Alphatronics, Inc.
Virtual Port Monitor 6.0
Automating print to file for over 20 years!
Now with TCP/IP printing, SNMP, IPP, MDNS, and application debug reporting.

Create virtual printers using virtual printer ports.

Virtual Port Monitor acts as a multi-port print stream capture service. It can receive data using the most popular methods, and place the captured stream into the output folder you select.

Initially developed exclusively as a Windows printer port monitor, it has evolved to also include TCP/IP Socket, IPP, and AirPrint as endpoint options, as well as leveraging MDNS, DNS-SD, and SNMP for network discovery and configuration, enabling BYOD / driverless printing from Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux platforms.

Once the file has been written the the output folder, an executable, script, or batch program can be run with the name of the file automatically added to the end of the command line or at the position of %1. Other generated environment variables are also available for insertion into the command line.

The new Debug Reporting feature can be enabled to provide screen shots, Standard Output / Error messages, as well as security and environment information. Debug Reporting can be enabled per-port as either always enabled, disabled, or triggered upon error detection.

Key Features:
Platforms Supported:
What's New:

Dashboard

View and control the status of Virtual Port Monitor using a single application.

TCP/IP Printing

Capture printer output from network clients or loopback using a Standard TCP/IP Printer Port.

This allows the capture of Version 4 printer driver data as well.

IPP (Internet Printing Protocol)

Capture printer output from clients using Internet Printing Protocol, which is used by most portable devices.

SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)

Enables network clients to associate a printer port with a printer driver when using the Add Printer Wizard. Macintosh devices utilize SNMP for printer status when using TCP/IP Printer ports.

MDNS (Multicast Domain Name System)

Enables certain network clients to discover the network printing services of Virtual Port Monitor.

Apple AirPrint

Advertises IPP Printers to iOS clients, such as iPhones and iPads.

Raster Utility

Converts AirPrint URF and PWG raster streams to print, document, or image formats.

Line Printer Utility

Converts 9-pin dot matrix streams to print, document, or image formats.

Launcher

Simplifies the command line by using preconfigured applications for post-processing.

Debug Reporting

Per-port debug reporting can be enabled, disabled, or set to emit a report on detected error.

When enabled, it provides a detailed report of the execution environment, taking the guesswork out of troubleshooting.

Resizable dialogs

Resizing the Port Dialog and the Dashboard resizes the objects on the screen.

Dialog state

Dialogs now remember their size, position, and menu page.

Configuration information is now stored in a standard SQLite database

Eliminates issues with backup, restore, deployment, and replication.

Simply make a copy of the files located in the "%ProgramData%\Alphatronics\Virtual Port Monitor" folder.

UTC or local time for timestamped filenames.

Use the option you prefer.

JSON RPC

Internally, the Dashboard application and Port Dialog use JSON/Ajax for communications with the Alphatronics Virtual Port Monitor service.

Previous versions used SOAP.

Windows RPC thread isolation

Virtual Port Monitor no longer changes the impersonation token of the Windows RPC threads used during port configuration.

A separate isolation thread is used on both ends of the conversation.

Try before you buy!
The 30 day free trial enables you to test the functionality and speed of the product before purchase.
Version 6.0 is not considered a minor upgrade, therefore version 4 and 5.0 registration codes will not work with version 6.0 software.
Download:
Resources:
Software Terms and Conditions
Questions and Answers Page
Developer Kits
Sample Debug Report
Which license is right for you?
Revisions
Screen Shots
Purchase
Upgrading from version 5.0? Receive a one-time 15% discount for any edition by entering your version 5.0 serial number here and applying it at the time of purchase.
Single User License (Volume discounts available)
$145.00 USD
Site License (Volume discounts available)
$345.00 USD
Enterprise License
$4140.00 USD
Prices are subject to change without notice. All sales are final.