Create Device Configurator Printers

Use this procedure to set up Device Configurator printers.

Note Whenever possible, use Windows printer drivers instead of the DOS drivers used in Device Configurator. Only use Device Configurator printers when all troubleshooting has been exhausted and DOS drivers must be used for your printer.

To create Device Configurator printers

Select Library Master Setup menu > Device Configurator.
If the device to be created is a local printer (for only one workstation's use), click Local Printers. The Select Workstation window appears. If the device to be created is a global printer, go to step 3. For more information on defining local and global printers, see Printing - Device Configurator FAQs.

In the Select Workstation window, the Workstation ID field defaults to the correct value for this workstation. IDs for other workstations can be obtained by listing the FID0MAP.ini file in the server's ../MAS90/Home folder. Each device created appears on a printer selection list only for the workstation ID entered. For more information, see Select Workstation - Fields.

Click OK.
In Device Configurator, enter a new code for this device in the Device Code field, beginning with an L or a P, with either 2 or 3 characters in the code name (for example, L1, P2, or LP1). Click the Lookup button to list all existing device codes. Each device code defined must be unique; otherwise, a link file in the MAS90\SOA folder will be overwritten; this can result in a workstation losing the ability to print to a device. For more information, see Device Configurator - Fields.

Warning Do not modify or delete the PD or PF device in Device Configurator.

In the Device Type field, select the type of device you want to create.
Select Physical Device to create a DOS Physical device.
Select Windows Printer to create a Windows Printer device.
Select Windows Printer Port to create a Windows Printer Port device.

In the Device Name field, select the appropriate Windows printer. To create a DOS Physical device, enter LPTx (where x is the number of the printer port). This name can represent either a physical LPT port attached to your workstation or a captured network printer.
If you selected Physical Device or Windows Printer Port in the Device Type field, enter an appropriate driver for the device type in the Driver Code field. Click the Lookup button to list all driver codes. (Only a static list of drivers appears. This list will not be updated.)

Most dot-matrix printers can use the Epson FX Series driver or the IBM Proprinter Driver. Most laser printers can use one of the HP Laser Series drivers.

Note The Driver Code field is not available when Windows Printer is selected in the Device Type field because the drivers are associated with Windows and not the software.

In the Description field, enter a description to identify this printer.
In the Printer Type field, select the number of columns that can fit across the width of the page using a standard print format.
Select 80 column if you are using 8.5- x 11-inch paper.
Select 132 column if you are using wide-carriage greenbar paper on a dot-matrix printer or printing to a laser printer in landscape orientation.

Note For Windows printers, if you are not using standard letter-size paper, you must specify the correct paper size in the properties of the Windows printer.

In the Lines/Page field, type the number of lines to print on each page.

The Lines/Page field determines how many physical lines can fit on the sheet of paper to which you are printing. This applies to both reports and character forms. With page-type printers (for example, laser or ink-jet), an unprintable area at the top and bottom of each page makes it impossible to use all 66 lines (6 lines per inch x 11 inches). The setting defaults to 060, which works in the majority of situations. This setting is also recommended for dot-matrix printers that use 8.5- x 11-inch paper. Even though it is possible to print on all 66 lines, for presentation purposes it is best to use 60 lines.

If you are printing a form, the Lines/Page field must correspond to the length of the form. For example, if standard dot-matrix checks are being printed, the length of this form would be 7 inches (or 42 lines). The form length in the Form option in Accounts Payable and Payroll must be set to 42 lines. Additionally, if printing using Device Configurator, the Lines/Page field must be set to 42 or less. (The default of 060 is invalid.)

Note If Windows Printer is selected in the Device Type field, you can select the Auto check box to query the driver for the maximum lines per page instead of entering a value in the Lines/Page field.

If you are creating a Physical Device or a Windows Printer Port device, click Modes. The Maintain Device Modes window appears.

In the Maintain Device Modes window, define any unique control codes for your printer. For example, you may need to specify an alternate paper tray for your laser printer, or you may need to specify a different control code on your dot-matrix printer so that it compresses properly. To do this, you must have the printer control codes in hexadecimal form, and ready to enter from you printer manual or another source.
Click Accept.

In Device Configurator, click Accept. A message appears, prompting you to update the configuration file. Click Yes to complete the creation of the device. Click No to disregard all additions made to this Device Configurator session.

The Device Configurator printer is created.