How do you print from the command line? I want to use a batch file to print a small text file but cannot find the correct syntax. If I use the PRINT command with no parameters other than the file name, I get the error “Unable to initialize device PRN”. Using the command “Print /d:”brother hl-5050″ filename”, I get the error “Unable to initialize device brother hl-5050”. Brother hl-5050 is my default printer. All my printers are USB printers.
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Printing from a command window (SP1)
Home » Forums » AskWoody support » Windows » Windows Vista, XP and earlier » Questions: Vista, XP back to 3.1 » Printing from a command window (SP1)
- This topic has 16 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 20 years, 9 months ago.
AuthorTopicWSasimpkins
AskWoody LoungerAugust 11, 2004 at 6:38 pm #408511Viewing 3 reply threadsAuthorReplies-
WSjscher2000
AskWoody LoungerAugust 11, 2004 at 6:54 pm #863047If the file is in a format that the printer can process directly, you can use the COPY command to copy the file to the PRN device. Take a look at post 368545 and this thread for more info.
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WSasimpkins
AskWoody LoungerAugust 12, 2004 at 2:48 pm #863475The file is a text file but that doesn’t work. As I said in my first post, I get the error “Unable to initialize device PRN”. All my printers are USB printers and there is no PRN device. Device Manager does not show any printers. See attached screenshot. It looks as if the command window does not recognize USB devices.
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WSasimpkins
AskWoody LoungerAugust 12, 2004 at 2:48 pm #863476The file is a text file but that doesn’t work. As I said in my first post, I get the error “Unable to initialize device PRN”. All my printers are USB printers and there is no PRN device. Device Manager does not show any printers. See attached screenshot. It looks as if the command window does not recognize USB devices.
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WSLeif
AskWoody LoungerAugust 12, 2004 at 3:02 pm #863487Microsoft don’t seem much help:
MSKB 259939 – Unable to Print from Command Prompt or MS-DOS Program with USB Printer…but it looks like John Savill to the rescue:
How can I print to a USB printer from the command prompt? -
WSLeif
AskWoody LoungerAugust 12, 2004 at 3:02 pm #863488Microsoft don’t seem much help:
MSKB 259939 – Unable to Print from Command Prompt or MS-DOS Program with USB Printer…but it looks like John Savill to the rescue:
How can I print to a USB printer from the command prompt?
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WSjscher2000
AskWoody LoungerAugust 11, 2004 at 6:54 pm #863048If the file is in a format that the printer can process directly, you can use the COPY command to copy the file to the PRN device. Take a look at post 368545 and this thread for more info.
WSJohnGray
AskWoody Lounger-
WSasimpkins
AskWoody LoungerAugust 12, 2004 at 4:14 pm #863535I tried the NET USE command in the following batch file:
[indent]
@echo off
dir>dirlist.txt
net use lpt2 andrew15brother1 /yes
copy dirlist.txt lpt2
del dirlist.txt
net use lpt2 /delete
[/indent]
It works except that for some reason it doesn’t generate a form-feed. I have to go to the printer and press the continue button to eject the page. -
WSJohnGray
AskWoody LoungerAugust 12, 2004 at 4:32 pm #863537Andrew
I have no idea what your “/YES” parameter does, unless you left off the PERSISTENT: bit! (usually abbreviated as /p:y). You don’t need it anyway in your BATch file.
Form Feeds never used to be generated when printing in DOS* – you either had to put an 0x0c FormFeed character at the end of your text, or send the 0x0c character to the printer after your text file. I used a binary editor to set up a file called FF which simply had this character as the only data, and did COPY FF PRN. All that just to save pressing a printer button!
An easier BATch file could be
@echo off
net use lpt2 andrew15brother1
dir > lpt2
copy FF lpt2 > nul
net use lpt2 /dPersonally I always use LPT1 or PRN (same animal), but LPT2 is fine!
John
* unless you used the actual PRINT command, which did cause a Form Feed!
PS sorry about heavy editing — it’s been a long time…
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WSasimpkins
AskWoody LoungerAugust 16, 2004 at 12:57 pm #864974John,
Thanks for the info. Sorry for the slow response but I’ve been away for a few days. I got the “/yes” parameter from the link Leif included in his post (http://www.winnetmag.com/Article/ArticleID/39674/39674.html%5B/url%5D). I’m not clear how you create a file with the FF character in it. I don’t have a hex editor. Could you post or email me a copy? Thanks,
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WSJohnGray
AskWoody Lounger -
WSJohnGray
AskWoody Lounger
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WSasimpkins
AskWoody LoungerAugust 16, 2004 at 12:57 pm #864975John,
Thanks for the info. Sorry for the slow response but I’ve been away for a few days. I got the “/yes” parameter from the link Leif included in his post (http://www.winnetmag.com/Article/ArticleID/39674/39674.html%5B/url%5D). I’m not clear how you create a file with the FF character in it. I don’t have a hex editor. Could you post or email me a copy? Thanks,
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WSJohnGray
AskWoody LoungerAugust 12, 2004 at 4:32 pm #863538Andrew
I have no idea what your “/YES” parameter does, unless you left off the PERSISTENT: bit! (usually abbreviated as /p:y). You don’t need it anyway in your BATch file.
Form Feeds never used to be generated when printing in DOS* – you either had to put an 0x0c FormFeed character at the end of your text, or send the 0x0c character to the printer after your text file. I used a binary editor to set up a file called FF which simply had this character as the only data, and did COPY FF PRN. All that just to save pressing a printer button!
An easier BATch file could be
@echo off
net use lpt2 andrew15brother1
dir > lpt2
copy FF lpt2 > nul
net use lpt2 /dPersonally I always use LPT1 or PRN (same animal), but LPT2 is fine!
John
* unless you used the actual PRINT command, which did cause a Form Feed!
PS sorry about heavy editing — it’s been a long time…
WSasimpkins
AskWoody LoungerAugust 12, 2004 at 4:14 pm #863536I tried the NET USE command in the following batch file:
[indent]
@echo off
dir>dirlist.txt
net use lpt2 andrew15brother1 /yes
copy dirlist.txt lpt2
del dirlist.txt
net use lpt2 /delete
[/indent]
It works except that for some reason it doesn’t generate a form-feed. I have to go to the printer and press the continue button to eject the page.WSJohnGray
AskWoody LoungerViewing 3 reply threads -

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