We have been unable to print the TC2K (MK V I/O Report) formatted properly for an 8.5x11 sheet or 11x17 sheet. We have tried several times however the pages never end up fitting on one sheet. What is the secret method to get this to print? We know it is posible since the original unit information had a copy printed on 8.5 x 11 sheets.

Thanks,

 

It's been a very long time, but I believe the TC2KREPT.TXT file, as shipped, had page break codes inserted in the file, which was otherwise just ASCII text. These page breaks made printing the file just a wee bit easier, but that's a relative term; see below.

The way I printed this file is to send some codes to an HP-compatible laser printer connected to the PC (back in the day, a laser printer connected to the parallel port of the PC). The DOS command COPY CON LPT1 followed by HP PCL codes to set the printer to landscape mode, and to use 12 characters per inch and 8 lines inch (I think...sorry; it's been a long time). Then use the DOS copy command to copy the file to the LPT1 port. The page breaks in the file helped to eject pages as formatted.

There was a also a utility called PRINT_IO.EXE which many GE field engineers used to have that did all that automatically, including sending the file to the printer, and then sent codes to "reset" the printer to normal mode (I just used to cycle the power to the printer). But, that utility was never distributed with IDOS, as it should have been.

You might try looking on the <I> or HMI to see if it was left on the hard drive anywhere; you might get lucky. I think if you just typed PRINT_IO /? at a DOS prompt in the directory where the executable was located it would give you a "help" file as to any "switches" which might be useful and the command line format.

I don't have the utility any longer; perhaps someone reading this post does and could offer to email it to you if you supply an email address.

I'll try looking to see if I can find some notes on the HP PCL commands to send to the printer; I did a quick Google search and didn't find what I was looking for. Any PCL version will have the basic commands.

As I recall, I was successful once in establishing a "connection" to a network printer and sending it the commands and printing to it, but I had a lot of time on my hands that day and was feeling very adventurous, and was very lucky. And that was a long time ago, as well.

If I can find the PCL commands I'll post them later.

Hope this helps!