HP Printer Display Hack

[tonedeaf]

I found a C# version of this hack on the internet.

Didn't take me long to convert it to an AutoIt script

Change $strPrinterIP value to Network IP Address of the printer.

Some printers have an option to print their configuration, look for the IP Address under TCP/IP.

Also, check Printer properties in Printers & Faxes in Control Panel, you can find the IP Address in the Ports Tab.

; Modify the Network Printer IP address and the message to display on the LCD screen
; Make sure the message is short enough to fit on the printer display

$strPrinterIP = "10.30.210.40"
$strMessage = "INSERT COIN"

TCPStartUp()

$socPrinter = TCPConnect($strPrinterIP, 9100)
If $socPrinter = -1 Then Exit

$strCommand = Chr(27) & Chr(27) & "%-12345X@PJL RDYMSG DISPLAY = " & Chr(34) & $strMessage & Chr(34) & @LF & Chr(27) & "%-12345X" & @LF

TCPSend($socPrinter, $strCommand)

Results on my company printer

It'll also work on printers which accept PCL/PJL commands. My success rate is 100% on all the printers.

Some more examples:

BUZZ OFF

STEP AWAY

SET TO STUN

PAT EATS MICE

GO AWAY

NEED MORE SPACE

POUR ME A DRINK

IN DISTRESS

FEED ME

RADIATION LEAK

NICE SHIRT!

HANDS UP

PRESS MY BUTTONS

INSERT DISK

LOOKS LIKE RAIN

BUY ME LUNCH

TAKE A BREAK

INSERT QUARTER

NO PRINT FOR YOU

NICE HAIR

NEED A MINT?

Edited February 12, 2008 by tonedeaf

[JRSmile]

THATS THE FUKN BEST HACK IVE EVER SEEN

i created a script that turns all our printers into a slot machine ...

[bAR] [bAR] [bAR]

Best regards,

J

[ptrex]

@tonedeaf

This is what I call real amusement !!

very nice !!

regards

ptrex

[gseller]

This will be alot of fun at work, specially since I sit on the other side of a cube wall from the printer. Haha.. Thanks for sharing..

[Bert]

One better. I made a GUI to make it easy and it remembers your last entry. I also made it so you can access the embedded webserver most HP printers have.

expandcollapse popup

#include <GuiConstants.au3>
#include <IE.au3>

GuiCreate("Set message on HP Printer", 381, 197,-1, -1 , BitOR($WS_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW, $WS_CLIPSIBLINGS))
$ini = IniRead(@ScriptDir&"/printerCFG.ini", "1", "1", "")
$ini2 = IniRead(@ScriptDir&"/printerCFG.ini", "1", "2", "")
$Input_1 = GuiCtrlCreateInput($ini2, 40, 40, 310, 20)
$Input_2 = GuiCtrlCreateInput($ini, 40, 100, 310, 20)
$Button_3 = GuiCtrlCreateButton("Set", 40, 130, 40, 20)
$Button_4 = GuiCtrlCreateButton("Exit", 95, 130, 40, 20)
$Button_5 = GuiCtrlCreateButton("Access printer via embedded webserver", 150, 130, 200, 20)
$Label_5 = GuiCtrlCreateLabel("IP Address of printer", 40, 20, 110, 20)
$Label_6 = GuiCtrlCreateLabel("Message to be displayed", 40, 80, 120, 20)

GuiSetState()
While 1
    $msg = GuiGetMsg()
    Select
    Case $msg = $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE or $msg = $Button_4
        ExitLoop
    Case $msg = $Button_3
        _setmessage()
    Case $msg = $Button_5
        $strPrinterIP = GUICtrlRead($Input_1)
        _IECreate("http://"&$strPrinterIP)
    Case Else
;;;
    EndSelect
WEnd
Exit

func _setmessage()
    $strPrinterIP = GUICtrlRead($Input_1)
    $strMessage = GUICtrlRead($Input_2)
    TCPStartUp()
    $socPrinter = TCPConnect($strPrinterIP, 9100)
    If $socPrinter = -1 Then 
        MsgBox(48, "Error!", "IP is incorrect or Printer is not online")
    else    
        $strCommand = Chr(27) & Chr(27) & "%-12345X@PJL RDYMSG DISPLAY = " & Chr(34) & $strMessage & Chr(34) & @LF & Chr(27) & "%-12345X" & @LF
        TCPSend($socPrinter, $strCommand)
        IniWrite(@ScriptDir&"/printerCFG.ini", "1", "1", $strMessage)
        IniWrite(@ScriptDir&"/printerCFG.ini", "1", "2", $strPrinterIP)
    endif
EndFunc

Edited February 12, 2008 by Volly

[gseller]

@ Volly - SWEET, I was thinking of doing something like that but would never have thought about the embedded part... Nice!

[daremo]

This worked on a Dell printer as well.

[Darth]

Volly can I hug you?

[Achilles]

This is awesome! Thanks tonedeaf and Volly!

Edit: Quick question, I don't have a printer but am planning on using this at school... Does it reset when you exit the script? Or can you just hit reset on the printer... or reset the text to the original?

Edited February 20, 2008 by Piano_Man

[blitzkrg]

confirmed working on lexmark printers as well.

This is great thanks!

[James]

It would be nice if this worked on epson!

[james3mg]

Dang...no joy on a HP DesignJet750c+

[James]

I converted it to VB and used it at college! It's ace!

[Swift]

How do I get the printers IP?

[James]

You will need to look for ports.

[Swift]

how do I check my ports for my printer?

[James]

Microsoft Firewall checks for these so AutoIt should be able to. Look at Google!

[Swift]

How Do I get my printer IP? I wanna try this

[ptrex]

@SWift

Download HP JetAdmin and you see them all nicely in a Gui.

regards

ptrex