Citation: N.Waltham (100013.3330@Compuserve.Com), August 1992


Background File Dumper for Windows 3.0 and 3.1
Background File Dumper for Windows 3.1 and above

by N. Waltham

Version 3.1

The background file dumper is especially useful if you cannot run 'Windows' in 386 enhanced mode or if you have a DOS application that does not work if you attempt to run it under windows in 386 enhanced mode.

It is also a handy way of printing plain text files from the file manager.

This is a shareware version of the program:-	Registering

This is copyright software but may be freely copied for the purpose of evaluation

Summary

To use this program simply direct the output of your DOS application to a file using the in built capability of your application. Run 'Dumper' and press the 'DUMP' button. Select the file you wish to dump from the dialogue box. Printing will then continue under windows while you continue to use your favourite Windows application. You can also print files using the 'Drag 'n Drop' facility of the File Manager by selecting one or a group of files in a file manager window and dragging the result onto Dumper's window (or its minimized icon).

This program is supplied as is and the author accepts no liability or responsibility for any damage or losses sustained as a direct or indirect result of the use of this program. There is no warranty with this program either expressed or implied.

Commands

Set

Dump

Cancel Printing

Exit

Pause

Miscellaneous

If you have any problems with this software please contact the author.

Contacting the author through email


Dump

You press this to select a file to print. The program displays a normal file dialogue box from which you choose the file you wish to send to the printer. Directly after selection the printing will begin.

From version 3.0 onwards it is possible to queue files for printing.  Items can be removed from the list  using Set | File List.


Cancel

This will cause the program to stop printing the current file can allow you to remove all other files from the list.


Options

The Options dialogue box is divided into 3 sections:

Print Using

Port

Number

Print Using

The program can print directly using the BIOS and so can avoid using the windows print system or in can print using Windows. This feature allows you to use the print manager and so queue up jobs or send them to a network printer. One point to note is that when printing via Windows and the Print Manager the job will not usually start until the file has been completely processed by dumper. Also not all printer drivers support the direct printing of information. If you are using one of these drivers you will have to print via the BIOS.

Because of the time taken to update the progress indicator you may find that printing documents which are shorter than about a page occurs more slowly than you might expect on some systems

Port

Should you decide to print using the BIOS you have the choice of printing to an LPT port or a COM port. The baud rate and other information for the COM port can be set using the Set | Com Ports option.

Number

When printing via the BIOS you can select one of the two ports available for either the LPT ports or the COM ports.


Exit

This will terminate the program. If the program is still processing a file then you will be warned.


Pause

This will temporarily suspend processing of a file by the program.


Contacting the author via email

You can contact the author by email at

Internet : 100013.3330@Compuserve.Com

Compuserve : 100013,3330


BIOS

Basic Input/Output System of the computer.  Dos programs usually use the BIOS to print. BIOS is stored in Read/Only memory in the computer


Set

Pressing the set button brings up a popup menu with the following choices :

File List ...

Print Using ...

Com Ports

Speed


File List

When you select this option the Dumper window expands to reveal the list of files currently waiting to be printed. You can select individual files and remove them or press the 'Remove All' button to clear the list. You must use  'Cancel Printing' if you want to stop the file that is currently being printed. Press 'Ok' the return the window to the original size


Com Ports

Pressing this menu options yields a fully comprehensive dialogue box allowing you to alter the settings for the communications ports to match your printer. The program stores two independent settings for the two com ports. You can flick between these two settings by pressing one of the 'Com' radio buttons. When you have made any alterations press the 'Ok' button to keep the changes and 'Cancel' to prevent the changes.


Speed

Moving the scroll bar in the speed dialogue box alters the amount of time dumper spends printing compared with the rest of the time that is spent in Windows. The effect is rather arbitrary since different windows programs put different loads on your computer and some software doesn't yield control to other programs very often!


Registering

This program was written by N.Waltham and may be freely copied for evaluation purposes only.

If you find this software useful you should register your copy. Registering your copy will result in you being sent a non shareware copy of the latest version of the program. If  you do not register then there will be no further versions of this or any other program and the shareware concept will have failed.

Registration details can be obtained by email. The current cost of the software is $15 US or £7.50 Sterling. However these prices are subject to change due to the volatile nature of exchange rates.