter mode.
Send a word, the paper would go down an inch, print the word, then go up
an inch allowing the operator to read the paper. So to fill a form,
perhaps. I tested the thing, but never actually used it.
It detected words with a timeout. Stop sending things, it would start
printing the buffer.
--
Cheers,
Carlos E.R.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
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| From | micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> |
|---|---|
| Date | 2026-08-02 20:42 -0400 |
| Subject | Re: How to print entire .txt file |
| Message-ID | <smov6ld4u3tq2j6fv9lo18f1dlvrefgnj7@4ax.com> |
| In reply to | #194812 |
In alt.comp.os.windows-11, on Mon, 27 Jul 2026 14:50:54 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote: >On 2026/7/26 21:48:46, Carlos E. R. wrote: >> On 2026-07-26 22:32, J. P. Gilliver wrote: >>> On 2026/7/26 21:3:35, Carlos E. R. wrote: >>> [] >>>> I posted two days ago about this scenario by testing it. My laserjet >>>> prints text (not ascii) if sent directly to it. It is using the latin-1 >>>> aka 850 codepage, 8 bits. >>>> >>>> It is a modern printer of about 10 years of age. >>>> >>>> >>>> Why does it have this feature, no idea, I see no practical use to it. >>>> >>> It allows you to print text from anything that can send data to it, >>> without needing a driver. Useful if, for example, you've got some text >>> you need to print, but have no internet to get a driver, or if the >>> manufacturer has gone out of business or stopped (or never started) >>> supporting the combination of that printer model and your OS. >> >> If I wanted to print plain text directly from the computer, raw, I would >> not choose a laser, a one page at a time printer. It would be an inkjet >> or a ribbon printer. Even a thermal printer. Anything that can print a >> line at a time. Even better, a char at a time. >> >> >I agree. However, if stuck somewhere without access to anything but the >laser - for example, if you're in a business facility that provides a >printer, but your laptop/tablet/whatever has no driver for the provided That was almost the situation for me 4 years ago. I rented a room in an apartmen twith 2 other guys. The 3rd guy was away, doing student teaching, a requirement for his degree. He left behind a laser printer. The apartment had no internet but I had a phone with internet and I could use mine as a hotspot. But if I didn't have the phone, I'd be in the situation you describe. And even with the phone/internet, I didn't wan to download the software package and it would not have occurred to me to dl just the driver. I didt't know that laser printers print one page at a time and I didn't pay attention to how it was printing, if I could have told. I printed sereval pages, letters for a government office even. >printer. Yes, ideally, you'd prefer a line - or even character - at a >time printer, especially if you are wanting to type; however, if you had >the text already in a file ...
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| From | Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> |
|---|---|
| Date | 2026-07-26 16:11 -0400 |
| Subject | Re: How to print entire .txt file |
| Message-ID | <1145pmc$2lunp$1@dont-email.me> |
| In reply to | #194798 |
On Sun, 7/26/2026 2:28 PM, Frank Slootweg wrote:
> J. P. Gilliver <G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:
>> On 2026/7/25 11:26:46, Frank Slootweg wrote:
>>> J. P. Gilliver <G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:
>> []
>>>> ... I suspected that was the case. Does it not work because modern
>>>> printers don't know what to do if fed plain ASCII, or because the now
>>>> complex routing is a lot more, well, complex than a parallel (or
>>>> serial!) port used to be? Or both?
>>>
>>> Exactly. A 'modern' (read: last two decades or so) printer expects to
>>> be fed PCL (Printer Command Language) or some such protocol by a printer
>>> driver. The LPT device does not have such a protocol.
>>
>> Is your "Exactly" because they don't know what to do with plain ASCII,
>> or because you are agreeing with the routing suggestion (by which I
>> meant USB, wifi, network etc. ports)? I _think_ you meant the former.
>
> Yes, I mean(t) the former.
>
>> So what _would_ a modern printer do if sent some plain ASCII (including
>> newlines, and perhaps a Ctrl-Z at the end) - assuming the routing via
>> USB or whatever was handled?
