big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

I am going on vacation for 3 weeks and will be in the back woods so remote connecting will be a rare occurrence. Short of purchasing a RIP program I am looking for a method to have the printers print a photo or graphic every 2 days so the ink and heads don't dry up. This is for a 44" and 24" printer and not the little 13". Anyone have any ideas?

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

wonder if this could be done in Windows scheduler by periodically printing a document?

big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

OK, I can get a program to open but then how do I tell it to print? to X printer?

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

When I know my printer will not be used for awhile I turn it off. Then when the time comes I run a head cleaning routine. The ink tanks get emptied by about the same amount that bidaily maibtenance prints would use.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

I tested this command on my HP LaserJet 1020 to verify it printed a test page - it works...

RUNDLL32 PRINTUI.DLL,PrintUIEntry /n"HP LaserJet 1020" /k

Create a batch file using this command and place in Task Scheduler - set the time frame for print.

IF uncomfortable with batch files - this is an option -

[OPTIONAL]
#Go in "Devices and Printers"
#Rename the desired printer to something easy.
Example:
"Lexmark Pro900 Series (Network)" printer into "Lexmark Pro900" a easier spelling of the printer name.

[REQUIRED]
#Go in Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Task Scheduler
#Click on Action -> Create Basic Task...
#Type a name for your Scheduled Task (in my case I've typed: ScheduledPrintTest) then click Next
#Select Daily then click Next
#Customize as needed then click Next
#Start a program should be selected, click Next
#Type the following command quotes included (change HP LaserJet 1020 for your printer name) then click Next:
cscript C:\Windows\System32\Printing_Admin_Scripts\en-US\prnqctl.vbs -e -p "HP LaserJet 1020"
#An info popup may appear, if so click Yes
#Now you can click Finish or check the "Open the properties dialog..." box then Finish to access advanced features.

Should be good to go...

BobU Loc: Sarasota Florida

I have been using the Harvey Head Cleaner software for a few years now and it does just what you are looking for. I have mine set to print a test pattern every 2 days for two Epson large format printers.

If your printer is supported, it may be what you are looking for.

http://www.harveyheadcleaner.com/index.html

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

Humm, interesting, I have a couple older HP 500C 24" & 42" plotters and a couple Epson's, 2880 and 3880 that at times sit for a couple weeks without printing, lately I have been turning them off which I never did, (just to conserve while running the A/C constantly. When I do use them, the HP's come to life on first print (no clogging), the Epson printers on the other hand I usually have to run a nozzle clean. (a waste of ink of coarse) ya think they would build in a cleaning solution cartridge. After printing, run the cleaner, then prior to printing, you re-charge the nozzles by printing a 5x7, pretty sure less ink used than a cleaning. But doing that would drop sales for Epson ink. So I guess the cleaning idea is out the window. :(

big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

The bat file works but prints a 36" page with some basic text and just a wee MS Windoze logo. Not a viable solution. The second option does nothing, command window pops up and then disappears but nothing else. Thanks for trying.

big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

This looks like a possibility. The web site doesn't cover 12 ink systems but they offer to possibly create one so I sent in the email request. Here's hoping. Thanks for the info.

big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

Thanks, tried that approach as well but after turning on and having it run through several self-clean sessions followed by sending a legit print only to have it run 1 "or more" additional clean cycles I gave up on this idea. After talking with the local Canon print rep, he states that leaving a printer on draws virtually no power while not printing but it does allow for the printer to agitate the inks every so often which is a good thing. Currently, I have found that sending a print job every 3-4 days will not entail a cleaning cycle.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

I hear you....as I mentioned, I usually keep everything on, (home office) computers, printers etc. When the C/A is off for the season, the printers will go back on and stay on.

Sportshooter57 Loc: Seattle

The latest version of QImage (QImage Ultimate 2017) includes this maintenance feature. QImage runs on Windows machines only:
http://www.ddisoftware.com/qimage-u/index.html

Jim Bob

Holy sh*t! You're a damn genius.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

What kind of printer is it? I've got a Canon Pixma Pro printer and I just returned from a seminar about them and if they are left on, they go to sleep with the print head parked. If turned off properly, and the print head is parked, the nozzles don't plug up. There was only one case where the host had a problem and that was when he sent some Canon printers to Las Vegas and when they arrived they sat in a white enclosure outside in 115 degree heat for 3 or 4 days. The heads cleared up after many head alignments etc. but that was an extreme condition to be leaving them in. If your printer is made within the last 5 years or so, I should think you won't have a problem letting it sit for 3 weeks.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

For sure going use the batch file....thanks for the tips...
Doug