I may sound like a broken record but.......

[Guest.Visitor]

I have an IPDS PRINTING PROBLEM again! Here is the situation: i am printing 350 pages of barcode labels from the AS/400 to an HP Laserjet 4050 printer (w/ 16MB of memory) configured as an IPDS Lan Printer (using an IPDS DIMM kit). My form size is an A4 label with 6 rows of die-cut stickers which I have programmed specifying the location of each info on the ticket. This works quite ok for the few hundreds of labels, then after a while the alignment of the proceeding pages changed, the lines printed advances to about 1 or more spaces before printing causing an alignment problem on the labels printed. We try to stop the printing and let the printer rest for a few minutes to an hour and print the same batch again....its ok and then the problem occurs again after several pages are printed! Please, can anyone relate to this? I'm not much of a hardware person....do i sound desperate? I hope so rica

[David Abramowitz]

I may sound like a broken record but.......

When one of my clients was going from Twinax to a LAN, they were in a quandry over what to do with their existing printers. My advice was to keep one Twinax port open for printing, and console use. The printers may continue to be used. That is still my printing advice. It has been my experience, that LAN printers, particularly those configured as IPDS, cause a great many problems. I know there are shops with good experiences, but problems appear to outweigh the trouble free areas. An IBM 6xxx, or similar IPDS printer hooked up by Twinax is generally problem-free. Dave

[Guest.Visitor]

I may sound like a broken record but.......

Rica, This looks like a hardware problem. You should call up the printer's vendor for service. If this happens frequently, you may need to shop around for a new printer.

[Guest.Visitor]

I may sound like a broken record but.......

>This looks like a hardware problem. You should call up the printer's vendor for service.

could be...i've already consulted with the HP vendor but they insist that it maybe a program problem...hello! Well, maybe because they are not much familiar with the AS/400 side...i don't know... If this happens frequently, you may need to shop around for a new printer. recently, this happens frequently...so can you recommend a good IPDS printer? To everyone, thanks for all your help! I really really appreciate it! rica

[Guest.Visitor]

I may sound like a broken record but.......

Thanks for the advise Dave! You know you're right...i can't seem to run out of problem with this IPDS printer....to top it all, you could be blamed for all this misfortune! as if you command the system and the printer to antagonize them (the users)! makes me want to scream rica

[David Abramowitz]

I may sound like a broken record but.......

Rick Arevalo wrote: to top it all, you could be blamed for all this misfortune! I'm an independent consultant, , , , ,It's my job to be blamed for all the misfortune! :-) Dave

[Guest.Visitor]

I may sound like a broken record but.......

I'm an independent consultant, , , , ,It's my job to be blamed for all the misfortune! :-) Dave yeah! well, not when they are the ones who stubbornly "insist" on the idea... rica

[Guest.Visitor]

I may sound like a broken record but.......

Rica, I know what you mean. I've been burned so many times in the past on account of printers that work right the first time (during the demo), but not during the day-to-day print jobs (after the purchase). I have also experienced the same problem you have with paper alignment. Only, in my case, the vendor fixed it (something about a loose timing belt). Speaking of printers, I do recommend the Printronix line of impact printers (which can be converted to IPDS using an optional kit). They are fast, tough, reliable, and rarely jam. I think IBM also purchase these printers and resells them (with the IBM logo). We tested the demo unit by subjecting it to 4 days continuous high-speed printing. The only breaks were to add new paper. That printer performed without a hitch, no jams, no misalignment, and most surprising of all, hardly any fading of print.

[David Abramowitz]

I may sound like a broken record but.......

In all seriousness, I quite understand those who may have had bad experiences with consultants. My philosophy concerning the matter may have a twinge of arrogance, but OTOH, I believe that a firm goes to an outside consultant when that firm wants objectivity, and expert advice. It is the same reason you would go to any professional. If you have a pain you may want to see a doctor. The doctor may give you a course of action, it is up to you whether to follow it or not, but if you don't follow it, why did you go see the doctor in the first place? In the above paragraph you may substitute lawyer, independent technical consultant, or garage mechanic! The short story, is that I don't have to insist on anything! BUT... If a firm is not going use my services, then why bother bringing me on board at all? BTW, I don't feel offended, when a firm does not use what I have given. In more than a few instances, I have been called back when the course of action that was taken, did not pan out. Dave

[Guest.Visitor]

I may sound like a broken record but.......

David Bye wrote: I would disagree with Rica's comments. As a consultant if you cant convince your client to not make the mistakes, thats just as much your fault. Thats part of being a consultant, you need to help people advoid doing it the wrong way, you need skills outside of just technical competence. If you think you are not responsible, and just follow instructions, than I would consider you a contractor, but not a consultant. I do understand the point. However, there's a catch...I am not a consultant but a programmer and having no prior experience to implementing this kind of project or "hardware" for that matter...made it more difficult for me to justify my arguments! (sigh) How I wish, that they just got an outside consultant with experience to help me.... good thing I had this forum rica

[Guest.Visitor]

I may sound like a broken record but.......

Rica, My apologies. I did not take the time to read the context of which the message was being discussed. Also I did not intend to level at you personally, being a programmer or consultant, it was more a general frustration with ?consultants?. David

[Guest.Visitor]

I may sound like a broken record but.......

It's ok David! I do appreciate everybodys input/criticism whether good or bad. I try to use them to improve my skills and personality After all, you guys are my Seniors....I can't wait for that time that I will be able to achieve your expertise. I have been in the industry for almost 3 years only...graduated from college batch 97... rica

[Guest.Visitor]

I may sound like a broken record but.......

I experienced a similar problem once printing bar codes on sticky labels, it seemed like a hardware problem for ages, then after much weeping and gnashing of teeth we found the problem was in the code, a simple error which gradually forced it off line. I don't know what you are programming in, in my case it was specialised code for Zebra label printers and it was afew years ago so I've forgotten the actual details. Just, thought I would mention in case U just bought a new printer and still have the problem.

[J.Panzenhagen]

I may sound like a broken record but.......

This is true. If when coding your form size you are off the size by .01 then after 100 pages you would be short one line. I would check to see if the number of pages printed before you notice the problem is always the same. If it is, then it could very well be the code.

[Guest.Visitor]

I may sound like a broken record but.......

John, will this still be the problem, even if I'm using pre-cut labels? How about that code problem? I'm printing barcode using the DDS keyword ....