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DOS printing on HP4's

W

wseyller

Senior member
I have had a recurring problem with trying to upgrade an HP III with an HP 4. The problem I have is with the one DOS software package (accounting program). The software does not have any printer setup features to recognize different printers so far as I know. The program is configured to work with an HP II or HP III. I have set up the HP 4 with the same lines, pitch, symbol set etc. but when cheques are printed the HP 4 doesn't align properly. I have always thought that an HP 4 will work using the HP III driver with no problems but I have not been able to find a solution to this.

Does anyone have any suggestions, ideas?
The software is called Macola. In my opinion it's a piece of junk but the client isn't about to change their system just because of my opinion.
 
"Problem" here is that each and every printer out there has its own printable area, and hence, a different x/y coordinate origin on the actual paper. Hence the offset.
If your application program neither sets its own margins nor has adjustments to tell it the printer's default margins, then you're lost. Unless the printer's own operation panel lets you adjust the default margins.
 
Yup, you'll either have to find them a reconditioned HP3 or talk them into modernizing their acctg proggie.

.bh.
 
Try using the control panel of the LaserJet 4 to set the print resolution to 300dpi, rather than 600dpi or "Auto". Since the DOS program was intended to output at 300dpi, the automatic resolution reformatting performed by the printer may be causing your alignment problem. This problem is shared by many legacy applications which haven't been updated to use newer and more accurate methods of page description, instead relying on the printer to interpret each page:

http://www.fiservinsurance.com/Products/FiservFinancialSolutions/PTEPrinters.php

If you don't have any luck with that, you might try using a utility to create a printer "proxy" which would capture the print job before it leaves the computer, similar to Acrobat Distiller (intercepts print job and converts to PDF) and popular print-to-fax (intercepts print job and sends as a fax) programs. Such a utility would allow you to configure the proxy printer with the precise settings needed to intercept and adjust the printed image to fit the printable area of the new printer you have:

http://www.imgmaker.com/content/technotes/exactprint.asp

One utility I commonly use is FinePrint. It intercepts all print jobs from any program, and allows you to extensively customize how the job will actually be printed. This utility, or one similar to will give you universal control over the formatting from nearly any program in existence, and may allow you to tweak the DOS program's print jobs enough to output accurately on the Laserjet 4.

Good luck! :thumbsup:😀
 
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