Need help with Printer and Switch Box Please

[Peabody]

I would like to set up an additional(second) printer on my(non-networked) system. I have seen a setup some time ago where you could flip a switch from A to B on a small box connected to the system case to automatically select the printer to use for a given print job, so I figure that I may need one of those.Anyone know the techinal term for this small box and where I could purchase one? I also wonder if I could just install the new additional printer on LPT2 and change the default printer as I decided to use a particular printer.

Any other thoughts and/or ideas would be appreciated.

 

[tippmann]

They are simply called "switch boxes".... Parallel, Data, and now the new autoswith...

You can find them in most computer mags or stores anywhere....

I am getting fond of mwave...

http://direct.mwave.com/mwave/doSearch.hmx?bop=and&scriteria=printer+switch+box&UID=&CID=&Back=&n=1

 

[jaywallen]

When you ask about installing a second printer on LPT2, are you saying that you already have a second parallel port installed on the system? If so, this is a no-brainer. You can choose printers via the GUI when it comes time to print from most apps, and you can just use the Settings | Printers dialog for changing the defaul whenever you wish to do so.

Even if you don't have a second printer port installed, you can:

1. Add a second one (if you have a free slot). The card is likely to be cheaper than the A/B Data Switch you're thinking of buying. It will also work better, since it's a more elegant solution as far as the OS is concerned.

2. Use a USB-connected printer as the second printer (assuming you have USB ports available that aren't already shared amongst too many higher bandwidth devices). Even if you have a parallel port style printer there are USB-to-parallel converters available. I honestly can't say how well (or badly) they may work, however.

Hope you find a good solution.

Regards,
Jim