>
> As you wrote elsewhere, a modern printer *could* theorically handle a
> plain ASCII input stream, providid it had the logic/processing
> capability do do the neccessary work, especially for laserprinters and
> inkjet printer (which are normally bi-directional).
>
> But that's theory. In practice, I think they will just fail.
>
The situation is relatively simple.
Popular formats for printers ("standards") will have
a header with some amount of metadata in it. The same
way as the first sector of an NTFS partition, has
the letters "NTFS" in it.
If a printer buffers the first 1KB characters, and
finds no "magic" string, then the protocol is RAW. And it prints
what it sees. Whether it handles ASCII, extended ASCII,
Unicode, that will vary with the epoch and with what is
possible.
This handling can either be in the driver (for "dumb" devices),
or in the printer.
For a PDF capable printer, all it has to see is the "PDF"
at the very beginning of the file.
*******
In this example, they are using monochrome laser as their printer,
and having a problem with a program doing the RAW stream, whereas
the "micky command" method works with that laser.
https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/LaserJet-Printing/Send-Raw-Print-Jobs-do-not-print/td-p/6569853
"With the older "v3 printer model" drivers, 'passthrough' of raw
(printer-specific) data is achieved with the 'raw print data' solution
by specifying a datatype of RAW.
But with the newer (XPS-based) "v4 printer model" drivers,
'passthrough' appears to require use of a datatype of XPS_PASS.
"
And that's the kind of device I'd be trying this on, is a machine that
is more likely to have a processor inside, and isn't a dumb inkjet.
The operation may still work, if you write your own code to
inject into the print spooler, with the right class specified.
Paul
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| From | micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> |
|---|---|
| Date | 2026-07-25 17:02 -0400 |
| Subject | Re: How to print entire .txt file |
| Message-ID | <l68a6l5os5am0sdgkpclbvjcvklc1locni@4ax.com> |
| In reply to | #194775 |
In alt.comp.os.windows-11, on 25 Jul 2026 10:26:46 GMT, Frank Slootweg
<this@ddress.is.invalid> wrote:
>J. P. Gilliver <G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:
>> On 2026/7/24 13:40:32, Carlos E. R. wrote:
>> > On 2026-07-24 14:34, micky wrote:
>> []
>> >> So the mapping command was
>> >> net use lpt1: \\Laptop-Dell2025\Brother /persistent:yes
>> >>
>> >> And the print command was
>> >> copy "C:\Data\Jack\Whatsapptest.txt" lpt1
>>
>> I was going to say "have you tried with a colon on the end (i. e.
>> 'LPT1:')", but ...
>> >
>> > No, this kind of command can no longer work. Rather, open the file in
>>
>> ... I suspected that was the case. Does it not work because modern
>> printers don't know what to do if fed plain ASCII, or because the now
>> complex routing is a lot more, well, complex than a parallel (or
>> serial!) port used to be? Or both?
>
> Exactly. A 'modern' (read: last two decades or so) printer expects to
>be fed PCL (Printer Command Language) or some such protocol by a printer
>driver. The LPT device does not have such a protocol.
Well, 4 years ago I used a USB cable to connect and used
copy filename lpt1 (perhaps with a /b. I don't remember) to
print to a very nice, fairly large, seeemingly recent printer, and it
worked fine. It was the printer I found in the room I rented. It might
have been a laser printer. Yes, I wwent back to my downloads file from
Spring of 2022, April, and found the owners manual. It was a Samsung
SCX-4x24 or 4x28. I dowoloaded the manual looking for help, but never
installed the software because I was trying not to fill my drive with
extra stuff, and I just used copy.
The owners manaul knows about win7 and Server 2008, but doesn't mention
anything later.
I wrote the file in some windows program. I'm not sure the line breaks
were at the same spot as on the screen but the paragraph breaks were and
the reult looked fine.
>
>> > some editor that shows it complete, then tell it to print choosing what
>> > printer to use.
