print to text file

what application are you trying to do this from??

you could just copy and paste it into notepad..

or save it as text...


Tanelorn..

from a windows 32 application click ctrl+p to open the print dialog bog and select print to file, this saves the "Print" file with a .prn extension

Pete

It is an app that has an auto print thing. It is for a police station, when an officer sends data from his vehicle, it automatically prints to the default printer. But it is only one line of info and wastes a lot of paper. All we need is confirmation that the data was received, so print to text file would be a perfect option.

Hi
this sounds like a proprietary app..  

when the officer "sends the data"  it automatically "prints to the default printer"  


this default printer..  is this printer configured in the patrol car's computer? or in the station's  office??  I think Pete has the right anser there.. you'll need to configure a generic printer.  (like a dot matrix type)  this will make sure the output is text and not postscript or some HP nonsense..  

configure it to print to file.  this will take some of the automatic out of it. because it will probably prompt for a file name..  you'll have to try it out and see.   Proprietary apps...     it might not respond well to what you are trying to do depending on how well it was written..


T

got it, thanks much

That was quick..................you are welcome.

ok, when it prints to the generic file, it prints to wherever the document is that you are printing. Like i printed a file that was on my desktop and the new file showed up on the desktop. But if i am in IE and print a web page, i have no clue where it went. Even if i do a search for the name of the file i get nothing.
The other problem is that it always pops up a box that wants me to name the file. I need it to automatically print to the text file with no user input.
Any way around these problems?

When the Generic text printer is selected it should provide a prompt that allows a file name to be given and scroll to any folder for storage.
If I select print in IE and choose generic text printer and save to my c:temp as text3.txt the file contains the following:


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                                 Comment from tanelorn
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       MrBillisMe
         My Open Questions (0)   what application are you trying to do this from
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                                 you could just copy and paste it into notepad..
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                                 or save it as text...
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         Send To A Friend        Tanelorn..
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                                 Comment from PeteLong
                                 Date: 12/02/2004 08:27AM PST
         Search 1M Solutions
         Keywords               from a windows 32 application click ctrl+p to o
                                 dialog bog and select print to file, this saves
         Advanced Search...     file with a .prn extension
              Find a Job        Pete
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            Resource Center      Date: 12/02/2004 08:27AM PST
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                                 It is an app that has an auto print thing. It i
                                 station, when an officer sends data from his ve
                 Page Editor
                                 automatically prints to the default printer. Bu
                  Windows XP    one line of info and wastes a lot of paper. All


1 of 3                                                             12/2/2004 12:48 PM
Windows XP: print to text file             https://www.experts-exchange.com/Operati...


                                 confirmation that the data was received, so pri
                  sirbounty     would be a perfect option.

                                 Comment from tanelorn
             Featured Expert     Date: 12/02/2004 08:56AM PST
             SheharyaarSaahil
            Ask An Expert Now!  Hi
                                 this sounds like a proprietary app..  
          Top 15  Windows XP
         Overall                when the officer "sends the data"  it automatic
        SheharyaarSaahil1968977 the default printer"  
            CrazyOne    1330242
           sunray_2003   826793
            sramesh2k    763254 this default printer..  is this printer configu
             gemarti     709407 patrol car's computer? or in the station's  off
         Fatal_Exception 590910 Pete has the right anser there.. you'll need to
            sirbounty    532529 generic printer.  (like a dot matrix type)  thi
            PeteLong     419409 sure the output is text and not postscript or s
            LeeTutor     385555 nonsense..  
           stevenlewis   368269
                                 configure it to print to file.  this will take
              LucF       308098
                                 automatic out of it. because it will probably p
         dew_associates  244519
                                 file name..  you'll have to try it out and see.
            Crash2100    206140
                                 apps...     it might not respond well to what y
            Eagle6990    183620
                                 to do depending on how well it was written..
          timothyfryer   175752
             Hall of Fame
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           Topic      Certified  Grade: A
           Area          Expert
                     Your Level You can install the Generic Text printer/ go to
           Get Certified Now     start/printers/add printer/local printer/use po
           Master     50,000     file not LP1/manufacturer Generic and generic t
           Guru      150,000     only/etc..... Also create a C:TEMP folder to pr
           Wizard    300,000     to although you can select any folder and name
           Sage      500,000     Select this text printer just like you would se
           Genius  1,000,000     printer.
          Top 15                 Comment from TuscolaCounty
                  Windows XP                                                 Au
          Yearly                 Date: 12/02/2004 10:07AM PST
        SheharyaarSaahil1941688
           sunray_2003   662789 got it, thanks much
         Fatal_Exception 541940
            sirbounty    522489  Comment from MrBillisMe                      Yo
             gemarti     494965  Date: 12/02/2004 10:25AM PST
            sramesh2k    390849
            CrazyOne     356357 That was quick..................you are welcome
            PeteLong     296340
              LucF       268231  Comment from TuscolaCounty                  Au
            LeeTutor     254813  Date: 12/02/2004 10:43AM PST
            Eagle6990    183620
          timothyfryer   175152 ok, when it prints to the generic file, it prin
           stevenlewis   167064 the document is that you are printing. Like i p
             shivsa       92700 that was on my desktop and the new file showed
            Kenneniah     87616 desktop. But if i am in IE and print a web page


2 of 3                                                             12/2/2004 12:48 PM
Windows XP: print to text file             https://www.experts-exchange.com/Operati...


                                 clue where it went. Even if i do a search for t
             Hall of Fame       file i get nothing.
                                 The other problem is that it always pops up a b
                                 me to name the file. I need it to automatically
                                 text file with no user input.
                                 Any way around these problems?


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3 of 3                                                             12/2/2004 12:48 PM


Regarding an auto print without user intervenion. A MACRO could be written in Visual Basic that would create the data however a service would be required to page that data file and print the data to a file.

An additional thought, the Visual Basic MACRO could just create the data file in a folder and then that file could be accessed manually from time to time to be printed or reviewed as appropriate. You might  post a question in the Programs/Visual Basic section of this site for more help.

That's ok, we found a way around it. Thanks for the replies.