Microsoft KB Archive/22734

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Sending Binary Files to a Printer After Print to File

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Q22734

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows versions 1.1, 2.03, 2.1, 2.11, 3.0, 3.1, 3.11

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SYMPTOMS
If you use a dot-matrix printer that is not connected to your personal computer, and you first print Microsoft Windows files to an output file on a disk and then you use the standard Print command on the computer connected to the printer to print the files, your files do not print properly.

CAUSE
Because Windows places a dot-matrix printer in graphics mode when it prints, the print output file you create is a binary file with graphics information.

RESOLUTION
Instead of using the standard Print command, you should use the COPY command with the /B option to send the binary print file to the printer.

For example, if your printer was connected to LPT1 and you are trying to send a binary print file named PR.PRN to the printer, type the following:

"copy pr.prn lpt1: /b" Use this same method to print any document when you use the Print to File option at the application level.