>> >
>> That's what, in effect, most of this thread has been about :-)
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| From | Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> |
|---|---|
| Date | 2026-07-26 18:42 +0000 |
| Subject | Re: How to print entire .txt file |
| Message-ID | <1145req.lss.1@ID-201911.user.individual.net> |
| In reply to | #194791 |
micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote: > In alt.comp.os.windows-11, on 25 Jul 2026 10:26:46 GMT, Frank Slootweg > <this@ddress.is.invalid> wrote: > > >J. P. Gilliver <G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote: > >> On 2026/7/24 13:40:32, Carlos E. R. wrote: > >> > On 2026-07-24 14:34, micky wrote: > >> [] > >> >> So the mapping command was > >> >> net use lpt1: \\Laptop-Dell2025\Brother /persistent:yes > >> >> > >> >> And the print command was > >> >> copy "C:\Data\Jack\Whatsapptest.txt" lpt1 > >> > >> I was going to say "have you tried with a colon on the end (i. e. > >> 'LPT1:')", but ... > >> > > >> > No, this kind of command can no longer work. Rather, open the file in > >> > >> ... I suspected that was the case. Does it not work because modern > >> printers don't know what to do if fed plain ASCII, or because the now > >> complex routing is a lot more, well, complex than a parallel (or > >> serial!) port used to be? Or both? > > > > Exactly. A 'modern' (read: last two decades or so) printer expects to > >be fed PCL (Printer Command Language) or some such protocol by a printer > >driver. The LPT device does not have such a protocol. > > Well, 4 years ago I used a USB cable to connect and used > copy filename lpt1 (perhaps with a /b. I don't remember) to > print to a very nice, fairly large, seeemingly recent printer, and it > worked fine. It was the printer I found in the room I rented. It might > have been a laser printer. Yes, I wwent back to my downloads file from > Spring of 2022, April, and found the owners manual. It was a Samsung > SCX-4x24 or 4x28. I dowoloaded the manual looking for help, but never > installed the software because I was trying not to fill my drive with > extra stuff, and I just used copy. As Google shows (search on "define: lpt1"), LPT1 is the first (hence 1), *parallel* (i.e. a parallel interface) 'Line Printer'. So you must have either used a parallel port or some hardware or software which emulates a parallel port. For example I used a USB-to-parallel cable (with built-in electronics) to connect an old parallel HP LaserJet to a USB port of my laptop. I just used that printer with the Windows Printer Spooler, but it might have also worked as LPT1. > The owners manaul knows about win7 and Server 2008, but doesn't mention > anything later. > > I wrote the file in some windows program. I'm not sure the line breaks > were at the same spot as on the screen but the paragraph breaks were and > the reult looked fine. > > > >> > some editor that shows it complete, then tell it to print choosing what > >> > printer to use. > >> > > >> That's what, in effect, most of this thread has been about :-)
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| From | Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> |
|---|---|
| Date | 2026-07-26 16:32 -0400 |
| Subject | Re: How to print entire .txt file |
| Message-ID | <1145qs2$2mc6r$1@dont-email.me> |
| In reply to | #194799 |
On Sun, 7/26/2026 2:42 PM, Frank Slootweg wrote: > micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote: >> In alt.comp.os.windows-11, on 25 Jul 2026 10:26:46 GMT, Frank Slootweg >> <this@ddress.is.invalid> wrote: >> >>> J. P. Gilliver <G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote: >>>> On 2026/7/24 13:40:32, Carlos E. R. wrote: >>>>> On 2026-07-24 14:34, micky wrote: >>>> [] >>>>>> So the mapping command was >>>>>> net use lpt1: \\Laptop-Dell2025\Brother /persistent:yes >>>>>> >>>>>> And the print command was >>>>>> copy "C:\Data\Jack\Whatsapptest.txt" lpt1 >>>> >>>> I was going to say "have you tried with a colon on the end (i. e. >>>> 'LPT1:')", but ... >>>>> >>>>> No, this kind of command can no longer work. Rather, open the file in >>>> >>>> ... I suspected that was the case. Does it not work because modern >>>> printers don't know what to do if fed plain ASCII, or because the now >>>> complex routing is a lot more, well, complex than a parallel (or >>>> serial!) port used to be? Or both? >>> >>> Exactly. A 'modern' (read: last two decades or so) printer expects to >>> be fed PCL (Printer Command Language) or some such protocol by a printer >>> driver. The LPT device does not have such a protocol. >> >> Well, 4 years ago I used a USB cable to connect and used >> copy filename