Sending printer control codes to ImageWriter in WindowsXP

This should bring back memories to the older members reading this post.

I just found additional printer options when updating from Qicken'98 on
Win98 to Qicken'03 on WinXP. I've been using an Apple ImageWriter-II
Impact printer to print tractor feed checks for years by bypassing the
printer driver. It has proved reliable and economical; I print over
1000 checks a year. However, I'd like to be able to use this printer's
printer driver option, so I can get a more legible font.

With the C-Itoh driver, I get nicely formed characters properly spaced,
however, the space between checks is wrong. Quicken in CHECK PRINTER
SET UP / SETTINGS / PAPER / ADVANCE / SIZE enables only setting the
check printer paper size to "letter", "A4", or "250 x 340mm. There is
no option to set the paper height to 3.667 inches, the height of the
preprinted tractor feed checks.

Is there a way I can send printer commands such as escr (reverse
direction of feed) to the printer either before or after each check is
printed, so as to in effect reduce the page size? Or perhaps, is there
a way to insert a custom printer driver to send the proper font and page
feed commands?

well i would use up the old checks as best as posible ......get yourself
a laser printer and the laser checks it Will save you a lot of time of
beating your head into and old printer wall

"windsurferLA" wrote in message
...
This should bring back memories to the older members reading this post.

I just found additional printer options when updating from Qicken'98 on
Win98 to Qicken'03 on WinXP. I've been using an Apple ImageWriter-II
Impact printer to print tractor feed checks for years by bypassing the
printer driver. It has proved reliable and economical; I print over
1000 checks a year. However, I'd like to be able to use this printer's
printer driver option, so I can get a more legible font.

With the C-Itoh driver, I get nicely formed characters properly spaced,
however, the space between checks is wrong. Quicken in CHECK PRINTER
SET UP / SETTINGS / PAPER / ADVANCE / SIZE enables only setting the
check printer paper size to "letter", "A4", or "250 x 340mm. There is
no option to set the paper height to 3.667 inches, the height of the
preprinted tractor feed checks.

Is there a way I can send printer commands such as escr (reverse
direction of feed) to the printer either before or after each check is
printed, so as to in effect reduce the page size? Or perhaps, is there
a way to insert a custom printer driver to send the proper font and page
feed commands?

windsurferLA wrote in message ...
This should bring back memories to the older members reading this post.

I just found additional printer options when updating from Qicken'98 on
Win98 to Qicken'03 on WinXP. I've been using an Apple ImageWriter-II
Impact printer to print tractor feed checks for years by bypassing the
printer driver. It has proved reliable and economical; I print over
1000 checks a year. However, I'd like to be able to use this printer's
printer driver option, so I can get a more legible font.

With the C-Itoh driver, I get nicely formed characters properly spaced,
however, the space between checks is wrong. Quicken in CHECK PRINTER
SET UP / SETTINGS / PAPER / ADVANCE / SIZE enables only setting the
check printer paper size to "letter", "A4", or "250 x 340mm. There is
no option to set the paper height to 3.667 inches, the height of the
preprinted tractor feed checks.

Is there a way I can send printer commands such as escr (reverse
direction of feed) to the printer either before or after each check is
printed, so as to in effect reduce the page size? Or perhaps, is there
a way to insert a custom printer driver to send the proper font and page
feed commands?

I don't have this printer, so my advice is just from general
principles, hope it's of some use anyway.

Your aim is to improve the print quality. Looking up the specs it has
three modes: draft, standard and NLQ. NLQ (Near Letter Quality) is
much slower, but for printing a few cheques that probably isn't a
problesm, and is likely the mode the C-Itoh driver is using anyway.

You should be able to select the mode by pressing the "print quality"
button on the printer, unless the printing cpommands override it.
According to the user guide
http://www.dsdk12.net/support/manuals/imagewriterUG.pdf:
"Choosing either Standard or High quality in the Print command dialog
box overrides any quality setting on the printer. However, if you
choose Draft quality in the dialog box, the quality will be that
currently selected at the printer—either draft, standard, or NLQ."

To use NLQ the command is "ESCAPE a 2" according to the above ref.

Otherwise, if you want to hack a Windows driver, click on "Add
printer" select "Generic". When you do this you get a plain text
driver. However, if you right-click on this to get properties you can
change the paper size (there is a "Custom" one), and insert various
control codes to start page, select fonts, etc.

Iteresting... will try ... My manual for the printer has all the command
codes.

I could switch over to a laser printer, but my ecology training makes me
hate to throw away 2/3rds of a sheet of paper eveny time I only need to
print one check.

Thanks...



Alan wrote:
windsurferLA wrote in message ...

This should bring back memories to the older members reading this post.

I just found additional printer options when updating from Qicken'98 on
Win98 to Qicken'03 on WinXP. I've been using an Apple ImageWriter-II
Impact printer to print tractor feed checks for years by bypassing the
printer driver. It has proved reliable and economical; I print over
1000 checks a year. However, I'd like to be able to use this printer's
printer driver option, so I can get a more legible font.

With the C-Itoh driver, I get nicely formed characters properly spaced,
however, the space between checks is wrong. Quicken in CHECK PRINTER
SET UP / SETTINGS / PAPER / ADVANCE / SIZE enables only setting the
check printer paper size to "letter", "A4", or "250 x 340mm. There is
no option to set the paper height to 3.667 inches, the height of the
preprinted tractor feed checks.

Is there a way I can send printer commands such as escr (reverse
direction of feed) to the printer either before or after each check is
printed, so as to in effect reduce the page size? Or perhaps, is there
a way to insert a custom printer driver to send the proper font and page
feed commands?


I don't have this printer, so my advice is just from general
principles, hope it's of some use anyway.

Your aim is to improve the print quality. Looking up the specs it has
three modes: draft, standard and NLQ. NLQ (Near Letter Quality) is
much slower, but for printing a few cheques that probably isn't a
problesm, and is likely the mode the C-Itoh driver is using anyway.

You should be able to select the mode by pressing the "print quality"
button on the printer, unless the printing cpommands override it.
According to the user guide
http://www.dsdk12.net/support/manuals/imagewriterUG.pdf:
"Choosing either Standard or High quality in the Print command dialog
box overrides any quality setting on the printer. However, if you
choose Draft quality in the dialog box, the quality will be that
currently selected at the printer—either draft, standard, or NLQ."

To use NLQ the command is "ESCAPE a 2" according to the above ref.

Otherwise, if you want to hack a Windows driver, click on "Add
printer" select "Generic". When you do this you get a plain text
driver. However, if you right-click on this to get properties you can
change the paper size (there is a "Custom" one), and insert various
control codes to start page, select fonts, etc.

windsurferLA wrote in message ...
Iteresting... will try ... My manual for the printer has all the command
codes.

I could switch over to a laser printer, but my ecology training makes me
hate to throw away 2/3rds of a sheet of paper eveny time I only need to
print one check.

Most lasers can print envelopes, so they should also be able to do
individual cheques.

I have an old dotmatrix (Panasonic KX-P1124) I picked up (literally,
from the dump outside) which I got working from nostalgia, I used one
for invoicing at my old job. Very economical, and it's amusing to read
the reviews when it came out of its "breathtaking" 24 pin 360 dpi
printing. But I have to go with lasers for DTP, which is what I mostly
do.