| Print
Reports as Text-Only (ASCII) to a File
[Windows™
95/98 instructions only. For other operating systems,
please contact us.]
If you would
like to have ResourceMate® print a report in text-only
(ASCII) version to a file so that you can use that file
in another Windows™ application, follow these directions.
Use the operating
system to install a "generic" printer that is
setup to print text "to file" (see below for
details). This needs to be done only once. Then in ResourceMate®
you can choose this printer each time you need to print
to a file.
(Note: the
option "Print to file:" that you see in ResourceMate®'s
Report Options windows will print a non-readable
file with printer command sequences. Use this option only
when you are creating a report on one computer and are
using another computer do the actual printing. The same
printer driver must be installed on each machine in that
case.)
Here are the
steps to setup the Generic Text printer
in Windows™ 95/98:
Click START
Click Settings
Click Printers
Double-Click
Add Printer. (This starts the Add Printer "Wizard").
Click Next.
Choose Local
or Network, depending on your situation, then click Next.
Under the "Manufacturers"
column, select "Generic", then click Next.
Now under Printers
it should say "Generic / Text Only"; click Next.
(You may get
"A driver is already installed for this printer...".
Choose "Keep existing driver (recommended)"
-- click Next).
Under the "Available
ports" column, select "FILE: Creates a file
on disk", then click Next.
Under "Printer
name" take the default of "Generic / Text only"
Click "No" for the prompt "Do you want
your Windows-based programs to use this printer as the
default printer?"; click Next.
Click "No"
for "Would you like to print a test page". Click
Finish.
After a moment
you may get messages about "New Hardware Detected".
You can cancel these messages.
Your new printer
should be showing in the Printers list. Close the Printers
explorer window.
Here are
the steps to use the new Generic printer in ResourceMate®:
(Note: it is not recommended that you make this
new printer your "default")
Click on the
Reports menu and choose the report you would
like to print. In the Report Options window select "To
Printer" (not "To File:") then click OK.
(Don't click on "Change Printer"). (If you're
printing cards or labels, the button to click is called
"Print cards/labels to printer").
You should
next see the Print dialog box. The format of this box
varies from printer to printer. It should indicate which
printer is currently selected. If that printer is not
"Generic / Text only on FILE:", then click on
the "Setup" button (or similar button). Change
the "Specific printer" to "Generic / Text
only on FILE:" and click OK.
Verify the
number of pages you wish to print then click OK. You will
then be asked for the name and location of the print file.
Navigate to the appropriate folder, enter a filename (you
may want to choose the correct extension for your word
processor. For example: .DOC for Microsoft Word, .WPD
for Corel WordPerfect, .RTF for Wordpad etc). Click OK.
Your report
will be created. Printing reports to a file is much faster
than printing to a printer so don't be alarmed if it seems
like nothing happened. Use your operating system (Windows™
Explorer etc) to find the output file you specified.
The resulting
file can be opened in your word processor. Note that it
may include some extraneous carriage return characters;
you may need to touch up the file a bit.
If you have
questions on this procedure, please feel free to contact
us.
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