Tech: TSR to redirect LPT to file - DOS only

Subject: RE: Tech: TSR to redirect LPT to file - DOS only
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 01 Dec 12 - 12:21 AM

Knoppix - is a straight forward program.

I use it daily.

It has both DOS and WIN emulation.
It will give straight hex/dec transfer.
It can boot from a disk.

If all you desire is a "mirror " on a more stable platform seek out X -Tree.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Tech: TSR to redirect LPT to file - DOS only
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 30 Nov 12 - 09:00 PM

Much clearer now!!!!

It appears that Epson still has something that might be compatible, but it might depend on how deep your pockets are relative to the need.

LX-300+ II Impact Printer might be a possibility, but you might also find 2d hand stuff laying around that could be cheaper.(?) - or even Epson may have something else at a little lower cost.

I just did a quick Google for "Epson LX Printer" and came up with quite a few hits, although I haven't looked at how many of the hits are actually any good.

I've been a little surprised at how many places still stock, and apparently sell quite a lot of paper and ribbons for the older printers; and that might indicate they're still a lot more popular than most of us would expect.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: TSR to redirect LPT to file - DOS only
From: Bernard
Date: 30 Nov 12 - 07:21 PM

Sorry to have been away...!

The problem is simple... the software (Microgem) only runs under DOS with the hardware present. It's an elderly, dedicated system that cannot run Windows, and cannot be transferred to a Windows PC because the hardware is integral to the system. Sorry, but I'm obliged to be somewhat vague...

Its job is to monitor a system, and only sends its output to the LPT port connected to a printer. It will be decommissioned fairly soon, the Epson LX printer died, and it seemed to me they could probably redirect the output to a file for the last few days before final switch-off.

A simple DOS pipe would be okay if the programme only had to run and exit, but it's running 24/7, so it needs something to intercept the LPT output and redirect it to a text file, or series of text files (better).

I used to have a TSR that would probably do it, but I've no idea where to start looking for it! Maybe it's on the old Opus III XT PC with a massive 30Mb hard drive...! But it needs an EGA monitor (9 pin D sub), and the hard drive is RLL with a full length 16bit card...

Time's running out, so finding a compatible printer may well be more expedient...

Subject: RE: Tech: TSR to redirect LPT to file - DOS only
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 30 Nov 12 - 04:41 PM

The COMMAND PROMPT in recent Windows versions is very similar to the DOS PROMPT in earlier versions, but each new version has slightly modified how some commands work and several commands have been removed. Most of the simpler commands that the majority of casual users were likely to have used are still present and still work much the same as ever.

In any version, in a Command Prompt or DOS Prompt window, if you type a command followed by /? and hit Enter you'll get a fairly complete description of what the current version of that command can do.

Example:

DIR /?

gives two full screens of "variations" (switches) you can use to control how the result (list of files) is shown as a result.

For commands that require a completion, you can just type the base command name and hit enter, without the formal "/?" query tag, but there's an extremely slight chance that you'll accidentally "do something" you don't intend to actually do instead of seeing the list of features for the command, so the full form is preferable.

The main problem is knowing what command "names" are still useful, but if you type a "NAME /?" for something that's been removed you'll just get a "COMMAND NOT FOUND" or something similar.

Possibly applicable to the original question in this thread, Win7 shows:

     C:\Windows\System32>TYPE /?
     Displays the contents of a text file or files.

     TYPE [drive:][path]filename

     C:\Windows\System32>PRINT /?
     Prints a text file.

     PRINT [/D:device] [[drive:][path]filename[...]]

        /D:device   Specifies a print device.

There is little accessible information on using recent versions, so it would be hard to find some other things that were commonly known by DOS users, but many supplemental switches/redirects/etc still work.

"DIR *.*" displays a list of the files in your current directory

"DIR *.* >filename.txt" sends the list of files to a text file, that you can open in Notepad or your WP program (Word?).

The "pipe" switch (|) still mostly works, so far as I've seen, but most Command Prompt screen results are automatically "paged" if multiple screens are needed, so it's seldom necessary for simple stuff.

A little noticed feature in Command Prompt is the tiny square icon that displays the drive you're on, in the top bar. Clicking there gives you a dropdown menu of a few things you can do that were more difficult in earlier versions. On the Edit, you can "Mark" a block of text in the display. Once marked you can "Copy" the marked text to paste it in another program.

The Size function on the dropdown lets you change the length of the Command Prompt window, but you can't change the width.

