How to Print a Web Page (HTML) to a Dot-Matrix Printer (e.g., Epson LQ-2180) in Text Mode?

[filbertumbawa15]

The Question​

Scenario:

I have a web-based application (like an inventory system or a point-of-sale) that generates invoices and reports as HTML pages. I need to print these onto multi-part carbon copy paper using our reliable old Epson LQ-2180 dot-matrix printer.

The Problem:

Printing directly from the browser (e.g., Chrome's Ctrl+P) is problematic:

1. It's slow: The browser tries to render the full graphical page, which is very slow on a dot-matrix printer.
2. It looks wrong: Fonts, layouts, and margins don't translate well. The output is often garbled or poorly aligned.
3. It's wasteful: It uses a lot of ribbon trying to print graphics and rich formatting.

I don't want the graphics, colors, or fancy CSS layouts. I just want the core text content (headings, paragraphs, and especially data from tables) printed in the printer's native, fast "Text Mode" or "Draft Mode".

If I save the HTML file and try to send it to the printer from the command line, it just prints all the raw HTML tags like <h1>, <table>, <td>, etc.

The Goal:

How can I take a URL, extract its meaningful text content, and send it directly to an LQ-2180 printer in raw text mode, bypassing the graphical print driver?

 

[rk911]

Try selecting and copying just the text to a word processing document (Word, Notepad, etc) and then print that.

- Use the mouse to select the text
- Press CONTROL + C to copy that text
- Press CONTROL + V to paste the copied text to a blank document

 

[filbertumbawa15]

Try selecting and copying just the text to a word processing document (Word, Notepad, etc) and then print that.

- Use the mouse to select the text
- Press CONTROL + C to copy that text
- Press CONTROL + V to paste the copied text to a blank document

How to get the styling of the HTML?
Couldn't we get?
Like bold, underline, sizing text, or etc?

 

[rk911]

I know of no way to do that but you can modify/alter the document yourself.