home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Gold Medal Software 3
/
Gold Medal Software - Volume 3 (Gold Medal) (1994).iso
/
print
/
babyspl.arj
/
README.DOC
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1993-09-14
|
10KB
|
192 lines
BabySpooler
v 2.02
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______
(c) Copyright 1993 ____|__ | (tm)
Budget Software Company --| | |-------------------
P. O. Box 621534 | ____|__ | Association of
Littleton CO 80162 | | |_| Shareware
|__| o | Professionals
Phone: -----| | |---------------------
Voice: (303) 932-0440 |___|___| MEMBER
FAX : (303) 932-0336
BBS : (303) 932-0440
CompuServe: 70033,643 Registration: US$ 22.00
_______________________________________________________________________________
┌──────────────┐
│ INTRODUCTION │
└──────────────┘
The Spooling/Despooling Software product consists of several functions:
Spooling - Intercepts data being sent to a port, and re-routes
it to a file. Then, if a Despooler is present, the
file is printed in the background.
Despooling - Prints a file in the background.
Monitor - Monitors a specified directory for the appearance of files
meeting a specified skeleton. Then it renames the file
so it has a unique extension, and if a Despooler is
present, starts printing it in the background. The
Monitor is an ideal mechanism for network printing.
Each printer on the network has a Monitor that is
monitoring a unique directory. Workstations around the
network simply place print-ready files into the appropriate
directory. (And they can use the Spooler to create the
files.)
The Spooling, Despooling, and Monitor functions have been bundled into
several different .EXE's so that you can choose the one that fits your
needs. Each .EXE has an associated .DOC which describes it usage.
The following .EXE's are included:
SP3DSP.EXE - Contains only a Despooler. This program is included for
programmers who wish to implement background printing
into their application. Files are enqueued for
background printing via a software interrupt.
SP3SPL.EXE - Contains only a Spooler. Data sent to the designated port
is re-routed to a disk file. Each document sent is
spooled to a seperate file. This program is useful in
cases where you want to manipulate spooled data using
another product, rather than have it sent to the printer.
SP3MON.EXE - Contains only a Monitor. This program is useful in cases
where your application has the ability to create a
specific file. The Monitor will rename the file to a
unique extension so that your application can continue
to create another file, and you don't have to worry about
the first file being overwritten.
SP3SPDSP.EXE - Contains a Spooler and a Despooler. Data sent to a printer
will be intercepted and re-routed to a file name, and then
enqueued for background printing.
SP3DSPMN.EXE - Contains a Monitor and a Despooler. Any file appearing in
a designated directory will be renamed, and then enqueued
for background printing. This program is very useful
along with AutoCad (r) and Windows 3.x (r), where the
application has the ability to create a print image into
a file.
SP3ALL.EXE - Contains a Monitor, a Spooler, and a Despooler. Data
sent to the designated port will be re-routed to disk,
and then enqueued for background printing. And, any
file that appears in a designated directory and having
a designated extension will be renamed, and then enqueued
for background printing.
Also, the file SP3PRT.COM is included as a utility for enqueuing
DOS files for background printing. This program works like DOS' PRINT
command.
┌────────────────┐
│ MULTIPLE PORTS │
└────────────────┘
The programs that you have received function over two ports. You
designate at start-up which port/s are being handled. However, the
Despooler is a very sophisticated background printing engine, and
is capable of background printing to as many as 8 ports simultaneously.
Each of the other functions ... the Monitor and the Spooler ... can handle
up to 8 ports as well. With the Monitor, each port can have its own
monitored directory.
Budget Software can supply you with any of the above programs so that they
can handle any number of ports that you desire.
┌──────────────────────────┐
│ WINDOWS CONSIDERATIONS │
└──────────────────────────┘
You may go backwards and forth between Windows and DOS, and BabySpooler
will continue to function properly. However, in order to maximize printer
activity, be sure to always load the program DS3WNDRV.EXE when you are
in Windows. The best way to do this is to make an icon of DS3WNDRV.EXE into
your Startup group window. DS3WNDRV.EXE can tell if you've loaded one of
the BabySpooler programs, and will simply put it to sleep if it detects
that one isn't loaded. So you don't have to worry about the program
loading unnecessarily. Also, DS3WNDRV.EXE is very non-conspicuous ... it
won't interfere with any other programs running in Windows.
Another thing you can explore in Windows is utilizing BabySpooler's
Monitor facility, in conjunction with setting things up in WIN.INI so that
you can choose that a print job be sent to a designated directory as a
file, rather than directly to a port. For example, if under the [ports]
section of WIN.INI, you add a line: C:\L1\WINFILE.PRN=
then this entry will appear in your "attach" display when setting up
printers, and if you print to this driver, output will automatically go
to file C:\L1\WINFILE.PRN. Now, BabySpooler's Monitor facility will
automatically detect the appearance of this file, and will rename it to
a unique name (so you don't have to worry about a subsequent print job
trampling this one); and it will then enqueue it for background printing.
This is an excellent way to handle Windows printing ... especially since
BabySpooler, in conjunction with its DS3WNDRV.EXE program prints more
efficiently than Windows' own Print Manager. Be sure to use either the
SP3DSPMN or the SP3ALL versions of BabySpooler in order to take advantage
of this Monitor feature.
┌──────────────────────────┐
│ SHAREWARE CONSIDERATIONS │
└──────────────────────────┘
You have obtained an un-registered version of Spooling/Despooling Software
which is being marketed under the shareware concept. It is a fully working
version of the product, and the documentation is complete. You are
encouraged to register with Budget Software Company. The fee is US$ 22 for
a stand-alone verion, and $75 for a network version.
You may register by phone, mail, FAX, or using Compuserve. If you register
by phone, FAX, or Compuserve, please provide a Visa or Mastercard number,
name, and expiration date.
Address: Budget Software Company
P.O. Box 621534
Littleton CO 80162-1534
Phone: (303) 932-1705
Compuserve: 70033,643
FAX: (303) 932-0336
By registering, you receive the following benefits:
- A copy of the latest version of the product.
- Free technical support. Usually, the author will be providing the
support. But in any case, your issue will be elevated to the author
if your question cannot be answered by your first contact.
- Periodic notification of upgrades and enhancements; along with the
ability to upgrade at a nominal cost.
- The ability to process multiple ports simultaneously .... up to 8 ports.
You are authorized to make as many copies of this un-registered version
of the product as you would like, and to distribute them freely to
individuals or onto bulletin boards. You must, however abide by this one
simple rule ... that you always include with such distribution all of the
files that you have received.
Budget Software Company is a member of the Association of Shareware
Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle
works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem
with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to
help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an
ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products.
Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Rd, Muskegon MI 494420-9427,
or send a Compuserve message via easyplex to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.