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From: hendricp@wanda.waiariki.ac.nz (Peter Hendricks)
Newsgroups: comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
Subject: Re: Device Driver that's a Spooler?
Message-ID: <116.2701c06a@wanda.waiariki.ac.nz>
Date: 26 Sep 90 21:03:38 GMT
References: <442@modcomp.UUCP> <447@modcomp.UUCP>
Lines: 39

In article <447@modcomp.UUCP>, kshaffer@modcomp.UUCP (Ken Shaffer) writes:
> I have read with interest the various responses to my question regarding
> a spooler that can be configured as a device (including those of you who
> have responded via email).
> 

You obviously didn't get my email response, judging by your recent posting.  I
think I have the solution for you:

It's a print spooler called DMP201.  It intercepts output to the specified
device (say, PRN:), and spools it in the background to disk, standard or
extended/expanded memory, or a combination of these.  So, your users can keep
printing the way they are used to, and once the file is spooled (should only
take a few seconds), your server is available again.  It replaces DOS' PRINT
command, and redirection via MODE.

I've installed this on my machine, and I can print from any program I choose,
and can carry on working almost immediately.  I can even turn the printer off
while I'm working, so I don't have to listen to it, and switch it on while I go
away and do other things. I haven't found a program that doesn't work with it,
even PrtScr works.

There are also commands to manage the print queue, like suspend output,
redirect to a file, bypass the spooler, convert escape sequences etc.

Oh, yes, and it does a form feed after each job.

The only thing it can't do that PRINT allows you to do is delete individual
files from the queue, because it treats the print job as a continuous stream of
data.

It's shareware (only $18!).  I got it from a BBS in Christchurch, New Zealand,
but it should be available from a BBS near you.  Maybe I should submit it to
c.b.i.p.?  If you can't find it I'll try to post it to you, but try the
archives first.

Cheers,

Peter