A printer test file is included with the BARR/SPOOL Reference files (usually installed in C:\BARR\REF). This file can be sent to the printer to verify that the printer is correctly connected to the PC and that the printer and PC are functioning together. The printer test file is helpful for diagnosing the following problems:
Printer DIP switches or configuration data in the printer set incorrectly
Printer cable incorrectly wired
Serial port baud rate inconsistent
Printer hardware error
Incorrect settings in the Barr software
Several test patterns are included in the test file to verify various printer features. The printout of the printer test includes a description of the individual printer test patterns to help you evaluate the test results.
Run the first test from DOS to confirm that the PC and the printer are communicating properly. You can compare these test results to a second printer test from BARR/SPOOL.
Determine to which PC port the printer is attached. Then follow the directions which correspond to your printer port:
Test Printer on Parallel Port (LPT1)
From the DOS prompt, copy the file PRINTER.TST to the PC parallel port using the DOS copy command. For example:
COPY C:\BARR\REF\PRINTER.TST LPT1
Review the printout of the printer test. Compare the printed test patterns with the descriptions of how they should print to determine whether the printer is functioning properly.
Test Printer on Serial Port (COM1)
Use the DOS mode command to configure the serial port, then copy the file PRINTER.TST to the serial port using the DOS copy command. For example:
MODE COM1:9600,N,8,1
COPY C:\BARR\REF\PRINTER.TST COM1
BARR/SPOOL supports XON/XOFF flow control. This prevents loss of characters that may occur during this test.
Review the printout of the printer test. Compare the printed test patterns with the descriptions of how they should print to determine whether the printer is functioning properly.
If any errors are indicated, resolve them before proceeding to the next step described in section C.2.
Run the test from BARR/SPOOL to verify that BARR/SPOOL is correctly configured to drive the printer. The performance of the printer test is dramatically greater from BARR/SPOOL than directly from DOS. The Barr software drives the printer more efficiently than DOS and takes advantage of printer features that DOS does not support.
Use the DOS copy command or the PRT utility to add the PRINTER.TST file to the print spool. Refer to Chapter 11 for more information about using the DOS copy command and the PRT utility.
Use Spooling commands to print the PRINTER.TST file. Refer to Chapter 13 if you need more information about using Spooling commands.
Review the printout of the printer test. Compare the printed test patterns with the descriptions of how they should print to determine whether the software is properly configured for use with your printer. Also compare the results of this test with the results of the test described in section C.1.
If any problems are indicated in the results of the printer test, check the following settings for the printer port under Devices and Printers in the Installation Description, then repeat the test:
Select Choose printer type and verify that the correct printer type is selected.
Select Miscellaneous Printer Options, and set Printer performance optimized? to No.
If characters are being dropped, adjust the setting for Printer timing delay: under Miscellaneous Printer Options.
If the Printer Type is set to Generic and Printer performance optimized? is set to No in the software, the test results from BARR/SPOOL should be identical to the test results from DOS.