USB001 to actual comm port

[teritask]

I've used Zebra (Brady) label printers for years with Labview. The last time I installed one, it was still a parallel type. In WinXP I had to change the port to an unused com port so Labview could write to the LPT port directly. I have to write to the printer using the ZPL language, not as a normal "default" printer.

My issue now is the latest printer is a USB type. When it installs under windows, it is assigned to USB001 Virtual printer port for USB. Now I cannot see the printer anywhere in MAX and cannot write to it through Labview. MAX cannot see a virtual usb port and I cannot redirect it in device manager.

Just looking to see if I'm missing something simple (again).

Thanks for any help.

[Christopher_T.]

Hi Teritask,

If the USB printer does not use a Virtual COM port (shows up as a COM port or LPT port) VISA will not find the port. Linked below is a forum that talks about communicating with USB devices:

http://forums.ni.com/t5/Instrument-Control-GPIB-Serial/Using-USB-without-VISA/m-p/1149110 (The title of the post is not accurate and actually talks about USB printer and VISA)

Hope this helps!