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sending files to COM

Hi,

I'm interfacing a thermal printer on COM3 via RS232. From the command prompt, this is all I need:

copy 0.txt COM3: /b

That obviously copies my file to COM3 in binary mode. Now, how do I do that in .NET? (I'm new to serial communications and have no idea how to do it in .net)

Thanks - Trevor

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smegghead

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trevorhartman

ASKER

the printer I'm working with is not a standard printer.. it is meant to be used as a sub assembly in kiosks, and it has its own set of commands... to make it print, i send a file in binary mode that contains a "^p" command. will your class still work in this case?

thanks - Trevor

smegghead

yes, you can send anything to the printer. I take it you are talking about control-P ?? you can send any ascii character.

smegghead

I've used this in the past to print to a receipt printer, which meant that I had to send certain escape sequences to switch fonts, and even to guillotine the paper after printing.

I'm sure this class will work for you.

trevorhartman

ASKER

great, thanks a lot for your help

trevorhartman

ASKER

i got the class working, but it ONLY works if i send files to the printer... the test file i have been sending contains this string:

^P|9|1|405796171|YOUR ESTABLISHMENT|YOUR LOCATION|CITY / STATE / ZIP|TEST COUPON| |405796171|04/12/2005|12:02:21|TICKET# X|FIFTY DOLLARS AND NO CENTS| |$50.00|Expires in 7 days|MACHINE# 0|405796171|^

i need to generate the string dynamically, so rather than create the string, write to file, send file, i want to just send the string directly. I used:

success = RawPrinterHelper.SendStringToPrinter("\\\\planar\\FL", "^P|9|1|405796171|YOUR ESTABLISHMENT|YOUR LOCATION|CITY / STATE / ZIP|TEST COUPON| |405796171|04/12/2005|12:02:21|TICKET# X|FIFTY DOLLARS AND NO CENTS| |$50.00|Expires in 7 days|MACHINE# 0|405796171|^");

but it doesn't work? any idea why?

thanks - Trevor

smegghead

maybe you have to pass a form feed ?

What happens if you just send "Hello" ??

trevorhartman

ASKER

doesn't do anything if i just send "Hello"... it has an embedded proprietary printer langauage, and "^p" is the print command, everything after is parameters that populate a ticket template stored in the printer.

trevorhartman

ASKER

note: success returns true every time.. i think the printer is just not intepretting the string that is sent.. everything must be sent binary

smegghead

ok, what if you send ^pHello ??

This works for me sending directly to a printer.

trevorhartman

ASKER

the printer only accepts strings in a very strict format, it requries that all parameters be present. so "^pHello" doesnt do anything..

in the SendStringToPrinter, it is converting the string to ANSI text. do you know how i could convert it into binary instead? i think that is the problem.

smegghead

As far as I'm aware, ANSI is raw format.

You could always try this article.. it uses the same winspool function, but has an alternative way of calling it.

http://www.codeproject.com/useritems/pclprinting.asp

trevorhartman

ASKER

ok, thanks for the additional help on this one