dumb question

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Hey guys,
I have a "generic/text printer" setup to print to file. I notice all the files created are of the extension *.prn
What program can I use to read these files? Paint? Imageviewer? Word? Any ideas? I'm thinkin' this might be an easy one for you all. Thanks for your help.

[techleet]

heh I have NO idea. But i'd sure like to know myself...seems like it could be one of those useless tidbits of info we like cramming into our brains <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

[Wayward Clam]

I'd try it in Notepad first, but be careful you don't set it to "always open in this program" before you find out if it works or not.

[Papa Smurf]

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 /B

and press ENTER

It is possible to enable drag and drop printing for PRN file but I've never tried it, Here's is Micro$oft's walk through guide on setting it up :

To enable drag-and-drop printing for .prn or .ps files:
Use any text editor (such as Notepad) to create a file that is named Printer.bat.


Type copy %1 lptport number /b in the Printer.bat file, where port number is the number of the printer port that your printer is using. Note that the port is typically LPT1. For example, if your printer is connected to LPT1, you would type the following command:


copy %1 lpt1 /b
Save the file in the Windows folder.


Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Windows Explorer.


On the View menu, click Options.


On the File Types tab, click New Type.


In the Description Of Type box, type Printer.


In the Associated Extension box, type PRN or PS, depending on your printer driver, and then click New.


In the Action box, type print.


In the Application Used To Perform Action box, type c:\windows\printer.bat.


Click OK, and then click Set Default.


Use Windows Explorer to locate the Printer.bat file in the Windows folder.


Right-click the Printer.bat file, and then click Properties.


Click to select the Close On Exit check box on the Program tab, and then click OK.


Create a shortcut to the C:\Windows\Printer.bat file on the desktop. To do this, right-click the Printer.bat file in the Windows folder, point to Sent To, and then click Desktop (create shortcut).


NOTE: If you are printing to a network printer, you must redirect an LPT port to your network printer. For information about how to capture a port for your network printer, view the "To Capture a Printer Port" topic in Windows Help.
How to Print .prn or .ps Files After You Enable Drag-and-Drop Printing
IMPORTANT: For correct output, you must create the file by using the same printer type as the printer that you plan to use to print the file. For example, you must send a file that you created with a PCL printer driver to a PCL printer, and a file that you created with a PostScript printer driver must be sent to a PostScript printer.

To print .prn or .ps files after you enable drag-and-drop printing, use any of the following methods:
Drag a file onto a printer icon.


Drag a file onto the Printer.bat shortcut that you made on your desktop.


Right-click the file that you want to print, and then click Print.


Double-click the file.


Hope this helps

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Thanks for the suggestions guys. If anybody else would like to put their two cents in, it will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Higg]

Originally posted by Atlas:
<STRONG>Thanks for the suggestions guys. If anybody else would like to put their two cents in, it will be greatly appreciated. Thanks</STRONG>

I think PapaSmurfs explanation are all-u-need ... from what I tried in the past, the *.prn-files aren't readable for standard applications... they are formated to a printer-specific language (yes, the printer you've chosen!), so editing doesn't make a lot sense (but I don't mean 'no sense')...

just send the *.prn-file to the printer, that's all they are made for!