Cannot Set Default Printer to Network Print Queue from Word

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c

SYMPTOMS

In Word for Windows, choosing the Set As Default Printer button may fail to set a network print queue as the default Windows printer.

CAUSE

Word cannot set a network print queue as the default Windows printer if the name of the network print queue contains an open parenthesis character [(]. For example, Word cannot set the following network print queue as the default Windows printer due to the "(" character:

   LASER(FRONT_OF_OFFICE)

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Word versions 6.0 and 6.0a for Windows. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

WORKAROUNDS

Method 1: Switch to Windows Control Panel and choose the Printers icon to

          set the default printer. Word can print to a network print queue
          whose name contains an open parenthesis, even though it cannot
          set that print queue as the default printer.

          parenthesis character. For example, change LASER(FRONT_OF_OFFICE)
          to the following:

             LASER_FRONT_OF_OFFICE