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DOS Print Screen Explained
DocumentID: 643080
Revision Date: 29-Feb-96 8:18:49 PM

The information in this document applies to:
WordPerfect® 5.1 for DOS

Problem

Solutions: Most people are unaware of how the print-screen key works. Pressing shift and the PRTSCN key sends the information from the screen directly to the printer. Because print-screen outputs the information to LPT1, the printer must be cabeled to that port or a mode command which re-directs the output of LPT1 to some other port must be issued.

When a customer cannot do a screen dump (Shift-PRTSCN), the two possible causes are:
      1.      The physical port or cable is not functioning
      2.      The printer is not connected to LPT1 and no Mode command has redirected the output.

A serial printer for example will not do a print screen unless a mode command (MODE LPT1:=COM1) has been given. Similarly, sending a file to PRN using copy commands at DOS will not work when the printer is not cabled to a parallel port unless a mode command has been issued. This underscores the importance of knowing if a non-printing printer is serial or parallel. Most parallel printers will do a screen dump unless the port or cable is not functioning properly. Serial printers will not do a screen dump unless the mode commands have been given which set up the redirection.

To redirect data from a parallel port to a serial port, you must first set the device characteristics (baud, parity, etc.) of the serial port in one mode command and then redirect the output in a second mode command. If the device characteristics are not changed, the default protocol parameters are used: Parity = Even; Databits = 7; Stopbits = 2; Baud = 110. The syntax for setting the serial parameters is:
      MODE COM<#>:,,,

Where:      <#> is the serial port number

             rates are specified as 110 or 11; 150 or 15; 300 or 30; 600 or 60; 1200 or 12; 2400 or 24; 4800 or 48; 9600 or 96

             is specified as N for no parity, O for odd parity and E for even parity

             specifies the number of data bits in a byte (7 or 8)

             specifies the number of stop bits (1 or 2)

For example:
      MODE COM1:1200,E,7,1,P

The command to redirect the output of LPT1 to a serial port is:
      MODE LPT1:=COM<#>

Where:      <#> is the serial port number

For example:
      MODE LPT1:=COM1

To Cancel the redirection, type Mode LPT1:.
For more information, consult your DOS manual.

Answer:

Details:


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