lpt1 (perhaps with a /b. I don't remember) to >> print to a very nice, fairly large, seeemingly recent printer, and it >> worked fine. It was the printer I found in the room I rented. It might >> have been a laser printer. Yes, I wwent back to my downloads file from >> Spring of 2022, April, and found the owners manual. It was a Samsung >> SCX-4x24 or 4x28. I dowoloaded the manual looking for help, but never >> installed the software because I was trying not to fill my drive with >> extra stuff, and I just used copy. > > As Google shows (search on "define: lpt1"), LPT1 is the first (hence > 1), *parallel* (i.e. a parallel interface) 'Line Printer'. > > So you must have either used a parallel port or some hardware or > software which emulates a parallel port. > > For example I used a USB-to-parallel cable (with built-in electronics) > to connect an old parallel HP LaserJet to a USB port of my laptop. I > just used that printer with the Windows Printer Spooler, but it might > have also worked as LPT1. > >> The owners manaul knows about win7 and Server 2008, but doesn't mention >> anything later. >> >> I wrote the file in some windows program. I'm not sure the line breaks >> were at the same spot as on the screen but the paragraph breaks were and >> the reult looked fine. >>> >>>>> some editor that shows it complete, then tell it to print choosing what >>>>> printer to use. >>>>> >>>> That's what, in effect, most of this thread has been about :-) The USB print adapter, only works with printers, and is not a general purpose parallel port (four modes). Just in case you were thinking that was the case, the hardware is missing the software to do that. It supports one specific mode, supported by the class-driver for the purpose of printing. If you want a real parallel port (different driver), you'll have to work a bit harder to get it. Oxford Semiconductor (UK), known here as OxSemi, made a fine PCIe chip for the job, with two serial ports, one parallel port, and various chip part numbers (where one of the port types could be turned off, or both port types were turned on), offered an easy way to have a parallel port. I have one, which only does parallel, and it was to be used with my FPGA kit and JTAG programming adapter (which plugs into a parallel port). OxSemi was "bought and crushed" as a strategy, so they're not available any more, and best case, you'd be looking for a chip from an Indian fab as a replacement for it. And after COVID and tariffs, who knows what plugin card companies still exist. A lot of smaller Chinese semi companies (fabless ones) were also wiped out by recent events. If you're looking for semiconductors, you'd better be an AI Techbro these days. Like, try and find even a decent SATA adapter, and the pickings available are pretty weird (lots of stuff that isn't full-bandwidth, which I hate). As an example of the esoteric, the Meinburg NTP software, now has an interface, to use a real parallel port and some signal on it, to pick up the 1PPS signal from a GPS. The "normal" interface on the GPS, is a serial port at 9600 baud (TX,RX,GND). The 1PPS signal is tightly synchronized to the one second pulse determination, and going through the parallel port card, is considered to be a "fast path" to reaching the driver. And for that, you can't use a USB printer adapter, as it doesn't support that mode (and the latency through the print adapter would be too high), and you have to dig through your junk pile to find a PCIe parallel port (four modes) to plug into your desktop. Paul
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| From | Hank Rogers <Hank@nospam.invalid> |
|---|---|
| Date | 2026-07-26 18:02 -0500 |
| Subject | Re: How to print entire .txt file |
| Message-ID | <11463me$2ov1d$1@dont-email.me> |
| In reply to | #194803 |
Paul wrote on 7/26/2026 3:32 PM: > On Sun, 7/26/2026 2:42 PM, Frank Slootweg wrote: >> micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote: >>> In alt.comp.os.windows-11, on 25 Jul 2026 10:26:46 GMT, Frank Slootweg >>> <this@ddress.is.invalid> wrote: >>> >>>> J. P. Gilliver <G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote: >>>>> On 2026/7/24 13:40:32, Carlos E. R. wrote: >>>>>> On 2026-07-24 14:34, micky wrote: >>>>> [] >>>>>>> So the mapping command was >>>>>>> net use lpt1: \\Laptop-Dell2025\Brother /persistent:yes >>>>>>> >>>>>>> And the print command was >>>>>>> copy "C:\Data\Jack\Whatsapptest.txt" lpt1 >>>>> >>>>> I was going to say "have you tried with a colon on the end (i. e. >>>>> 'LPT1:')", but ... >>>>>> >>>>>> No, this kind of command can no longer work. Rather, open the file in >>>>> >>>>> ... I suspected that was the case. Does