Instructions for printing from a PC and Windows 3.x to BLP Elite.

Please note: GCC does not guarantee that the BLP Elite will work with every PC in the market. We have been successful printing from a PC to a BLP Elite here in GCC's labs. However, not all of our customers have had success printing to the BLP Elite from Windows 3.1 or Windows 95/98. We have found that many customers simply cannot find the proper cabling, so be sure you are using a RS232 Null Modem cable. If you follow these instructions completely and are 100% sure that you have the correct cable, and still cannot print to the BLP Elite from your PC, then it is possible that your PC will not work with the BLP Elite.

1. Attach a RS-232C Serial Cable and a Null modem adapter.
2. Connect the RS-232C cable (with the null modem adapter attached) to the PC and to the BLP Elite. The Elite has a 25pin RS232 female DB25 port.
   Examples: These cables can be purchased at Radio Shack. Here are part numbers for particular Radio Shack Cables. The cables/adapters you need will be determined by the pinouts on your PC.
   
   • Cat # 26-269
     Radio Shack 6 ft. Shielded RS-232C cable, male DB25 to Female DB9, shielded and grounded to prevent interference
   • Cat # 26-264A
     Radio Shack Female DB9 to Male DB9 null modem adapter, shielded and grounded
3. Turn on the BLP Elite. Turn on the PC.
4. Take Elite off line by pressing On Line button.
5. Press menu until Interfaces is displayed.
6. Press + or - until RS232 is displayed. Press Enter.
7. Press Enter to display RS232 Baud Rate. Press + or - until 9600 Baud is displayed. Press Enter.
8. Press Menu to display RS232 Data Bits. Press + or - until 8 bits is displayed. Press Enter.
9. Press Menu to display RS232 Stop Bits. Press + or - until 1 bit is displayed. Press Enter.
10. Press Menu to display RS232 Parity. Press + or - until None is displayed. Press Enter.
11. Press Menu to display RS232 Flow Ctrl. Press + or - until XON/XOFF is displayed. Press Enter. Press OnLine button.
12. On PC, type the following command at the C prompt:
    mode Com1: 9600,n,8,1,p
    (The # after Com should correspond the Com port that you are printing with. Example: Com1, Com2, Com3, Com4. Please consult your PC manual for more information on determining which Com ports are available for printing.)
13. Launch Windows.
14. Open Main Window. Open Control Panels. Open Printer.
15. In Printer Window, select the following:
    1. LaserWriter under Installed Printers
    2. Click on Connect Button.
    3. In Connect Window, select the appropriate Com port.
    4. Click on "Fast Printing Direct to Port" so that there is an "x" in the check box.
    5. Click on Settings Button. Select the following:
       • Baud Rate: 9600
       • Data Bits: 8
       • Parity: none
       • Stop Bits: 1
       • Flow Control: Xon/Xoff
    6. Click Ok button.
    7. Click Ok button again to exit Connect window.
    8. In Printers Window, turn off Print Manager by clicking on the check box. There should not be a check in the box. You may turn this setting back on once you have successfully printed.
16. Print a document. If your document does not print, look at the front panel of the BLP Elite. Are there any error messages? If so, check your cable connections and your COM port. Be sure you are using a RS232 Serial Cable AND a Null Modem Adapter. Also, be sure you are printing to the correct COM port.
17. If all else fails, try testing the COM port connection to printer:
    1. At C Prompt, type MSD
    2. Select Utilities under the file menu. Under Utilities, select Test Printers
    3. Under Printer Type, select PS Printer
    4. Under Test Type, select 8bit ASCII
    5. Under Printer Port, select COM # you are printing through
    6. Click OK. A page should come out of your printer with ASCII codes.