I have an issue with a program I use often. It's basically unsupported as far as the tech aspects go, and the guy that does the database update has no clue about the programming side of it.

When I choose the print option, it shows one page of data, but when it prints, it prints that one page, then the header on a second. I thought that I could select the Print to File option then edit the print file and print it normally, but it seems that that to do that, I have to send the file in binary form to the printer, which, while incredibly time consuming, still would not solve the problem, since the file has not been edited.

Does anyone know how to actually get a paper copy of a print file that was made with the print to file option?

__________________
I'm not evil.
An evil person would do the things I think up.

To clarify:
Your main issue is that when you go to print it seperates the header right? The print to file was your workaround for the original problem? Or do you WANT to go only print to file route?

No, I get the header on the first page along with the data. Then I get a second page with just the header. I think the reason is that there is a possibility of having enough data to need a second page, so the program prints one even if it's blank.

__________________
I'm not evil.
An evil person would do the things I think up.

I have had that problem...

But you are saying data- do you mean the data you wanted printed or the CODE?

Meanwhile i'm racking my brains trying to remember how i fixed the issue on mine....

Good Luck Ross... I finally broke down after three days and took a childrens prescription (cuz its weak) Of Naproxen... So im not sure the brain is functioning quite right.. (ugh i know i know but even i have my limits on how much pain i can tolerate. It brought it down to a level i can basically block out.. hopefully enough that ill be able to sleep...)

What kind of file are you printing ?

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Jean
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"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing." - Albert Einsteiin

Okay, to describe the program... hmm. It's a character builder for a game, so people can plan out what power/skills and the like to take from start to finish.

Imagine you have a graphic interface that acts as a database filter, laid out in a spreadsheet form.

You select option A which puts something in cell A2, and then filters your choices of putting things in cells B2 through G2. You then make all of your choices for the remaining 6 spots, but this is all done graphically.

When it comes time to print, it goes to an image of the document to show you just what it will look like. This looks a lot like a spreadsheet, with row A being the header cell all the way across the paper. The next row would be similar to:

Name of ability | thing | thing | thing | thing | thing | thing |

Each will have a line box around it, and each row would follow suit. The last ability entered will render all futer cells blank, even if there were room to add something. So, even though a total of 60 things can be listed, if you only bother to select the first 9, only 9 will appear on the paper with no empty boxes to indicate further fields.

What I think is happening, is that since there are 60 fields possible, it will print all 60, even if they are blank. But it will include the header in the second page. This second page does not show up in the preview. The second page will print even if only one field is selected.

As it is, it takes twice as many sheet of paper (or a lot of reloadeing of one sheet) to print these out. I was hoping for a way to avoid that extra sheet.

By data, I meant that which I had selected to be entered into the field. It's written in C+ or C++, so even if I could look at the code (open sourse) I wouldn't understand it anyway.

__________________
I'm not evil.
An evil person would do the things I think up.

So the header is part of the character builder program, not the
printer software or Windows printer-handling? So the problem is
entirely within the character builder.

I can't help you. I know nothing about the format of printer
files. I suspect that it depends entirely on the printer. I did a
print-to-file of something from the Internet a couple of months
ago, didn't name it adequately, have only a vague memory of
what it was about, haven't got around to trying to print it yet,
and the content is definitely not human-readable in my editor.

-- Jeff, in Minneapolis

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http://www.FreeMars.org/jeff/

"I find astronomy very interesting, but I wouldn't if I thought we
were just going to sit here and look." -- "Van Rijn"

"The other planets? Well, they just happen to be there, but the
point of rockets is to explore them!" -- Kai Yeves

C isnt too hard to learn...

Yes i know what is causing it. No i cant tell you right now cuz i forget. If someone else doesnt tell you before i remember- ill tell you

Yes, the header is inserted by the program. I assume at the top of each page.

Everything I've read so far on printing to a file was last updated for Windows 98 and is a DOS command to send the file to the printer in binary mode. What I would like is some way to open the print file and paste it into word or something. I'm hoping that someone might have some experience in this sort of thing.

__________________
I'm not evil.
An evil person would do the things I think up.

Umm. Im trying to figure out what kind of file you want to print.
But since you described it as a graphic file.. umm...

Why dont you try to save it using another type of file..I mean a to ".txt."
and try opening it using the notepad.

I dont know im just experimenting and trying to help.

__________________
Jean
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"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing." - Albert Einsteiin

See, that's part of the problem. It's not any sort of real file type. The extension is .hro. The data can only be read by this program, which as far as I can tell uses it's own print review screen. There isn't a way to save the output in another format, other than print to file.

I may have found a work around though. If i set the printer to two pages per sheet, it will at least not waste one sheet each time. It's a little hard to read, but I think I can manage it.

__________________
I'm not evil.
An evil person would do the things I think up.

If your printer does auto-duplexing you could set it for that, and the extra header would get printed on the back of each sheet. (Unfortunately most printers don't do auto-duplexing.)

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Bring back Firefly!

"It is quite clear that Occam's razor does not sharpen in your pyramid." (Nicolas)

"Still, a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest." (Paul Simon)

Try a PDF printer driver, like Win2PDF (which is shareware, so you can try it out). Then you can print just the page you want from the PDF file.

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Do try not to take me too seriously.

In what output format? I work with plt files at my office, and we use a Java based program linked to our plotter. There's a program out there called ViewCompanion I use to convert plt files to pdf. It should print them as well.

Um, this may be too simple, but doesn't it use the standard Windows prompt, which has a "Page Range" selection?

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SeanF

"Ask to understand, but don't challenge unless you have the knowledge."--NEOWatcher

The contents of this post are ©2008 by SeanF and may not be copied or retransmitted in any form without the express written consent of SeanF

Nope, when you select the print option it brings up the windows dialog box, then once you click "print" it goes to the program's own print preview screen, where it still only shows one page. THere are options to view it, and zoom in, but the only print options are "go" and "cancel".

When I click "print to file" it asks for a file name, and the extension. I've tried txt and doc but no luck.

I'll look into the Win2PDF and see if that will work. I'm assuming that it sends the document to a converter rather than a printer. Is that right. I hope that's right becasue that would be almost better then having it just work right in the first place

Thanks for the replies.

__________________
I'm not evil.
An evil person would do the things I think up.

Figured it was too easy.

Yes. I use CutePDF, personally, but same thing. It basically mimics a Windows printer driver and redirects the output into a pdf file, which is then viewable in Acrobat Reader or similar.

And from there, you'll be able to print just page 1.

__________________
SeanF

"Ask to understand, but don't challenge unless you have the knowledge."--NEOWatcher

The contents of this post are ©2008 by SeanF and may not be copied or retransmitted in any form without the express written consent of SeanF

Success!!!

That rocks like a Weebol on a faultline. Thanks

__________________
I'm not evil.
An evil person would do the things I think up.