Printing from DOS Apps

[casual01]

Can someone tell me if it is possible to print DOS applications from a workstation to printer on a server using a Win98 SE network? Someone said something about 'to name the Logical Port Name LPT2. This will trick DOS into thinking it is printing to a LPT port", but not sure what they are talking about. Thanks for any help. Jim K.

[Nutrocker]

Hi

As fas Novell Netware is concerned you "capture" the lpt port in a batch file before the dos program starts.

With NT take a peek at this http://support.microsoft.com/support.../Q154/4/98.asp

Basically NET USE is the baby you want to play with.

Hope this helps.




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Regards
Don

http://www.nutrocker.co.uk

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[Great_One]

These steps should get your dos app to print:

1. add the printer driver on the workstation you want to print from

2. After installation, go to the printer folder and right click on the printer icon of the printer you installed. Select properties and the printer settings will be displayed.

3. Click on the details tab.

4. Click on "add port" button. Here you want to add the path to the servers printer. either enter the printer share name like "\\server\printer_name" or browse and find the printer you want to print to.

5. Now after the port is added, you should see a "Capture Printer Port" box on the same details screen. Click on it. The first box lists the lpt device you want to capture, the second box lists the path you want the printing redirected to.
If you want to capture lpt1, you would have lpt1 in the first box and for the path you would enter name of the printer port you just created ie "\\server\printer_name"
Also check the re-connect at login box as well. Now click OK.
If LPT1 is hooked to a local printer on the workstation, you can pick lpt2 and map the printer port to that.

6. Final step: On the detail screen find the box labled "Print to the following Port"
click the down arrow and select LPT1 (or LPT2 depending on which one you captured)
it should now show something like
"LPT1 (\\server\printer_name)"

Click ok and you are done.

Dos Apps generally only understand how to print to local ports. When you go to print with your dos app, it will send it to LPT1, windows will then re-direct it out over the network to the server. The dos app thinks its printing locally.