Installing a Windows Printer for ABS

This page pertains ONLY to the DOS version of ABS. Printing from the Windows version of ABS is completely handled by Windows Print Manager.

Printing from ABS using Windows Print Manager

This capability is available in ABS Version 6.1 and higher. The following instructions are for ABS users who do not have a local printer attached to their PC and must print over a network to a network printer, and also for users with a local USB printer.

1.   From the main menu, run the ABS Utilities - program G (View/Set ABS.INI Values). Cursor to the “Number of Printers” field and enter the number “1”. On the next screen, the values shown in each set of brackets are the defaults for one local printer.

2.   The “Print Method” default is D-irect to print directly to a port id – this field must be changed to Windows to have your data printed over a network or to a local USB printer via Windows Print Manager. There are no other entries required on this screen. All printers added in Windows will be available to print information from ABS.

 3.  After the “Print Method” has been changed to Windows, press <Esc> twice to save the new information and return to the ABS Utilities menu. Enter Z or press <Enter> to return to the ABS main menu.

Installing a Printer for ABS Versions before 6.1

To set up a printer in Windows 95/98 for ABS Versions before 6.1, perform the following steps:

1.   From the “START” menu, select “SETTINGS”.

2.   From the “SETTINGS” menu, select “PRINTERS”.

3.   Within “PRINTERS”, double-click on the “ADD PRINTER” icon.

4.   Click on “NEXT” when the “ADD PRINTER WIZARD” begins. Select either “LOCAL” or “NETWORK” to indicate where the printer you want to install is located, then click on “NEXT”.

Installing a local printer:

5.   Select the printer manufacturer, then model, and click on “NEXT”.

6.   Select the appropriate printer port and click on “NEXT”. NOTE: This is the port you’ll specify in the PRINTER.INI file for printing from ABS.

7.   Select the default printer name given, or enter a new name. Also, indicate if this printer is to be the default printer in Windows-based programs, and click on “NEXT”.

8.   Select “YES” to print a test page and click on “FINISH”.

9. If the test page does not print, consult the Windows help file for troubleshooting procedures.

Installing a network printer:

5.   Select the network path or queue name if known, or click “BROWSE” to browse the network and select the appropriate shared printer. IMPORTANT: Click on “YES” to the question “Do you print from MS-DOS-based programs?”. For example: 

6.   Click on “NEXT” to proceed.

7.   On the next screen, you MUST click on “Capture Printer Port” to associate an LPT port with the network printer you’re installing for ABS. Select the port desired - if a local printer is attached to your computer, DO NOT select LPT1. NOTE: The port selected is the port you’ll specify in the PRINTER.INI file for printing from ABS - refer to User Configuration for detailed information on the PRINTER.INI file. After a port is selected, click on “NEXT” to continue.

8.   Select the printer manufacturer, then model, and click on “NEXT”.

9. Select the default printer name given, or enter a new name. Also, indicate if this printer is to be the default printer in Windows-based programs, and click on “NEXT”.

10. Select “YES” to print a test page and click on “FINISH”.

11. If the test page does not print, consult the Windows help file for troubleshooting procedures..

The port details of the network printer’s properties should be similar to the following example to be successful in printing from ABS: