We require to configure a printer for use with QNX computer (installed
at a distance of approx. 50 meters from printer). We have selected
EPSON-LQ300 (80 column dot-matrix) with serial interface for this purpose.
We also need to detect the status of printer (paper out/ printer not
ready,etc.) which is reported by the printer with the help of DTR signal. We
will be utilising QNX 4.25 with Photon application builder and Watcom ‘C’
10.6 for the development.
For dumping text reports serially on the printer, is it possible to make
use of lpsrvr configuration file and replace /dev/par1 with /dev/ser1?
Should we develop a separate utility (serial communication program) for
handling the report printing requirement? Is it possible to detect printer
ready/not ready using standard function set (i.e without need for
development of additional program) ?
We require to configure a printer for use with QNX computer (installed
at a distance of approx. 50 meters from printer). We have selected
EPSON-LQ300 (80 column dot-matrix) with serial interface for this purpose.
We also need to detect the status of printer (paper out/ printer not
ready,etc.) which is reported by the printer with the help of DTR signal. We
will be utilising QNX 4.25 with Photon application builder and Watcom ‘C’
10.6 for the development.
For dumping text reports serially on the printer, is it possible to make
use of lpsrvr configuration file and replace /dev/par1 with /dev/ser1?
Yes.
Should we develop a separate utility (serial communication program) for
handling the report printing requirement?
If the report prints properly on the parallel port, it should do so on
the serial port as long as the handshaking is correct and /dev/ser is
set up to pass 8 bits if you need them.
Is it possible to detect printer
ready/not ready using standard function set (i.e without need for
development of additional program) ?
Probably not. I don’t know what capabilities your printer has, but
whether a wire is toggled high or low, and which wire, or whether there
is a software/data mechanism (some HP printers) is not standard.
On the other hand, if everything works properly with the parallel port,
you could get a couple of parallel<->serial converters.