1PC, 2Printers PCL-necessary

Hi,

I'm a newbie to this stuff so any help much appreciated.

My wife has an old (but essential) DOS application that apparently
requires PCL in order to print. Our existing printer (a new HP laserjet
1020) doesn't support PCL, apparently, so I had to buy a new one
(Lexmark E240) that has "PCL emulation". Following the advice of the
Best Buy guy, I bought an old-style parallel cord too (he told me PCL
doesn't work with USB(?)). Anyway, everything seems to work OK.

My wife now needs to hook up a second printer to the same machine to
print from the same DOS application, set up as LPT1 for label printing
and LPT2 for paper printing.

Any ideas on how best to approach this? Should I buy another Lexmark
E240? How should I hook it up to the PC? Do I need to install a second
parallel card to the PC? Or can I somehow connect the second Lexmark
via the PC's serial port?

Very confused. Thanks in advance for any help at all,

G

wrote in message
oups.com...

. . . Following the advice of the
Best Buy guy, I bought an old-style parallel cord too (he told me PCL
doesn't work with USB(?)). Anyway, everything seems to work OK.

My wife now needs to hook up a second printer to the same machine to
print from the same DOS application, set up as LPT1 for label printing
and LPT2 for paper printing.

The cheapest solution is to instal both parallel printers through a Data
Switch (e.g. Belkin F-18024-E). They should be installed separately
(as you want to do anyway, for different default settings.) You have to
remember to flip the Data Switch occasionally, but they cost only $20
i.e. less than adding another LPT card to the PC.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

If you are able to open your computer, have an open slot, and know how to
install a parallel port card, they are available for $20 or less. You then
configure the printers to lpt1 and lpt2 and configure the programs from
which you want to print to one or the other. No switching necessary. On
the other hand, if you can't do it yourself or don't have a spare slot, the
switch box is a decent alternative. I used switch boxes for several years
before asking the firm that built my computers to include a second parallel
connection. It is much easier now with newer computers and printers that
come with USB connection capability.

"Don Phillipson" wrote in message
...
wrote in message
oups.com...

. . . Following the advice of the
Best Buy guy, I bought an old-style parallel cord too (he told me PCL
doesn't work with USB(?)). Anyway, everything seems to work OK.

My wife now needs to hook up a second printer to the same machine to
print from the same DOS application, set up as LPT1 for label printing
and LPT2 for paper printing.

The cheapest solution is to instal both parallel printers through a Data
Switch (e.g. Belkin F-18024-E). They should be installed separately
(as you want to do anyway, for different default settings.) You have to
remember to flip the Data Switch occasionally, but they cost only $20
i.e. less than adding another LPT card to the PC.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Thanks very much, both of you. I'll look into both approaches. Ah, for
clarity!

Graham


Burt wrote:
If you are able to open your computer, have an open slot, and know how to
install a parallel port card, they are available for $20 or less. You then
configure the printers to lpt1 and lpt2 and configure the programs from
which you want to print to one or the other. No switching necessary. On
the other hand, if you can't do it yourself or don't have a spare slot, the
switch box is a decent alternative. I used switch boxes for several years
before asking the firm that built my computers to include a second parallel
connection. It is much easier now with newer computers and printers that
come with USB connection capability.

"Don Phillipson" wrote in message
...
wrote in message
oups.com...

. . . Following the advice of the
Best Buy guy, I bought an old-style parallel cord too (he told me PCL
doesn't work with USB(?)). Anyway, everything seems to work OK.

My wife now needs to hook up a second printer to the same machine to
print from the same DOS application, set up as LPT1 for label printing
and LPT2 for paper printing.

The cheapest solution is to instal both parallel printers through a Data
Switch (e.g. Belkin F-18024-E). They should be installed separately
(as you want to do anyway, for different default settings.) You have to
remember to flip the Data Switch occasionally, but they cost only $20
i.e. less than adding another LPT card to the PC.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)