Printing same report to matrix and/or laser printer

On Thu, 10 Aug 2000 12:30:18 -0700, Jonathan Leffler <jleffler@informix.com> wrote: >fly wrote: >> i would like to know that whether is it possible to use a laser printer to >> print out a report that already writen using informix 4gl? >> if possible, how can i make it? >> does it need other softwares to help me to make it? >> if it does,what's the software that is suitable for it > >Yes. Send the report to the line printer spooler, either with REPORT TO >PRINTER or REPORT TO PIPE "printer-spooler-program -with-options". >Obviously, this assumes you have some sort of printer spool queue set >up, so you need the software to manage that. The traditional names are >lp and lpr on Unix, and the software comes with the system. > >Since this is so obvious, there must be more to your question than meets >the eye. > >Doing special formatting is tricky. There are a variety of ways that >can be made to work. These days, one of the simpler ones is to generate >an HTML file, read that into a browser, and have the browser do the >printing. Alternatively, have the report generate some other markup >language (eg troff -- done that, complete macro package from the ground >up and all). How can I make produce report file using I4GL that can be printed on matrix printer with continuous paper (8.5"x12") or laser printer with single sheet paper (8.5"x11")? For example: Make report that will start at new page for every customer, each row will have information about invoice number, invoice date and total invoice value, at the begining of every page will be customer number and name, at the end of every page will be total value for all invoices at that page and cumulative value for invoices for that customer. I dont't want to write two reports and user want to make choice of output device (matrix printer or laser)?

There is mention in the FAQ at the IIUG on how to make reports variable length if that is the problem. Else just make the report 11" long and set the EndOfPage character to FormFeed so the report writer does not try to pad the page to 11 lines with newlines. Art S. Kagel "remove (_at_) to reply" wrote: > > On Thu, 10 Aug 2000 12:30:18 -0700, Jonathan Leffler <jleffler@informix.com> > wrote: > > >fly wrote: > >> i would like to know that whether is it possible to use a laser printer to > >> print out a report that already writen using informix 4gl? > >> if possible, how can i make it? > >> does it need other softwares to help me to make it? > >> if it does,what's the software that is suitable for it > > > >Yes. Send the report to the line printer spooler, either with REPORT TO > >PRINTER or REPORT TO PIPE "printer-spooler-program -with-options". > >Obviously, this assumes you have some sort of printer spool queue set > >up, so you need the software to manage that. The traditional names are > >lp and lpr on Unix, and the software comes with the system. > > > >Since this is so obvious, there must be more to your question than meets > >the eye. > > > >Doing special formatting is tricky. There are a variety of ways that > >can be made to work. These days, one of the simpler ones is to generate > >an HTML file, read that into a browser, and have the browser do the > >printing. Alternatively, have the report generate some other markup > >language (eg troff -- done that, complete macro package from the ground > >up and all). > > How can I make produce report file using I4GL that can be printed on matrix > printer with continuous paper (8.5"x12") or laser printer with single sheet > paper (8.5"x11")? > > For example: > Make report that will start at new page for every customer, each row will have > information about invoice number, invoice date and total invoice value, at the > begining of every page will be customer number and name, at the end of every > page will be total value for all invoices at that page and cumulative value for > invoices for that customer. > > I dont't want to write two reports and user want to make choice of output device > (matrix printer or laser)?