Jump to content

PRN2ASCII


Ed_P

Recommended Posts

I have an app who's report I need as a text file. It will not write to the Windows Generic / Text Only printer either under Windows XP or Win 98.Years, and years, ago, there was a DOS utility that we had that would use to take a user's .prn file and convert it to a plain text, .txt, file. The text document would loose it's special formatting but it would be readable. I've searched the web for it and Google has failed to find even one instance of it. And searches for "converting .prn files to .txt files" and "Post Script to ASCII" haven't helped much either.Does anyone here have a copy of that old DOS utility or know where I can find it? Or have any other ideas for converting my .prn file to .txt format?Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

How to print PRN filesIf you print from a Windows program and choose to save the print output as a file, most likely you'll end-up with a *.PRN (created using a PCL printer driver) or a *.PS file (created using a PostScript printer driver).Once you have this *.PRN (or *.PS) file, it's very easy to send them to the printer to finally get a print out:Go to the "DOS Prompt" or the "Command Prompt" Assuming that the file you're about to print is called my_chart.prn and your printer is connected to LPT1: (parallel port number one), type:COPY my_chart.prn LPT1 /Band press ENTER

that help any?how about this: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...b;EN-US;Q158081

Link to comment
Share on other sites

RichNRockville
I have an app who's report I need as a text file.  It will not write to the Windows Generic / Text Only printer either under Windows XP or Win 98.Thanks
Many os's allow you to create a text print to file.going to add new printer, the selection would be text onlyand select to a file.Then in your program, just select the text print to file and it will askyou to name the file. Name the file xxx.txt and you should get whatyou want.THis of course is predicated on the fact that your not trying to print from a graphic's editing program :D I have done this with excel, word and a few other programs.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the suggestions. But I don't want to print the file, I want to convert the prn file to straight ASCII text so I can import it into Notepad to modify for importing into another program.I found a Text Print Driver from Miraplacid that works with the problem app. The XP version gives me the text file that I want. There is also a Win 98 version but the Win 98 version doesn't give Text, it creates images! The Win XP version doesn't support networking but that wasn't a problem for me.

Edited by EdP
Link to comment
Share on other sites

RichNRockville
Thanks for the suggestions.  But I don't want to print the file, I want to convert the prn file to straight ASCII text so I can import it into Notepad to modify for importing into another program.
As I had suggested before, Once you have selected the print to the text file printer, name it xxx.txt and then you can read that file in most any program.The file is straight ascii text and can be opened and read with Notepad. Maybe I don't understand your problem?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The file is straight ascii text and can be opened and read with Notepad.
No, it's not. I've opened it with Notepad and it looks like opening an exe. I've also opened it with a hex editor and there is nothing readable in it. The file was created when the printer selected is my inkjet printer with the output then directed to the Print to File option. The Windows Generic /Text printer would not work for this app. The output was always 4 bytes of hex zeros. Printing to the printer worked just couldn't write to disk.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is sort of a tough work around, but.....Make a ps file using a postscript printer driver with the print to file option.Use GSview to extract the text to a file.GSviewI use GhostScript and GhostView to make PDF files and extract text and have had very good luck.I tested the conversion you are trying to complete and had acceptable results with a text document.The command is under edit....text extract. The help file lists another method that I didn't explore.Hope this helps!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That GSview is an interesting utility cobra_869, thanks. But the Text Print Driver from Miraplacid solved my problem perfectly. BTW it comes with a 15 day free trial but I only needed it for about an hr. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 8 months later...
Thanks for the suggestions.  But I don't want to print the file, I want to convert the prn file to straight ASCII text so I can import it into Notepad to modify for importing into another program.I found a Text Print Driver from Miraplacid that works with the problem app.  The XP version gives me the text file that I want.  There is also a Win 98 version but the Win 98 version doesn't give Text, it creates images!  The Win XP version doesn't support networking but that wasn't a problem for me.

I hope this helps,I just added a generic printer Generic / Only Text PrinterI send my report to that printer after that,I'm asked where and what name I'm going to useThere, you can name your report as report.txt "After it's printed"You must had gotten a TXT fileThe only "strange" character that you've got it's a SQUARE characterAnd you can manipulate your file with NotePad or any other programBest RegardsVictor HernandezIntegracion de Sistemas - Mexico
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I may be totally missing the boat here.I just created a document in Microsoft Word 2003. I then saved it as a .txt file (scrolling down the option of extensions) and told it MS-DOS for the style on the next screen.I then opened it up in Notepad without a problem. Would that not solve your problems without a lot of other programs needed?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have an app who's report I need as a text file.  It will not write to the Windows Generic / Text Only printer either under Windows XP or Win 98.
Wow, this old thread has taken on a new life!Thank you all for your recent comments but please note the opening premise of the problem. The stupid util wouldn't write to the generic printer. It was/is an old PC Mag utility that was designed for Windows 98 or possibly even Window 95.After fighting with it for a period of time and finding a resolution to the problem stated I also discovered that there was/is a newer version of the utility that simply imports the old data file. d'oh!! :) BTW, welcome to the forums vichht. :)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...