My company uses a data entry (database) application called LIMO MAGIC. It's Dos based and the application can run in a Dos window, or the Full Screen Dos. 99 percent of my call center uses it in Full Screen. All of these users need to be able to print screen to get certain information on to a hard copy.
I am using an utility called CaptureEze Pro. The program works Ok, but it fails continually on a few machines. When they attempt to print they will get an error saying there is not enough memory to save the bitmap image.
My question is; Does anyone know of a product that prints screen effectivly from a Dos Application? The program we use now is licensed for 150 users. We have no problem paying for another license if need be, we just n eed something that is going to work.
-John
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SnagIt is very good, i use it myself.
but there are many freeware programs are equally powerful.
one such program is Screen Thief
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/gi
i find it easier to automate Screen Thief as compared to SnagIt
a more detailed discussion on DOS based screen grabbing:
http://www.experts-exchang
if you have any questions regarding ScreenThief, feel free to ask!
hathehariken
>>> "an error saying there is not enough memory to save the bitmap image" <<<
Does the program have user settings allowing you to change the image format to *.jpg rather than *.bmp? Bitmap images are not compressed and can be many times larger in file size than the compressed JPEG file type. Given that the program is capturing output from a "DOS" window, I can't imagine that you would need print-outs of terribly high resolution anyway.
I can't find any link to "Limo Magic" software. Is it the bespoke booking database for limousine hire that I see mentioned in my searches?
As this is a "database" program, is there a way of creating queries that allow you to create a text-based "report", or extract the tables or field values to a comma or tab-separated text file? If so, then it may end up being easier printing text-based content or files than using an intermediate (albeit quite well featured) "Screen Grab" program to do the dirty work.
To do what you are currently doing, it should even be easy enough to use the free IrfanView image viewer. Create a batch file that calls the IrfanView executable with the parameters to do a screen capture of the whole screen (or optionally just the active window) and print it. You then create a shortcut to a batch file and change the shortcut's properties to use Hot Keys. See code snippet for batch file and the attached screenshot of the shortcut's properties.
Bill
screenshot of properties for shortcut to batch file.
If this is just text based screens then a normal "Print Screen" will copy the text to the clipboard if in full screen which can be pasted into Notepad using a fixed font souch as courier new etc.... if notepad was open would only take
Print Screen, Alt Tab, Control V Control P... Control A, Delete to clear for the next one....
Alright, suppose it's OK for a techie, maybe not 'normal' people :-)
Steve
Some good "alternative" suggestions coming, but it is a shame that you have 150 licences for CaptureEze Pro program and it doesn't work on all computers. You mentioned "The program works OK, but it fails continually on a few machines."
The logical thing to do would be to examine whether those affected computers have less RAM or whether the Virtual Memory settings are different to the ones that consistently work fine. Remember also that some computers assign quite a significant amount of System RAM to integrated graphics chips, while others may have add-on graphics cards and the shared memory set to minimum.
Another thing you could do as long as the CaptureEze program is always running as a background process, is to check whether the program is running with a higher or lower "priority" on the problem computers than on the ones that perform the same functions properly every time. Ctrl + Alt + Del to bring up Task Manager, open the Processes tab. Right-click on the CaptureEze program process and use the "Set Priority" option. Try it with a lower priority and then a higher one.
You didn't mention whether all the computers running the Magic Limo and CaptureEze programs are all installed with the same operating system. Windows 98, for example, has some bad flaws with the way it handles memory in general and keeps DLLs in memory long after their functions were called.
Bearing in mind that the error message being issued ("not enough memory to save the bitmap image") may be a Windows one or from the CaptureEze program. You will no doubt be aware that not all error messages accurately reflect the real issue. If bitmap images are being "saved", as the message implies, then I would suggest that the issue is of Storage rather than Memory. If the bitmap image data is stored in the clipboard (ie. memory), then there are other areas to consider:
1. Is the Windows clipboard being used, or does the program have its own clipboard?
2. If it is the programs own clipboard function, then is it capable of storing multiple copies of data, and perhaps isn't being flushed between screen grabs? Maybe there is a user option within the program itself, and these are set differently on the affected computers.
3. There are utility programs that some people use in place of, or to supplement, the Windows Clipboard (similar to how the MS Office clipboard can store 24 "clips"). You should obviously eliminate this possibility as soon as you can.
There are all kinds of utilities that are useful for clipboard functions, but perhaps the easiest that can be called from the command line to clear the clipboard is NIRCMD by Nir Sofer:
http://www.nirsoft.net/uti
Command to clear clipboard: nircmd.exe clipboard clear
BillDL: This problem only occurs on a rare basis to be fair. However, short of scaping the machine and rebuilding it, I don't really know how to fix this problem, Once reason is I can't understand why the software is trying to write this image (bitmap) to the disk when it is not configured for Capture and save, it's configured for capture and print I guess the operative word here is capture. It has to write the file to the drive in order to print it.
I am going to try a few of these problems (all of them) and see if any of them meet my requirements of printing a DOS window to a printer.
-John
if "full refund" means no points for the experts i think i will have to object on the behalf of both amazingtech and myself.
snagit works in most cases.
and screenthief works in ALL cases - i use it personally
please have a look at
http://www.experts-exchang
post ID 25151588
having and elevated status, i think you should be able to see the asker's closing comments on that post
if "full refund" means something else, please over-ride my objection, and proceed accordingly.
thanx for understanding.
hathehariken.
Business Accounts
Answer for Membership
by: AmazingTechPosted on 2009-09-11 at 13:28:47ID: 25313229
Our company uses SnagIt.
http://www.techsmith.com/s