1

my father is still using a very old DOS application and I'm in charge to make it run on newer systems. Right now I have the problem that I want to print, but the program only supports direct printing to LPT1-3.

I installed an DosBOX SVN (ykhwong, as recommended here) and used this guide to connect the LPT1 with my local USB-Printer.

Right now I can print from the DOS app (the normal Windows printer dialog appears), but the printed output is a total chaos. It should print only one page, but does print a multitude of pages with all the letters one bellow the other like:

R

e

c

e

i

p

t

The config file for ykhwongs DosBOX contains options like:

dpi=360
width=85
height=110

For the printer output, but I have no idea what they do.

Has someone encountered something similar, or knows a different approach to solve my problem? It's important that it runs automatic, so printing to a file and then printing to USB is no option.

Community
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Rincewind
  • 11

1 Answers1

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You need to trick the application in thinking there is a LPT1 port

  1. The printer that is on USB you need to share it. Call it "printer".
  2. Start DOS

  3. Prior to running old DOS application type following:

    net use lpt1: \\127.0.0.1\printer /Persistenst:Yes

  4. Start old DOS application

This will redirect the LPT1 port to the share and print to the USB printer. You can put this in a script to prior to starting the application.

GeekyDaddy
  • 428