Specifications

Connecting via the
Parallel Port
11-13Printer-Host Connection
Testing Parallel Communication
To test communication between your printer and host, first create a short
file that ejects a page from the printer. Then send the file to the printer.
Creating the Test File
To create the test file, type the following commands at the DOS
prompt (you can use either uppercase or lowercase letters; however,
you must type the PostScript showpage operator in lowercase let-
ters). The symbol means to press the Enter key. To produce the ^D
and ^Z, press and hold down the Ctrl key while you type the appropri-
ate letters (d and z). These characters signify the end of the file and
must always be included.
copy con printest.ps↵
showpage↵
^D^Z↵
Sending the Test File
To test parallel communication, type the following command at the
DOS prompt to send the PRINTEST.PS file you just created to the
printer:
print printest.ps↵
If prompted for the name of the list device, type
lpt1↵
If the printer and host are communicating, a blank page should eject
from the printer. You need make no further changes. Go to the “Print-
ing Software” section, later in this manual
If a blank page does not eject and you typed the file correctly, check
the following:
 In your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, is LPT1 (the parallel port) being
directed to COM1 (the serial port). If the AUTOEXEC.BAT file
contains the line
MODE LPT1=COM1