🚀 go-pugleaf

  Does anyone know the approved way to do printing under MS-DOS so that you
won't alienate people with print spoolers?  I see three real choices with
problems associated with each:

(1) Int 17h 
Pro:	Actually will tell me if the printer is okay.  Lots of info to tell 
	the  user if printer not on.
Con:	Does this work with spoolers.  How do they know that the job is done
	and they should start printing now.  Will this work is LPT1 is
	re-assigned to COM1 for people with serial printers.

(2) Write to STDPRN.
Pro:	It's already open and available.  (Not much of one)
Con:	Again, how does the print spooler know when the job is done?  Will
	it worked if LPT1 is reassigned.

(3) Open LPT1 oneslef and write to the file.
Pro:	When the file is closed, the spooler should know that it's okay to
	start printing.  You can at least check for errors when you open
	or close the file.
Con:	Apparently some spoolers expect the printer stuff to go through handle
	four, (stdprn).  Will they be thrown for a loop by this?

  I would be very appreciative for any advice people care to throw my way.  

				Thanks

				west@turing.toronto.edu
				or
				tomwest@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca