3153 Terminal: Common Print and Printer-Related Problems

About This Document
Related Documentation
3153 Key Not Working: Print or Print Line
3153 Attached Printer Not Printing Any Data Correctly

About This Document

This document diagnoses and prescribes solutions to common printing and printing-related problems with the 3153 terminal.

3153 Key Not Working: Print or Print Line

3153 Attached Printer Not Printing Any Data Correctly

Problem or Symptom

This item covers the following problems or symptoms related to using printers attached to the 3153 or attaching printers to the 3153.

Printer is not printing any data. Nothing is being printed.
Print key or Print Screen key is not working.
Printer is printing garbage, junk data or characters.
Printer is not printing all the data. Some data is missing.

Background Information

There are may components of printer operations associated with a 3153:

the physical attachment of a printer to the 3153 serial or parallel ports: correct 3153 port, correct printer cable and correct 3153 setup parameters
the definition of the printer that is attached to the 3153: Is the printer a "system"-defined printer such that the host is controlling the printer? Is the printer being being used as a local 3153 printer where the 3153 is locally controlling the printer?
the definition of the 3153 Print and Print Screen keys (if the 3153 keyboard is being used for print operations): This definition is dependent on the emulation (IBM, DEC, or WYSE).

These components determine the operation of the printer. Users need to know the components related to printer attachment to the 3153.

Incorrect operation may result in the previously described problems.

Recommended Solutions

NO DATA; NOTHING IS BEING PRINTED OR PRINTING

Confirm Proper Printer Connection and Cabling to the 3153:

These steps confirm that the printer is properly attached to the 3153 and that the 3153 can print to the attached printer. More specifically, the steps confirm that:

The proper printer (serial or parallel) is attached and is attached to the proper 3153 port.
The printer has the proper cable (serial or parallel).
The 3153 has the correct Host/Printer setup parameter.

Use the 3153 Print-Page Local key, 3153 Users Guide Appendix A, and print the 3153 setup menus.

Enter the 3153 setup menu. Press and Hold the left-Ctrl with the left-Shift key, and at the same time press the ./Del key on the numeric keypad.
If the 3153 Setup Menu prints, the printer and the 3153 are properly configured, connected and cabled.
If the 3153 Setup Menu does not print, the printer and the 3153 are not properly configured or cabled. Items to check are:
- if the printer is a parallel printer:
  It must be attached to the 3153 Parallel Port.
  It must have a parallel printer cable.
  The 3153 Host/Printer must be EIA/Para or Aux/Para.
- if the printer is a serial printer:
  It must be attached to a serial Port (SES1-EIA,SES2-AUX).
  
  SES1-EIA is configured as a DTE.
  
  3153 Setup Parameter: Host/Printer=Aux/EIA
  SES2-AUX is configured as a DCE.
  3153 Setup Parameter: Host/Printer=EIA/Aux
- Is the printer a DTE or DCE?
  DTE to DTE or DCE to DCE requires a null-modem cable.
  DTE to DCE requires a modem cable.

PRINT KEY OR PRINT SCREEN KEY NOT WORKING

Confirm that the printer can print when attached to the 3153 by following the preceding recommended solution to NO DATA; NOTHING IS BEING PRINTED OR PRINTING. If the 3153 Setup Menus print correctly, the 3153 and printer are properly configured, connected and cabled. Consult the following information.

The operation of the Print and Print Screen key is dependent on the emulation (IBM, DEC, or WYSE):

IBM: The 3153 powers on with the Print Key Host Attention Mode Off. When a Print key is pressed, all the data displayed is sent to the printer without host involvement. The host operating system or application can enable the Print Key Host Attention Mode On. When a Print key is pressed the 3153 sends the host an ASCII character sequence indicating that a Print key was pressed. The host is responsible for processing and handling the print key. To determine if Print Key Host Attention Mode is On, in 3153 setup, set Local=On and press the Print key again. This confirms that a character sequence is being sent to the host when the Print key was pressed. The host operating system or application is responsible for proper processing and handling. If it is not doing that, contact a systems administrator or application programmer.
DEC: The Print key along the top-right row of keys is not defined. Redefine the Print key, in 3153 setup, by specifying a ESC x5B i sequence and Key Dir=Screen. This should get the Print key to execute a screen print. NOTE: x5B is a hex 'x'5B'.
Reference: 3153 Users Guide on "Setup", section "Program: F12".
WYSE: When a Print key is pressed the 3153 sends the host an ASCII character sequence indicating that a Print key was pressed. The host is responsible for processing and handling the Print key. To confirm this, in 3153 setup, set Local=On and press the Print key again. This confirms that a ESC P ASCII character sequence is being sent when Local=Off. The 3153 setup menus allow function keys to be redefined. Redefine the Print key by specifying ESC P as the sequence and Key Dir=Screen. This should get the Print key to execute a screen print.
Reference: 3153 Users Guide on "Setup", section "Program: F12".

Users need to know the operation and definition of Print keys for the emulation selected.

PRINTER IS PRINTING GARBAGE, JUNK CHARACTERS OR DATA

Confirm that the printer can print when attached to the 3153 by following the preceding recommended solution to NO DATA; NOTHING IS BEING PRINTED OR PRINTING. If the 3153 Setup Menus print correctly, the communication values between the 3153 and printer are correct. Consult the following information.

The printer printing garbage or junk data is a result of the commands being sent by the host operating system or application. Contact a system administrator or application programmer.

PRINTER IS NOT PRINTING ALL THE DATA (SOME DATA IS MISSING)

This symptom is typically caused by Communication Pacing (XON/XOFF, DTR/DSR) not being enabled between the 3153 and printer. Review the 3153 and printer setup Communication Pacing values. To confirm that this symptom is related to Communication Pacing, lower the 3153 Communication Baud Rate (1200 or 2400) between the 3153 and host. Retry the print operation. If the printer prints all the expected data, then the missing data is due to 3153 printer setup Communication Pacing parameters. If the printer does not print all the expected data, the host operating system or application may not be actually sending all of the data. Contact the system adminstrator or application programmer.

3153 Terminal: Common Print and Printer-Related Problems : 3153.print.zap ITEM: FAX
Dated: 99/01/05~00:00 Category: zap
This HTML file was generated 99/06/24~12:42:04
Comments or suggestions? Contact us