For the things most people are likely to want to do, the DOS Prompt and Command parts are interchangeable, even though they really aren't the same animal.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: TSR to redirect LPT to file - DOS only
From: clueless don
Date: 30 Nov 12 - 09:05 AM

I still run WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS on my WindowsXP machine, from the MS-DOS prompt (which I assume is the same as the Command prompt.)

Don

Subject: RE: Tech: TSR to redirect LPT to file - DOS only
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Nov 12 - 08:33 AM

Is there a DOS emulator in any of the new versions of Windows? The last time I tried using it was probably in Win2000Pro.

Garg, I loved X-tree and X-tree Pro. They were a revelation for early computer users, and every day I use the modern equivalent, Windows Explorer.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: TSR to redirect LPT to file - DOS only
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 29 Nov 12 - 02:22 PM

I think my difficulty is in seeing what result is wanted, and it's entirely possible that "printing" from the DOS files is necessary so the requested method is actually what needs to be used. If that's the case, my babbles in this thread are just reminiscences that can be ignored by all but the elders** here.

**elders = really old farts

My own experience with bringing things forward from DOS to early Windows machines was that most files could be simply copied from the DOS machine to the Windows one. While a few files wouldn't open, the majority transitioned fairly well.

I was using mostly Microsoft programs (Word and Excel) in DOS versions, and sufficient "backward compatibility" was present in early Windows, but the "DOS Prompt" in early Windows versions had very few changes from "just DOS." In later Windows versions there are much more significant differences between "Command Prompt" and even the latest versions of DOS, so leaping across many generations of changes may be less successful.

In antiquity, transfers were facilitated using a simple "zero modem" cable that was just a Serial Cable with one of the two pairs of wires "twisted." (You needed the same plug on both ends, of course.)

Numerous "programs" were available with pretty cables and with software to "manage" the moving, but you could make your own cable and do the transfers with existing DOS or Windows built-ins. Some of the "kits" were advertised for "synchronizing" two machines if you were using ones too old to have easy LAN capabilities, but most of us just used the "sneaker net" - (copy to floppy, run across the room, copy from floppy). If you used a couple of junk box cables and followed widely published instructions to twist the right two wires, the "zero modem" was free.

The same method can be used for more recent Windows to Windows transfers and Microsoft came up with a "Windows Easy Transfer" kit that's apparently just a "USB Zero Modem" cable. The software to manage the transfer is built into Windows, I think since Vista but it might have appeared with Win7 (and might not install by default). The "Easy Transfer" (USB Port to USB Port) cable in a fancy box was about $70 a year or two ago. Since they're intended for "one time use" borrowing would be the recommended procurement method if you know someone who's recently migrated to Win7 and bought one for you.

Serial Port to USB "converter plugs" are available, but I haven't had a need to try using one, so can't make much informed comment; but it would appear that a Serial to USB converter would allow direct connection of one of the "USB to USB zero modem" cables between two machines as a Serial to USB zero modem.

It all hinges on WHY you're trying to do what you're trying to do, and what end results you really want.(?) That used to be a fairly common consideration, but Microsoft more recently has decided "You're obviously too stupid to understand something that complicated or you wouldn't be using our stuff." their only other answer is "Hey Dude, we don't understand it either, but it's selling great!"

John

Subject: RE: Tech: TSR to redirect LPT to file - DOS only
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 Nov 12 - 02:12 PM

I think the procedure you're trying to describe goes like this:

- remove the ash collector tray
- unscrew the steam relief line
- tie the jibstay to the lower martingales with a baker's hitch
- tighten up the compression screw on the drying rollers
- spin the Watt governor a few times to get it moving
- make sure the chip fat is properly filtered
- insert the fermentation lock
- set the hay tines upwards
- hit the drip tray return pump a couple of times with a bungstarter mallet.

Or have I forgotten something?

Subject: RE: Tech: TSR to redirect LPT to file - DOS only
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 29 Nov 12 - 12:23 PM

We also used a product called X - Tree.

A simple pig tale connected both machines through lpt1.

It is probably still in the cable box.
Saved hundreds of hours - and gave me undeserved stats.

For some history on it.

www.jeffreycjohnson.com/

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

glorious days before "plug and pray "   and "gui

Subject: RE: Tech: TSR to redirect LPT to file - DOS only
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 29 Nov 12 - 11:57 AM

Glenn - I assumed from the opening description that this wasn't the case. I think the output is hardcoded to LPT1 rather than sdtdout.

