Serial Port Intermec Printer and Windows 2000

[JVKAdmin]

Hi,

I am currently have problems getting our Intermec 3400 Label printer to communicate with a PC that has Windows 2000 on it. All of our commands are DOS based. It appears that Windows 2000 does not seem to want to talk to the Com port and I get an error on the command console. We have a batch file that sends ASCII text to the printer which the printer then prints out. All formatting is done on the printer side.

the command batch file we use is as follows:
--------------------------------------------------
rem @echo off
copy z:\label c:\intermec\label\label
mode com2: baud=9600 parity=e data=7 stop=1 xon=on > nul:
copy c:\intermec\label\label com2: > nul:
rem @echo on
pause
--------------------------------------------------
Where label is a file with ASCII text in it formatted using a form of XML I believe.

Has anyone had any experience with printing to Com ports from Windows 2000 and are there any special tricks to setting this up correctly or even using different commands ?

I'd appreciate any help

Kevin

 

[2ffat]

I went ahead and did a program for all our 3400 printers. I gave up on DOS based communications. I can get them to work through the LPT port, though.

I believe the problem lies in how NT/2000/XP handles COM ports. Windows tries to make life easier by insulating the user from the devices but that makes life harder for programmers.

Set up the COM port in Windows are then try copying the file to com2:. Something like:

rem @echo off
copy z:\label c:\intermec\label\label
REM mode com2: baud=9600 parity=e data=7 stop=1 xon=on > nul:
copy c:\intermec\label\label com2: > nul:
rem @echo on
pause

You might also try typing the commands in one line at a time at the command prompt to see what Windows complains about.

If all else fails, I can send you the program I wrote specifially to format I3400 printers.

James P. Cottingham
-----------------------------------------
^{To determine how long it will take to write and debug a program, take your best estimate, multiply that by two, add one, and convert to the next higher units.}

 

[JVKAdmin]

Hi,

Thanks for your quick response, I actually just figured out a solution (after much frustration). Your correct about the insulation factor in windows I've come across this a few times usually to do with com ports.

Use the Print command instead of copying the file to the com port. Apparently the Copy command lacks some resetting of the port functionality (speculation on my part).

so the new code looks like this:
-------------------------------------------------------
@echo off
copy z:\label c:\intermec\label\label
print label /d:com2
-------------------------------------------------------

I've configured the ports manually in the device manager (setting their IRQ's etc.) and enabled both of them in the BIOS

Things seem to work nicely now.

I wouldn't mind having the program you talked about (just in case I get one of those dreaded support calls again complaining that it doesn't work any more)

Thanks again for your quick response.

Kevin
kkarr at jvk dot net

 

[2ffat]

If you can let me know where to send it, I'll send it you. Be aware it's a version 1 series. I've never tested it with anything but our label formats, we have about 8 different formats. I set up it to send a configuration file, a format file, and/or a test print file. If you want the program, I'll send you the instructions, too.


James P. Cottingham
-----------------------------------------
^{To determine how long it will take to write and debug a program, take your best estimate, multiply that by two, add one, and convert to the next higher units.}

 

[JVKAdmin]

James,

As I feared I just got the dreaded call this morning that the Intermec system isn't working again... we already have a format file for our labels (.fmt). If you could zip up the files but rename the file to use a .zix extension and send to my email I'd very much appreciate it. I'd also like the instructions

Thanks

Kevin
kkarr at jvk dot net (send to this email)

 

[2ffat]

Done. Let me know if you do not receive it by tomorrow.



James P. Cottingham
-----------------------------------------
^{To determine how long it will take to write and debug a program, take your best estimate, multiply that by two, add one, and convert to the next higher units.}