Generic
Device Type SWIN for Microsoft Windows Printing
Definition
SWIN is a generic, that is device-independent, device type for Microsoft Windows printers. When you create a device definition for a Microsoft Windows printer in the SAP System, you can use the generic Microsoft Windows device type SWIN instead of the printer-specific device type (such as HPLJ4). You can use SWIN as a device type for all printers for which a driver is installed in the Microsoft Windows system.
With SWIN, you can also use Microsoft Windows printer support to access an output device even if the device type is not supported by the SAP System, that is, no print controls, formats, or format actions have been specified for the device type.
Assume that the SAP System does not contain a definition for your laser printer Kalahari 1202. However, you have installed this printer under Microsoft Windows and can print to it with no problems. In this case, you do not need to specify Kalahari 1202 as the specific device type in the SAP device definition. It is sufficient to enter SWIN as the device type to be able to use the Kalahari 1202 from your SAP System.
Use
You should use SWIN in your Microsoft Windows system in the following cases:
● The restrictions listed below that apply when printing using SWIN are acceptable and you want to take advantage of the special features and simplified printer set-up that SWIN offers.
● You want to print SAP list output on a color printer. SWIN replicates the predefined SAP list color schemes on any color printer supported by Microsoft Windows.
In addition to SWIN, the device types HPLJ4000, KYOFS170, and POST2 support color printing. Color printing is not possible with other device types.
● You want to print SAP list output in halftone (gray scale, with gray background shading).
In addition to SWIN, device types HPLJ4000, KYOFS170, and POST2 also offer halftone conversion of SAP list colors.
● You are having trouble getting a Microsoft Windows printer to work correctly with its printer-specific SAP device type (such as HPLJIIID).
Assume that you are using a shared network printer and you are encountering network or other problems. In this case, you should use SWIN. SWIN uses the Microsoft Windows API interface, that is, the communication with the printer is performed by Microsoft Windows.
Constraints
You can print any type of SAP output (lists and SAP forms) on a SWIN printer. However, the following restrictions apply:
● SWIN always requires SAPSprint.
● Output using the SWIN device type usually takes longer than using a printer-specific device type, as the output is performed using the Microsoft Windows printer driver.
● Bar code printing is possible only if an appropriate .DLL file (dynamic link library) is available in the Microsoft Windows system. This restriction applies even if the printer has a bar code cartridge, because Microsoft Windows cannot pass the required print commands to the printer. For more information, see SAP Note 14561.
● SWIN can only print SAP presentation graphics is the output device is set up with a graphics driver delivered with the SAP System.
Integration
You can create two device definitions for each printer, one with SWIN as the device type, the other with the printer-specific device type. In that way, you can take advantage of the features of both device types. You can then select the device type according to the printing features you require.
See also:
Defining Output Devices for Microsoft Windows Printing
