Overview of MacPrint Services for Windows NT Server

• Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.5 and 3.51
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0

This article describes all features and characteristics of the Print Server for Macintosh (also called MacPrint) and Macintosh printing.

All PostScript printers supported by Windows NT are also supported by MacPrint.

MacPrint prints jobs from Macintosh clients with LaserWriter Chooser version 5.2 or later. Because of compatibility problems with PostScript dictionaries that use the EXITSERVER command, some printers do not support jobs from Macintoshes using Chooser versions 5.2 or 6.0. The official client requirements for Services for Macintosh on the client side are Apple System Software version 6.08 or later, which installs supported versions of the LaserWriter driver.

Jobs from LaserWriter Chooser versions earlier than 7.0 are played through the PostScript to GDI converter regardless of the driver specified for the Windows NT printer. If the Windows NT printer driver is PostScript, and the job is from a version 7.0 or later LaserWriter Chooser, then the PostScript will be played to the printer in RAW mode.

MacPrint does not cache PostScript dictionaries as it was done in Chooser version 1.0. This was a complex process that did not work with all client types and did not provide clear performance enhancements.

What Happened to the PPD Files?

Unlike version 1.0, this version of MacPrint does not require PPD files describing the various PostScript printers used by the server. Instead, Windows NT version 3.1 provides a mechanism to query for the same information provided by PPD files.

Why Doesn't it Display Job Information?

The Windows NT Print Manager displays numerous pieces of information about print jobs, including the name of the document, document owner, and the number of pages. Adobe's Document Structuring Conventions allow the Macintosh client to include this information in the print job. If the information is included in the print job, MacPrint gives it to the Windows NT 3.1 Print Manager; otherwise, the Document Name defaults to "Macintosh Document," the owner defaults to "MacPrint," and the number of pages is not specified.

About Printer Messages

The Windows NT Print Manager provides clients who submit print jobs messages about print job status (for example, Print Job Complete). These messages are NOT provided for Macintosh clients in this release.

What About Security?

The MacPrint service runs under the security context of the MacPrint user account. It is therefore possible to protect a Windows NT 3.1 Printer from Macintosh clients as a group by restricting access to the MacPrint user account. See your "Administrator's Guide" for complete information on setting up the MacPrint user account.