Printing on ImageWriter II from Apple IIGS

[agent_js03]

Hi everyone.

I have recently taken a renewed interest in the Apple IIGS system I acquired a few years ago.

It came with an ImageWriter II printer. I just installed a new color ribbon for it and did the self test, and it works fine.

I have printed from this printer before, both on this IIGS as well as from a Macintosh SE. I recall it being rather painless. But that was a couple of years ago, and I seem to have lost some brain cells since then because now I cannot seem to figure it out. :huh:

I wonder if any kind soul here can help me work through this puzzle. I have tried printing from both AppleWorks and Calendar Crafter. It basically just sits there for a while and doesn't print anything..

Here are my settings as far as I can tell. I haven't changed anything since the last time I used it, other than the ribbon obviously.

From the setup screen (this is what I am calling that screen you get to by holding the option key when you start up; I don't remember what it is actually called):

slot 1 is printer port

slot 2 is modem port

Here is what I see in my printer settings from the setup screen:

Printer Port

device connected: printer

line length: unlimited

delete first UF after CR: no

add LF after CR: yes

echo: no

Buffering: no

baud: 9600

data/stop bits: 8/1

parity: none

dcd handshake: yes

DSR/DTR handshake: yes

XON/XOFF handshake: no

From the control panel on the appleworks system disk:

select a port: printer

select a printer type: ImageWriter CL

Then when I go to print, I have tried with "color" both selected and deselected. Same result.

I have double checked the port and it is definitely plugged into the printer port. The cable I am using has 8 pins and has the two arrows pointing in different directions.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[superjer2000]

Is the Select button/light activated on the ImageWriter?

 

[agent_js03]

Is the Select button/light activated on the ImageWriter?

Yeah I pressed it and it is activated. I remember with the macintosh I had to press select right after sending the print job in order for it to print. Is there any trick like that with the IIGS?

 

[agent_js03]

So I also remember that I had two separate cables, and they both looked essentially the same but had different symbols on them. One of them ended up working for the printer and the other didn't. Right now I can only find one cable that fits. I wonder if there is anything I might be missing there.

 

[Scott Baret]

It should use the same cable as the SE. Mini DIN-8 on both ends.

 

[agent_js03]

Tonight I will try and print from the SE again, and see how that goes. If I can print from there, then it must be a problem with the configuration on the IIGS.

 

[agent_js03]

Well doggone it. I tried from the SE last night, and that wasn't printing either. I even tried my old trick of pressing the select button after choosing print. It twitched for a moment and then nothing after that. No matter what buttons I pressed, nothing. I don't know how I did it last time. I ordered a new cable in case that is the problem.

 

[superjer2000]

Well doggone it. I tried from the SE last night, and that wasn't printing either. I even tried my old trick of pressing the select button after choosing print. It twitched for a moment and then nothing after that. No matter what buttons I pressed, nothing. I don't know how I did it last time. I ordered a new cable in case that is the problem.

Just to be sure, when you press the select button on the printer I think there are two green lights side by side that turn on. You may need to push the select button twice to activate them both. Are both of the green select lights on?

 

[agent_js03]

Just to be sure, when you press the select button on the printer I think there are two green lights side by side that turn on. You may need to push the select button twice to activate them both. Are both of the green select lights on?

There is a "print quality" button that matches that description. I had made sure both of those lights were on.

At any rate, the new cable came in the mail today. I swapped out the cables,and now it is printing like a charm! I guess that is all it was. Thanks everyone for the input.

 

[superjer2000]

Awesome!!  There is something great about hearing these machines print.  My wife almost had me committed when the big box of tractor feed paper showed up from Amazon. 

 

[agent_js03]

Haha.. my wife has already given up on me. She doesn't even ask why anymore.