Mick

Subject: RE: Tech: TSR to redirect LPT to file - DOS only
From: GUEST,highlandman at work
Date: 29 Nov 12 - 10:48 AM

OMG!
I used to do this all the time. If you are doing it now and then don't bother with a TSR to permanently redirect.
Try this first: when you invoke whatever the "main program" is, that you want the output to go to a file, do it like
MAINPROG.EXE > b:\outfile.txt
This will take the standard output from MAINPROG and redirect it to the file. It will work if the original programmer used the standard output functions, which may or may not be the case.
Any more detail and I will have to dig into the file where I keep instructions for scraping vellum and mixing your own ink.
-Glenn

Subject: RE: Tech: TSR to redirect LPT to file - DOS only
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 29 Nov 12 - 06:09 AM

If all you're trying to do is save data, have you tried just opening a copy of the files in Windows. Word will generally open (almost) anything that "contains text" although it may display a lot of trash along with the text if the file has executables or escapes also in it. (Often something that it declines to open can still be examined just by changing the file extension to .txt.) After you clean up a file in Word, you can "save as" back to plain text.

A USB external 3.5" floppy drive should be about $20 (US), and it would be likely that the old computer has a floppy drive to make copies of the files onto floppies(?) - or onto "a floppy" re-used until they're all transferred.

I vaguely recall having lpt2fil on an early DOS machine, but used it so seldom I can't recall WHY.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: TSR to redirect LPT to file - DOS only
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 28 Nov 12 - 10:12 PM

About five years ago...I finally tossed a packed briefcase of punch cards that once reflected many years of my life.

I still cling to a single sided and another double 5.25 machine.

The old Xerox machine...with dizks the size of a LP -vinyle record sat in the corner for ten years...old tech ... like old habits ... is hard to let go. Perbaps that is the current alure of the cloud.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle


The printed word is said to endure forever...a good reason to print and bind.    I have fitnessed several brillant minds grow sick and feeble and die over the past decade and a half of Mudcat. It is a generous stroke of magnanimus brillance that Max created this "honey -pot " to gather kindred minds.

Subject: RE: Tech: TSR to redirect LPT to file - DOS only
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 28 Nov 12 - 08:55 PM

I think I still have the 16? disks somewhere!

Mick

Subject: RE: Tech: TSR to redirect LPT to file - DOS only
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Nov 12 - 08:37 PM

In 1984 I bought an Eagle 8088. Dual floppy disks. The next PC came from DAK - a Packard Bell, I think. Haven't thought of that one in ages. I remember loading in tons of 3.5" disks to load the Windows 3 OS.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: TSR to redirect LPT to file - DOS only
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 28 Nov 12 - 08:21 PM

SRS - that card picture took me back. In the early 70s I'd be carting 6000 line Fortran programs (3 boxes iirc) about on those. If you were good (and with that many cards you ought to be) they'd be sequenced, but we still drew a diagonal line across the top of the cards in the box so you could see if anything gross had happened to them! I could read the holes in those days (not all our 0-26 machines interpreted).


Mick

Subject: RE: Tech: TSR to redirect LPT to file - DOS only
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Nov 12 - 05:58 PM

This thread raked away a few cobwebs - I can't think of the last time I have looked at DOS commands. At least that computer boots from a 3.5" floppy and not the 5 1/4" type that I started with.

Down Memory Lane.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: TSR to redirect LPT to file - DOS only
From: Bernard
Date: 28 Nov 12 - 05:46 PM

Thanks Mick - I'll give it a go.

Subject: RE: Tech: TSR to redirect LPT to file - DOS only
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 28 Nov 12 - 03:45 PM

lpt2fil should do it.

There's a discussion here: Help with redirecting dos printing to a file

and a version of the program seems to be available here: SAC - UTILTEXT - item 34.

Mick

Subject: Tech: TSR to redirect LPT to file - DOS only
From: Bernard
Date: 28 Nov 12 - 03:21 PM

Many years ago I used to have a TSR (Terminate and Stay Resident) programme that redirected data sent to LPT1 into a file.

A friend of mine now needs to do this with an old system that is due to be decommissioned, but I can't find the programme anywhere, and the only stuff I can find on t'internet is intended to work in some sort of Windows environment.

In short, the system boots from a 3.5" floppy into DOS, and needs to load the TSR before calling the main programme so that the programme thinks it's sending to LPT1, but instead it's automatically being redirected to a file. As far as I can see, the output is simple text with no control characters.

The only other alternative would be to find an Epson LX compatible dot matrix printer, as that's what was originally used until it perished...!