UniPrint - "Universal" Network Printer Driver

Latest News
UniPrint 3, which contains the very latest version of UniPrint, as well as UniScan, is now available. In fact, this is the only version of UniScan that we currently offer, because so far every UniScan customer also wants (or already owns) UniPrint. Therefore, if you wish to upgrade to UniPrint 3, just order the appropriate UniScan upgrade, and (provided we have you on our customer database), you'll receive the complete UniPrint 3 product including both print and scan features.

V2 Price: £50 Please add £2 P&P for Europe/Overseas. Visa, MasterCard, Switch & Delta payments accepted

Requirements Any RISC OS 3.1 or higher computer with a network card. Network or Hard Drive System Windows PC on the same network as the RISC OS machine, running Win95-XP Please phone if you require any further information. Versions UniPrint 2 includes the regular printing in both network and VirtualAcorn mode (for A5000/SE/Adjust versions of Virtual Acorn, not SA editions). It isn't updated, but provides a cheaper way into the UniPrint family for 50ukp. UniPrint 3 which includes regular UniPrint, UniPrint VirtualAcorn (inc SA), UniScan, "sprite" printing (allows professional or web gfx to be generated from any RISC OS application) and also URL launching (allows RISC OS to launch web URLs via Internet Explorer). File launching is also supported, which allows RISC OS to pass files to Windows (eg. Powerpoint presentations, music playlists, spreadsheets etc) and automatically open them. UniPrint 3 costs 80ukp.

Press Release

If you were to ask a RISC OS user what the holy grail of printing was,
the chances are he'd say "to be able to print at a decent quality
to any kind of printer".  This would probably be followed by 
references to flying pigs.  Well, those pigs just grew wings!


We are pleased to announce the release of the universal printer
driver.  No, this isn't April Fool's Day!  Let's be a little more
specific, it's a universal *network* printer driver, so won't
be applicable to everyone.  However, it does indeed allow you
to print to any kind of printer, and with networking becoming
fairly commonplace, it's something that should attract your attention!


How does it work?  Well, the system relies on a printer being
connected to a WindowsPC on your network (Win 95 - XP supported).
The PC must have a working driver for the printer installed, but
since every printer ships with a Windows driver, this isn't a problem.

The RISC OS machine then prints to the PC, which prints out the
job natively, using the quality settings available through the
Windows driver.


So, does it actually work?  To test it all out, we purchased a 
cheap 50ukp inkjet, and hooked it up to a laptop via a USB cable.
No RISC OS driver existed for the printer.  We installed the
PC driver, and checked the printer worked, then, on a Risc PC,
clicked Print in Techwriter.  Out popped a colour printed document
from the printer, first time!  We have subsequently used the
system to proof adverts for magazines, print family trees and
more.


Which RISC OS applications does it work with?  Since the system
integrates with !Printers, it should work with anything.  We've
tested with Impression, Artworks, Ovation Pro, Techwriter, Paint,
Photodesk etc...


What printers does it work with?  Anything that Windows supports.
You've read above about our tests with a cheap inkjet, but
you could also print to a high quality Photo printer using Photo
Paper (and get the calibre of photo printing offered by the
Windows driver!).  Greyscale/mono printers are also supported.

You could also print to the cheaper "Windows-only" lasers, which
require special Windows software to work.  This opens up the
cheaper colour laser printers such as the QMS "Desklaser" range
or HP's new entry level models.


What is the quality like?  The RISC OS software offers various
resolutions, but because the Windows end does the printing,
even low resolutions give excellent results.  We have been 
very satisfied with the results from proof-printing adverts
this week.  Indeed, we'll be bringing them to the Show this
weekend to demonstrate the kind of results that even low
res printouts can achieve, let alone pushing the quality all
the way up!



With the release of UniPrint 2, here are some of the new features...


Text mode printing.  This major new addition allows ASCII text based
  RISC OS applications to print to any printer (previously UniPrint
  only worked with graphical applications).  Examples of programs
  which use text printing include Edit, Zap, StrongEd, Messenger Pro,
  Pipedream, Prophet and various others.  This is a major addition to
  the software, and completes the picture in terms of RISC OS printing


File launching.  This is an exciting new feature!  Imagine if you
  have a file on your RISC OS machine that you can't open, eg. a
  powerpoint document, or a complex word or excel file.  With UniPrint
  version 2, you can just double click that file, and have it open
  via the appropriate program on your Windows machine.  This is
  especially useful if you receive email on your RISC OS computer,
  as it means that a double-click is all it takes to open Windows-
  related files sent by friends/colleagues.

Web URL launching.  This was previously a feature of UP Deluxe.
  With this feature you can click on a web link on your RISC OS
  computer (eg. in your email program, or elsewhere) and UniPrint
  will open it in your Windows web browser (eg. Internet Explorer
  or Firefox).  This is very useful if a site doesn't work in
  RISC OS browsers, or if you need to test your own site(s).

 Multiple copy and duplex printing.  The way UniPrint handles the
  printing of multiple copies of documents has been completely
  redesigned, resulting in much faster, and more efficient printing.
  The size (in terms of megabytes) of print jobs for multiple copies
  has been massively reduced, and the end results are far better.
  Similarly for duplex printing (printing on both sides of the paper),
  UniPrint should now behave more intelligently and efficiently.

Lower system resources.  The Windows end of UniPrint has been made
  more efficient, speeding things up, and also reducing memory
  overheads.  This should be noticable when doing complex prints such   
  as photographs.

Faster, better printing.  UniPrint 2 should print your documents
  more smoothly than ever before.  The RISC OS end now also
  incorporates a notification system, so that you will know what's      
  going on.

Automatic detection of Virtual Acorn.  It is no longer necessary to
  tell UniPrint that you have installed Virtual RiscPC (or VA5000!) -
  the software will automatically detect it, (and VRPC Adjust) and
  enable printing.

Job queuing.  If you print several jobs, either from the same
  machine, or from different machines (eg. school or office) UniPrint
  now queues up the various jobs, ensuring that print jobs don't
  conflict with each other, or print out of sequence.

Enhanced network printing.  If you have a Windows-shared printer,
  you will find UniPrint now works better with it.

RiscPC, Iyonix, VirtualAcorn compatible.  All versions are now
  happy running on all the different platforms.  To reduce
  confusion, UniPrint 2 is now offered in just 2 versions - a
  VirtualAcorn version (designed for use on computers where
  Windows and RISC OS are on the same machine) and the
  Deluxe version (does everything).

Full support for both !Printers and !Printers+



We've set a price of 50ukp for the software - this includes
both the RISC OS and Windows end software - and of course VAT
and UK delivery.  We've chosen this price because software
involving printing/networking/windows etc. is likely to
require reasonable levels of support.  Additionally, you no
longer need to buy drivers for individual printers, so this
is a "one off" purchase.


If you have any questions, please phone us on 01925 755043
or ask via email.