Enable DOS Printing through USB Printers

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Version: Enable DOS Printing through USB Printers/1.1/July 2009

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Contents

Enable DOS Printing through USB PrintersIntroduction ............................................................................................................................................. 1When the Network Card is not present/ the Network is not enabled....................................................... 1

To set up a Loopback Adapter................................................................................................................ 2To add an IP address ............................................................................................................................ 9

To add a Printer .................................................................................................................................... 11To share a Printer ................................................................................................................................. 13To route the Parallel Port to the shared Printer..................................................................................... 14When the Printer is connected to the Network...................................................................................... 15

(Either locally or through another system on the LAN)............................................................................. 15

Enable DOS Printing through USB Printers

IntroductionIn 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

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

In all these cases, the printer must also be a Dot Matrix Printer! Laser, Ther-mal, Inkjet or any other such printers are not to be used this way: Shoper has direct support for these printers.

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Enable DOS Printing through USB Printers

To set up a Loopback AdapterGo 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

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Enable DOS Printing through USB Printers

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.

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Enable DOS Printing through USB Printers

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

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Enable DOS Printing through USB Printers

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

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Enable DOS Printing through USB Printers

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

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Enable DOS Printing through USB Printers

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

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Enable DOS Printing through USB Printers

The window with details of the hardware ready to be installed is displayed.

Figure 7. Install Loopback Adapter

Click Next to continue

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Enable DOS Printing through USB Printers

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 addressThe LoopBack Adapter requires the IP address to function correctly.

To add an IP address to the LoopBack Adapter,

Go to Desktop > My Network Places

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Enable DOS Printing through USB Printers

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

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Enable DOS Printing through USB Printers

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 PrinterGo 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

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Enable DOS Printing through USB Printers

The Add Printer Wizard window is displayed.

Figure 11. Add Printer Wizard

Click Next to continue

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Enable DOS Printing through USB Printers

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 PrinterA 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

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Enable DOS Printing through USB Printers

To route the Parallel Port to the shared PrinterRun the following command from the DOS prompt.

Net use lpt1 \\systemname\Printersharename

Example : Net use lpt1 \\shankar\HPLaserJ /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.

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

When you use the command net use, you have the option of making it per-sistent - i.e. it reconnects after a reboot or logout: Persistent Drive Map-ping Settings: ‘/persistent:yes’

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.

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Enable DOS Printing through USB Printers

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

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