Create a Virtual Printer - NO Output?

[stevereiss]

Hi All,

Is is possible to setup a virtual printer that does NOT send any output, or prompt you for an output file name?

We need to test a product that every time our creation script adds a new record to the system, the product wants to print it out to the default printer. Printing to a file would be fine, but we don't want the program to stop to enter a filename. Even having a default output filename (with no prompts) would be fine...

Thanks!

Steve

[RDPetruska]

Just add a parallel port to the VM's configuration, and set it to output to file (and give the filename) instead of output to a physical port.

[stevereiss]

Hi There!

Many Thanks for the suggestion! I have added the Parallel Port to the VM to print to a file....

Now, from WinXP control panel inside of the VM with the above Parallel Port, how do I get the port to be used? It doesn't appear to be available...

Any further tricks?

Steve

[stevereiss]

All,

We had a break through with our printing problem!

The solution is to setup any Windows Printer via the Add Printer command and configure it to use a NUL port.

Once the printer is added :

1) Select Printer Properties for that printer

2) Select the Ports tab of the properties dialog

3) Click button \[Add Port...]

4) Click button \[New Port...]

5) Enter port name : NUL

6) Click \[OK]

The printer should now be configured to use the NUL port and any output sent to this printer will be consumed and thrown away...

Thanks!

Steve