Epson 100-88002 PC Hardware , GDI

Epic 880TM Programmers Notes
100-88002 Rev B Page 243
Windows Printer Driver
A Windows printer driver is a Microsoft specific, Microsoft defined, type of driver that
the OS uses to translate drawing commands by a Windows application to a specific
printer’s command set. A window’s printer driver is a graphics page mode driver. It is
not a POS (Point of Sale) driver. (Have you ever had to open a cash drawer that was
connected to your printer at home?)
Figure 32 Windows Driver
When to use a windows printer driver:
Use a printer driver when writing a program that uses the Window’s API to send print
information to the printer.
When not to use a windows printer driver:
When a program wants to send printer command codes to the printer or when a
program wants to get information back from a printer.
PC Hardware
Window’s Operatin
g
S
y
stem
Windows Print
Application
GDI
Graphics
Device
Interface
Part of
the
Windows
API
Printer
Driver
Port Driver
Serial
OR
Parallel
OR
USB
OR
Whatever
Port
Hardware
Serial
OR
Parallel
OR
USB bus.
OR
Whatever.
Printer
Driver