Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (
More info?)
I simply followed the instructions on the print window that popped up (a
WINDOWS XP window I believe) when I chose to "print" one of the slides
that appeared here:
www.mopnsanto.com
Select "Investor Information"
Select 2nd Quarter conference call.
The presentation defaulted to MS Media Player and I selected chart 13 to
print. I chose "Print to file" because I know my printer on another floor
was low on ink and I didn't really need the color. I changed the settings to
print black and white only, gave the file a name with a ".prn" extension,
and saved it to disc.
I just finished reading the rest of you reply. I obviously chose the wrong
thing and should have simply printed it out after changing the preference to
black and white only. I've got a better understanding of a .prn file now.
Fortunately, the original presentation will remain on the website for a bit
and I can get a copy later.
Thanks for the explanation. This happened once before but I failed to take
the time to ask questions.
"Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote in message
news:um5dHStOFHA.2788@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> In news:O1VakArOFHA.1040@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl,
> John Gregory <jaygreg90@hotmail.com> typed:
>
>> While listening to an online presentation that included charts, I
>> attempted to print-to-file a specific chart. I deleted the "*" that
>> preceded the ".prn" extension and gave it a name.
>
>
> How did you do the print to file, and from what program?
>
>
>> Then I tried to
>> print the file to make sure all went well. It didn't.
>
>
> How did you try to do this? If, for example, you tried double-clicking the
> file, or opening it in some program, that's not how to do it, and won't
> work. See below.
>
>
>> I got a message stating WINDOWS XP didn't recognize the program that
>> the file was related to. It directed me to an on-line site to find
>> the program but the site wasn't available for service until the 9th.
>>
>> Q1) What program should be assigned to a "*.prn" file?
>
>
> None. That's not what a prn file is or how it's used.
>
>
>> Q2) Why couldn't WINDOWS XP find something (WORD?) to print this file?
>
>
> A prn file is an image of the page, formatted for a particular printer.
> The format varies enormously, depending on the particular printer, and is
> essentially a graphic image. Word has no idea what to do with such a file.
> The way to print a prn file is to go to Start | Run and issue the command
>
> copy \path\filename.prn lpt1 /b
>
> However that only works if you have a printer that's connected to a
> parallel port and if the creation of the prn file was done to the correct
> printer driver for your printer. It's more complicated if you have a USB
> printer.
>
> I'm not clear as to why you printed to a file in the first place, or how
> you did it. If the above command doesn't work for you, please clarify the
> situation for more help.
>
> --
> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
> Please reply to the newsgroup
>