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HP OpenVMS Systemsask the wizard |
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The Question is: We are using an industry specific subscriber management system on a service bureau basis. The software runs on an AlphaServer under OpenVMS (not sure what version) and we connect all our offices to the server via a TCP/IP-based frame relay network. Application printing is done via VMS print services/spooling to TCP/IP enabled networked printers, both laser and dot matrix (as some output needs to go on multi-part forms). We need to be able to put simple dot matrix printers in remote locations to print out relatively low volume (100 pages or less a day) These remote locations are low-tech in the extreme and change a lot so not only is deploying frame relay connections not economic, the time lines are not acceptible. What we'd like is a simple dial-up printer mechanism so we can "spool" a report to a specific queue and somehow have the remote location simply "dial-up" their printer on a regular basis and pull off any reports on their queue. Our service bureau provider has not been able to come up with any practical ways to implement this vision. Can you help? One of the challenges is that we need to find a way which is very very simple as these field locations are not very computer literate. Something on the order of a fax in terms of simplicity of usage. Any help would be a godsend. Gary Holland CIO Ethnic-American Broadcasting Company 201-242-3207 The Answer is : A custom print symbiont can be created that establishes a dialup serial connection to a remote site via a modem link -- there are various example print symbionts around that could be used as a starting point. Alternatively, there are print-to-FAX software packages available -- these have a symbiont that converts the ASCII text (and possibly graphics) into the standard facimile protocol for transmission to a standard fax machine.
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