Print to file option in print windows

[Rasoul Khoshravan Azar]

There is an option (check point) in print windows called: print to file.
What is it and how can we use it?
TIA
Rasoul Khoshravan

 

[Rob Schneider]

It's a feature of the printer driver. Instead of directing output to
LPT1: or a network port, select "file". This will sent all output to a
file. It will prompt you for file name.

See the Properties of the printer, Tab: Port. Pick "file".

Hope this is useful to you. Let us know.

rms

 

[Rasoul Khoshravan Azar]

Dear Rob
Thanks for your reply.
I understand upto directing to a file, but what is the advantage and how can
I use this file ?
I would like to transfer this file from the computer which is not connected
to printer to another computer where I cant open the file and without
openning the file print it. Would it be possible.

TIA, Rasoul

 

[Rob Schneider]

I used it one way, and used to use it for a second:

1. Create a PostScript file. I have intalled a HP PostScript printer
driver, and direct the output to a file instaed of to a printer. I
don't have such a printer anyway. I use the PostScript file with
Ghostscript to create PDF documents.

2. Create output for later printing to a printer (deprecated).
Sometimes in the past I found it useful to create a file that can later
be printed. This has been useful to me when printing from a bespoke or
speciality program that my collegues do not have. I would create the
output, say with a HP printer driver. That creates HP's printer control
language commands. I send that file to a collegue (say on the other
side of the world) and without having that bespoke program he/she can
still create output by directing the file to a printer with the "copy
filename.prn > lpt1: /b" command, for example. I don't do this very
often any more as I'll make a PDF (as in No. 1 above or via Adobe
Acrobat) and send the PDF file instead.

Hope this is useful to you. Let us know.

rms

 

[Rob Schneider]

oops. the command for directing out is:

copy filename.prn lpt1: /b

Hope this is useful to you. Let us know.

rms

 

[Rasoul Khoshravan Azar]

Dear Rob
Thanks for your comments.

I used it one way, and used to use it for a second:

1. Create a PostScript file. I have intalled a HP PostScript printer
driver, and direct the output to a file instaed of to a printer. I
don't have such a printer anyway. I use the PostScript file with
Ghostscript to create PDF documents.

I presume this is an old way to produce PDF documents and as you explained
you can make them by Adobe Acrobat. Is there any special reason that you
produce PDF files through this way (not directly from inside the program,
let say word)

2. Create output for later printing to a printer (deprecated).
Sometimes in the past I found it useful to create a file that can later
be printed. This has been useful to me when printing from a bespoke or
speciality program that my collegues do not have. I would create the
output, say with a HP printer driver. That creates HP's printer control
language commands. I send that file to a collegue (say on the other
side of the world) and without having that bespoke program he/she can
still create output by directing the file to a printer with the "copy
filename.prn > lpt1: /b" command, for example. I don't do this very
often any more as I'll make a PDF (as in No. 1 above or via Adobe
Acrobat) and send the PDF file instead.

Hope this is useful to you. Let us know.

Thanks for your comment.
Just one more question. What was the intention of Microsoft to put this
command in print windows?

Regards
Rasoul

 

[Rob Schneider]

See embedeed:

Hope this is useful to you. Let us know.

rms



Rasoul Khoshravan Azar wrote:
<snip

I presume this is an old way to produce PDF documents and as you explained
you can make them by Adobe Acrobat. Is there any special reason that you
produce PDF files through this way (not directly from inside the program,
let say word)

This is not that old and something I still do. Ghostscript has been
around for a while but it's still current. It converts PostScript to
PDF (including other powerful features). It will sometimes do a better
job than Adobe Acrobat does (smaller file sizes, handles graphics that
Adobe Acrobat fails, etc. I normally use Adobe Acobat since it's easy,
but when it fails and I need it, I use Ghostscript. For exmple, for
complexi Visio diagrams, often this approach results in a higher quality
representation of the paper document.

Ghostscript also a way that we provide an automated way for the entire
organisation to create PDFs. They just create PostScript files from
whatever program they have, email that file to a special email address,
and within a minute or so they get a a converted PDF file of that
PostScript file via return email. Adobe Acrobat can't do that.

Finally, Adobe Acobat is a bit pricey for many and Ghostscript is free.

Just one more question. What was the intention of Microsoft to put this
command in print windows?

I can't say how someone or some organisastion in Microsoft thinks or
thought about this. However, this capabilty to redirect output from a
process to a file is a basic capabilty of most operating systems and
Miccrosoft included this in their first operating system (DOS) -- or was
already there from the company they bought it from, I can't remember
that detail.

 

[Rasoul Khoshravan Azar]

Dear Rob

Thanks for your comments
Onced I needed GhostScript and tried to download it but I failed. This time
I will give it another try.
TIA., Rasoul