chapter 10

MS-DOS AND YOUR PRINTER

When usingyour printer with an IBM PS/2, PC-AT or compatible, you will
probably beusing PC-DOS or MS-DOSas an operating system.Anumber
of software tricks may be useful here. This chapter is not, however, a
substitutefor the operating system manuals supplied with your computer.
To learn how to print files, etc. it isbest to read the relevant parts of these
manuals.

PROGRAMMING THE PRINTER WITH DOS

COMMANDS

If your system includes the file PRINT.COM you can use the main DOS
printingcommand. Simply typetheword PRINT followed by thenameof the
fileyou want to print. To print afile named README.DOC, for example,
type:
A) PRINT README.DOC
The computer may respond with the following message, asking which
printer to use:
Name of” 1is tdevice [PRN] :
Ifyour computer is connected to only one printer, press RETURN to select
the default choice (PRN). Printing will begin and the A> prompt will
reappear. You can execute other commands or programs while the file is
being printed.
Asingle PRINT command can “printtwoor more files. List the file names
consecutivelyon the same line, or use wild-card characters (* and ‘?).Each
file will be printed starting on anew page. The PRINT command also has
control options. For example, you can terminate aprintingjob in progress
with the/T option. (The printer may not stop printing immediately as there
maybe considerable data stored ahead in its buffer.)For the/T option, type:
A>PRINT/T