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How to Print to a Text File with SecureCRT®
Note: This tip is for use with SecureCRT for Windows®.
This tip explains how to print a text file from SecureCRT using
a Windows Generic/Text Only configured printer.
There are any number of times when it is useful to be able to print
to a text file from SecureCRT:
- You need to send a report generated by your billing software as
an email attachment, and your billing software only generates printed reports using pass-through printing.
- You need to print a hard copy of a specific, time-sensitive report
and your printer is temporarily inoperable.
- You have a UNIX application that can generate PostScript output using pass-through printing, but your printer cannot handle PostScript.
- You need to capture the output as a file that can be shipped to a colleague in another department where the file can be printed.
Although you can't print directly to a text file from SecureCRT, you
can configure SecureCRT to print to a Windows Generic/Text Only
configured printer. Below are the steps necessary to set up the ability
to print to a text file. These instructions assume that you are using Windows XP, and the steps may vary from computer to computer.
Add a new Generic/Text Only configured printer:
- In the Windows Control Panel and open Printers and Faxes.
- Click on Add a Printer to start the Add Printer Wizard. Click Next.
- Select "Local printer attached to this computer". Click Next.
- In the Use the following port entry box, select FILE. Click Next".
- Select Generic as the Manufacturer and Generic/Text Only as the Printer. Click Next.
- If prompted, you may wish to select Keep Existing Driver.
- Give the printer a name and click Next. When asked if
you want to use this printer as the default printer, select Yes or No depending upon your needs.
- Do not share the printer unless you want someone to be able to add
files to your computer. Click Next.
- Select Yes to print a test page. Click Next.
- Review your settings. If the settings are correct, click Finish.
- Specify a path and filename for the test page. Click OK.
- Verify that the printer test page file is there.
Configure SecureCRT print to a Generic/Text Only
configured printer:
- In SecureCRT you can either print to the file for all sessions or
just for particular sessions.
- To print to file in all sessions open Global Options / Printing and click Print Setup.
- Select the Generic/Text Only printer in the drop down box and click OK.
- To print to file for only a particular session, open Session Options for that session and follow the same steps as above.
- When you connect to a session and try to print, you should be prompted
with a Print to File popup window that asks for the filename. Be sure to specify the full path to the file that you want
to print to.