it not work because modern >>>>> printers don't know what to do if fed plain ASCII, or because the now >>>>> complex routing is a lot more, well, complex than a parallel (or >>>>> serial!) port used to be? Or both? >>>> >>>> Exactly. A 'modern' (read: last two decades or so) printer expects to >>>> be fed PCL (Printer Command Language) or some such protocol by a printer >>>> driver. The LPT device does not have such a protocol. >>> >>> Well, 4 years ago I used a USB cable to connect and used >>> copy filename lpt1 (perhaps with a /b. I don't remember) to >>> print to a very nice, fairly large, seeemingly recent printer, and it >>> worked fine. It was the printer I found in the room I rented. It might >>> have been a laser printer. Yes, I wwent back to my downloads file from >>> Spring of 2022, April, and found the owners manual. It was a Samsung >>> SCX-4x24 or 4x28. I dowoloaded the manual looking for help, but never >>> installed the software because I was trying not to fill my drive with >>> extra stuff, and I just used copy. >> >> As Google shows (search on "define: lpt1"), LPT1 is the first (hence >> 1), *parallel* (i.e. a parallel interface) 'Line Printer'. >> >> So you must have either used a parallel port or some hardware or >> software which emulates a parallel port. >> >> For example I used a USB-to-parallel cable (with built-in electronics) >> to connect an old parallel HP LaserJet to a USB port of my laptop. I >> just used that printer with the Windows Printer Spooler, but it might >> have also worked as LPT1. >> >>> The owners manaul knows about win7 and Server 2008, but doesn't mention >>> anything later. >>> >>> I wrote the file in some windows program. I'm not sure the line breaks >>> were at the same spot as on the screen but the paragraph breaks were and >>> the reult looked fine. >>>> >>>>>> some editor that shows it complete, then tell it to print choosing what >>>>>> printer to use. >>>>>> >>>>> That's what, in effect, most of this thread has been about :-) > > The USB print adapter, only works with printers, and is not a > general purpose parallel port (four modes). Just in case you were thinking > that was the case, the hardware is missing the software to do that. > It supports one specific mode, supported by the class-driver for > the purpose of printing. > > If you want a real parallel port (different driver), you'll have to work a bit harder > to get it. Oxford Semiconductor (UK), known here as OxSemi, made a fine > PCIe chip for the job, with two serial ports, one parallel port, and > various chip part numbers (where one of the port types could be turned > off, or both port types were turned on), offered an easy way to have > a parallel port. I have one, which only does parallel, and it was > to be used with my FPGA kit and JTAG programming adapter (which plugs > into a parallel port). OxSemi was "bought and crushed" as a strategy, > so they're not available any more, and best case, you'd be looking for > a chip from an Indian fab as a replacement for it. And after COVID > and tariffs, who knows what plugin card companies still exist. A lot > of smaller Chinese semi companies (fabless ones) were also wiped out > by recent events. If you're looking for semiconductors, you'd better > be an AI Techbro these days. Like, try and find even a decent SATA > adapter, and the pickings available are pretty weird (lots of stuff > that isn't full-bandwidth, which I hate). > > As an example of the esoteric, the Meinburg NTP software, now > has an interface, to use a real parallel port and some signal > on it, to pick up the 1PPS signal from a GPS. The "normal" interface > on the GPS, is a serial port at 9600 baud (TX,RX,GND). The 1PPS signal > is tightly synchronized to the one second pulse determination, and > going through the parallel port card, is considered to be a "fast path" > to reaching the driver. And for that, you can't use a USB printer adapter, > as it doesn't support that mode (and the latency through the print > adapter would be too high), and you have to dig through your > junk pile to find a PCIe parallel port (four modes) to plug into your desktop. > > Paul > Damn, Paul (et al), I never realized how hard it is to print a text file. It has always worked for me with any text editor I ever used. Shit, I'm just now realizing that I was just lucky all these years, and could have had a hell of a time printing anything. I guess I am the luckiest person on the planet, but I do give condolences to those unable to print. Maybe some day this will be fixed. I'll stay tuned. Mary Sophe will probably publish a tutorial giving all the details of how we can now print text files.
