Print to Plain Text File

[OverlayHunter]

I have Windows 10 Home Edition. I believe it is current on updates.

It's been a long time since I've needed to print to a plain text file but I'm working on something where that ability would save me a lot of time.

I couldn't find that capability in my list of printers using the Settings/Devices/Printers or by using the Windows Powershell. I'm guessing there is no driver anywhere on my computer.

I've searched Google and found very little on point. There was a discussion within a Microsoft site but when I tried the suggestion there what was recommended did not match with what appeared on my screen and I could not find any way to add a driver for this purpose.

Is there any way to accomplish this?

[JustRalph]

what's the source of the file?

and can you open the txt file in command prompt? and make it useful from there?

if the txt file is pre-made you can write a bat file that can print the file to the screen and maybe use it from there?

this is digging way deep in my memory

"type ralph.txt" at the command line prints a notepad doc i created to the screen only.......maybe work with it from there? you must be in the same directory as the doc resides ......depending on your setup

[wilderness]

Overlay,
Is the Print option missing in Notepad?
After getting NotePad open simple select File/Print

A google provides that Notepad is not on the pulldowns in Win10, however here's how to locate.
Step 2:

Press Windows logo + R key.
Type notepad and click on Ok button

The notepad icon is located in the folder shown below. Locate the icon, right-click and select send to desktop as a shortcut.
C:\Windows\System32

[OverlayHunter]

JR, thank you for your thoughts.

The source of the data that will create the file is a proprietary software program that I cannot change and the data that it creates is what I'm trying to get into a text file. I'm assuming it looks for and only prints by using the computer's default printer.

The text file is not pre-made. It does not exist until the software creates it using the default print driver. In the past I've only printed to pdf or an actual printer but those options can't give me the flexibility I want to achieve by being able to parse a text file.

[OverlayHunter]

Wilderness, thank you for your reply. It arrived as i was writing a reply to JustRalph.

Does what I wrote to JR trigger any thoughts?

[wilderness]

Overlay
NotePad has been available on all versions of Windows since 1.0 (in DOS days the text editor was edlin with a black screen).

Why on earth MS would remove access via a menu is unreasonable.
You may also open and/or save (even print) with WordPad (although you have to select the TEXT file type) (at least in all earlier versions of Win. Didn't google for 10.0

[wilderness]

Overlay,
Apologies, I'm a bit confused?
It appears your using another software (unknown type) and attempting to create a 'print to file' as 'text' using your print driver?
Is that correct?

Is there some reason or restriction that requires this method?
Why not just copy and paste the text into NotePad or WordPad and edit or print as you please?

[JustRalph]

Originally Posted by wilderness

Overlay,
Apologies, I'm a bit confused?
It appears your using another software (unknown type) and attempting to create a 'print to file' as 'text' using your print driver?
Is that correct?

Is there some reason or restriction that requires this method?
Why not just copy and paste the text into NotePad or WordPad and edit or print as you please?

I believe the app he’s using doesn’t create the actual text until it prints. Tough problem

Let me think about it for a while

[vegasone]

save document as PDF and then use a program such as Foxit to output as text.


Parsing out the text may be an issue

[OverlayHunter]

Wilderness, JR stated the precise problem (thanks, JR). The program I'm using doesn't create the data prior to printing (that is, the file is the first opportunity to access and use the data).

vegasone, thanks for the idea. It may work as a last resort but it will add considerably to the time involvement.

[Augenj]

Have you tried this?

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...r-intervention

[OverlayHunter]

Augenj, thank you. Somehow I didn't come across that and it did the trick. I greatly appreciate the direction.

[OverlayHunter]

A big thank you to all who took their time to help. Greatly appreciated.

[JustRalph]

Nice! We were making it too hard.

[Augenj]

Originally Posted by OverlayHunter

Augenj, thank you. Somehow I didn't come across that and it did the trick. I greatly appreciate the direction.

You're welcome.