Frequently, I print a batch of 1000+ sheets at a time using VFP report writer to an HP black & white laser printer

Each sheet has a large graphics (jpeg) on it. When printing the batch, if I could download the graphics to the printer, and when the next document prints, instead of the computer sending the jpeg 1000's of times, if it prints the downloaded jpeg from memory, the printing would take far less time. I was able to do this in DOS. Does anyone know how can I do it in windows?

The graphics are either from excel or PDF files. If I can't download the images, is there a way to tell the report writer to print these files? I can't use the general field, since the general field only displays a fraction of the excel of pdf file.

Any ideas?

TIA

It depends on the HP printer. Some HP printers have the ability to accept a download of a template. I would suggest contacting HP directly to see if your printer is capable of that.

Depending on the resources of the printer, meaning Printer Flash Storage or Hard Disk space available. You can also us the printer's ram to temporally store the file.

Using MS Word, you can create an overlay image and then store it on the printer.

Personally, I used to down load the image to my PC and then using a Hex editor (HexWorks) Add the necessary PCL-5 code to create position and store the file as a Macro. Then I made sure that the incoming file called and executed the macro at the correct position in the document.

A MAJOR word of warning! Do not end the incoming print files with an <esc>E (0x1B 45). This is PCL command to re-set the printer after the current page is printed.

If you do that, any file that is stored on the printer's ram will be flushed and requiring re-loading.

It is a do-able piece of work, but far outside the parameters for us responders (at least as I understand them) to play with. You need someone very adept with PCL 5 for a mono laser.

If you choose to use PCL-XL (PCL6), you can build a command string to define and place a graphic image and then recall the image as needed.

FWIW - I prefer PCL5, just because of the sequencing of the commands. With PCL-XL you use the Backus/Nau (?) format and then add attributes as required until you get to the command that is modified by the attributes.