directMON 3.0

Windows Printer Redirector

directMON is a virtual printer port redirecting Windows printer output to applications and files. The printer's spool data can be directed to additional conversion applications and can be forwarded to other printers.

directMON is a Windows port monitor and provides a new virtual printer port, similar to an "LPT1:" or "COM1:" connection port. It redirects all printer output into a file and manages a list of tasks for every file. A task can be the execution of an arbitrary application, forwarding of spoolfiles to other Windows printers and the execution of plugins for format conversions.

The created spoolfiles corresponds exactlily to the data sent from the printer driver to the printer. directMON works entirely independent of the connected printer drivers. In practice all outputs from Window raster printers drivers, plotter drivers and text printer drivers can be used.

Plugins for file format conversions

directMON supports directly some additional file format converters as directESC and directPCL, but even third party applications as Ghostscript. Note, that for every virtual printer port a list of tasks or plugins is managed. Forwarding print jobs to several Windows printers, creating a TIFF image file and calling an import function for your document management system, this is directMON is made for.

Calls external applications

On the end of every print job an arbitrary Windows application can be executed. For security reasons a "Run As" feature is implemented allowing executions in another user account. Please note, that starting with Windows Vista no user interface can be displayed at this point due to the security concept of the operating system.

Windows Terminal Services are fully supported by directMON.

directMON provides a large set of parameter macros. Parameters as the original document name, the user name or even the Windows Terminal Session Id are available can be forwarded via the command line or the DOS Environment to your application.

Converts PCL formatted print outputs

The PCL printer language processor directPCL is supported as plugin. Printer outputs formatted in the PCL printer language can be printed on any other Windows printer. Every profile created for directPCL can be selected directly in the directMON properties dialog.

Converts ESC/P formatted print outputs

The ESC printer language processor directESC is supported as plugin. Printer outputs formatted in EPSON ESC/P, EPSON FX, Diablo 630, IBM ProPrinter or OkiData can be converted seamless into multipaged TIFF or can be printed on other Windows Printers. Profiles created for directESC can be selected directly in the directMON properties dialog..

Creates PDF files

Ghostscript is a Postscript printer language processor available as open source / GPL. directMON recognizes a local Ghostscript installation and provides an easy interface to the somewhat complex Ghostscript executables.

Outputs created by Standard Windows Postscript printer drivers can be converted to PDF by Ghostscript. directESC supports Postscript code injection in order to provide different modes of conversion. Several profiles are included.

Forwarding of Windows Postscript printers

Using Ghostscript as plugin in directMON, Windows Postscript printers can be directed to other Window printers. This is possible even if the target printer uses another printer language than Postscript. Note, that not all details of Postscript can be converted exactly into another printer language.

Dynamical filename creation rules

Output filenames created by directMON can be created dynamically using parameter macros. Output filenames can contain the target printers name, the original document name, usernames, date and time, Terminal Server Session Ids, Printjob ids and much more.

directMON supports dynamical directory names, too. Starting with a fixed base directory (e.g. "C:Spoolfiles") the same parameter macros can be used to select or create output directories. Using macros distinct output directories for every user, printer or even days can be created.

Event monitor

Windows provides the systems print monitor property dialog at a quite inconvenient location. The event monitor displays error and warning events created by the directMON print monitor driver and provides all property dialogs of directMON on the administrators desktop.

Features of the standard version

• Redirects and processes the raw printer output of Windows printer drivers.
• Saves raw printer data file
• Executes batch mode applications on the end of printjobs
• Supports "Run As" execution and parameter macros.
• Extraction of job data as the original document name, username and session-id.
• Supports printer drivers running in Windows Terminal Services
• Supports language processors as directPCL, directESC, directPRINT and Ghostscript
• Supports third party software Ghostscript (GPL)
• Simple installation
• For all printer types (PCL, PS, PDF, TIFF,...)
• Languages: German, English
• For Windows 2000, Windows 2000 Server, Windows XP, Windows 2003 Server, Windows 2008 Server, Windows Vista and Windows 7
• Only 32-Bit OS versions supported.
• Standard version serves max. 5 printing users (locally or network) Additional client licences can be purchased separately.
• First come first get licence allocation. Licences can be managed manually.

If you look for support on Windows NT 4.0 you may use the predecesor directMON NT.

Look for further version history information into our Release Notes.

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