Using the PRINT command, you can set up one or more files to print and
continue
to use other programs (often referred to as background printing).
Options
/C - Provides a way to select which files to cancel. A filename
already in
the print queue that precedes this option will be suspended. Names of
files
(already in the print queue) that follow this option will be canceled.
You can
also list more files to print as part of the same PRINT command by
entering the
/P option followed by the filenames to print.
/P - Sets the print mode. The preceding filename and all following
filenames
will be added to the print queue. You can also list files to cancel as
part of
the same PRINT command by entering the /C option followed by the
filenames to
cancel.
/T - Deletes all files in the print queue (those waiting to be
printed).
After the print files are canceled, the program displays a cancellation
message.
If a file is being printed as the PRINT command is used with this option,
the
printing will stop immediately.
The following options are allowed only the first time you run the PRINT
command:
/D (device) - Specifies the print device. If not specified, PRINT
will
prompt you to enter the name of a print device. The default is PRN.
/B (buffersize) - This parameter sets the size (in bytes) of the
amount of
memory used by the PRINT buffer. Increasing this value speeds up the
operation
of the PRINT command. If you do not use the /B option, the PRINT buffer
will be
set to 512 bytes.
/M (maxtick) - Specifies how many computer clock ticks PRINT can have
to
print a file. The value of /M can be from 1 to 255. If you do not use
the /M
option, this parameter will be set to 2.
/Q (value) - Specifies the maximum number of files that are allowed in
the
print queue (from 4 to 32). If you do not use the /Q option, this
parameter
will be set to 8.
/S (timeslice) - Specifies the time slice (the interval of time used
by DOS
to schedule PRINT jobs). If you do not use the /S option, this parameter
will
be set to 8.
/U (busytick) - Specifies the number of computer clock ticks that DOS
will
wait for a printer that is not available. If the wait is longer than
this
value, DOS gives up its time slice (refer to option /S above). If you do
not
use the /U option, this parameter will be set to 1.
If you use the PRINT command without entering any options , the current
contents
of the print queue is displayed. This does not change the status of the
files
currently in the PRINT queue. If you do not enter any of the forward
slash
options (/), the /P option is assumed.
The first time you use the PRINT command, the following prompt appears
(unless
you specify the /D parameter):
Name of list device [PRN:]
Whatever device you enter becomes the PRINT output device. Press the
Enter key
to accept the default (PRN).
During use of the PRINT command, one or more messages may be displayed.
Each
message and its meaning are summarized below.
Message: List output is not assigned to a device
Meaning: The name of the printer you specified was not valid.
Message: PRINT queue is full
Meaning: You attempted to enter more than 10 files in the PRINT
queue.
Message: PRINT queue is empty
Meaning: There are no files in the print queue.
Message: No files match d:(filename)
Meaning: No files match the filename specification you entered.
Message: All files canceled by operator
Meaning: You entered the /T (terminate) option to cancel all the files
currently in the PRINT queue.
Message: File canceled by operator
Meaning: You entered the /C (cancel) option to cancel the file currently
in the
PRINT queue.
Examples
To stop printing and cancel the print queue, enter
print /t
To remove the files LETTER.TXT, START.EXE, and RATE.COM (all on drive B)
from
the PRINT queue, enter
print b:letter.txt/c b:start.exe b:rate.com
To remove the file SALES.DOC from the PRINT queue and, at the same time,
add the
files OLDSALE.DOC and NEWSALE.DOC, enter
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