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| From | Brian Gregory <void-invalid-dead-dontuse@email.invalid> |
|---|---|
| Date | 2026-07-20 15:53 +0100 |
| Subject | Re: How to print entire .txt file |
| Message-ID | <nc6r2mF2qgeU1@mid.individual.net> |
| In reply to | #194539 |
You're trying to print from the command line without using any software?! Just print it from inside Notepad++ like any normal person would. -- Brian Gregory (in England).
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| From | "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> |
|---|---|
| Date | 2026-07-20 20:02 +0100 |
| Subject | Re: How to print entire .txt file |
| Message-ID | <113lrcj$1cae2$4@dont-email.me> |
| In reply to | #194650 |
On 2026/7/20 15:53:10, Brian Gregory wrote: > You're trying to print from the command line without using any software?! > > Just print it from inside Notepad++ like any normal person would. > That probably requires a printer driver. Copy <file> PRN (or something like that) will work with any printer that can accept plain text; I was under the impression that many modern ones can't (i. e. _have_ to be sent what is basically graphics), but maybe I'm wrong. -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()ALIS-Ch++(p)Ar++T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf The makers may make and the users may use, but the fixers must fix with but minimal clues
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| From | Brian Gregory <void-invalid-dead-dontuse@email.invalid> |
|---|---|
| Date | 2026-07-23 20:02 +0100 |
| Subject | Re: How to print entire .txt file |
| Message-ID | <ncf6pgFd5ocU1@mid.individual.net> |
| In reply to | #194665 |
On 20/07/2026 20:02, J. P. Gilliver wrote: > On 2026/7/20 15:53:10, Brian Gregory wrote: >> You're trying to print from the command line without using any software?! >> >> Just print it from inside Notepad++ like any normal person would. >> > That probably requires a printer driver. Copy <file> PRN (or something > like that) will work with any printer that can accept plain text; I was > under the impression that many modern ones can't (i. e. _have_ to be > sent what is basically graphics), but maybe I'm wrong. So micky has a printer that has no Windows driver? -- Brian Gregory (in England).
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| From | "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> |
|---|---|
| Date | 2026-07-23 20:26 +0100 |
| Subject | Re: How to print entire .txt file |
| Message-ID | <113tps9$3lgeu$6@dont-email.me> |
| In reply to | #194735 |
On 2026/7/23 20:2:8, Brian Gregory wrote: > On 20/07/2026 20:02, J. P. Gilliver wrote: >> On 2026/7/20 15:53:10, Brian Gregory wrote: >>> You're trying to print from the command line without using any software?! >>> >>> Just print it from inside Notepad++ like any normal person would. >>> >> That probably requires a printer driver. Copy <file> PRN (or something >> like that) will work with any printer that can accept plain text; I was >> under the impression that many modern ones can't (i. e. _have_ to be >> sent what is basically graphics), but maybe I'm wrong. > > So micky has a printer that has no Windows driver? > No, but printing - via the driver - wasn't working properly, and just copying raw ASCII direct to the printer sometimes used to work (though I have my doubts with modern printers which might not know what to do with RAW ASCII); it was worth a try. But micky's achieved what he wanted using his W10 machine, so clearly something about his W11 one - different driver, different Notepad(+n), etc. - didn't. -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()ALIS-Ch++(p)Ar++T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind. - Mahatma Gandhi (according to the film Gandhi [1982])
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