Applications Hang When Printing to a Printer Set to "Use Printer Offline"

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to print from an application on a computer running Windows 2000 to a printer that is set to Use Printer Offline, the application appears to stop responding (hang) while attempting to print.

CAUSE

On the Advanced tab on Printer Properties, the printer is set to Print Directly to Printer. When this is selected in combination with Use Printer Offline, the computer is put into a state where printing cannot take place, because the operating system cannot spool and store the job for later processing on behalf of the application. The application then continues to try to print until the printer is removed from Use Printer Offline state.

RESOLUTION

To prevent this behavior, on the Advanced tab on Printer Properties, click to clear the "Print Directly to Printer" check box; this will allow the computer to spool the job while the printer is offline.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce the Behavior

1. Install a printer (local or network).



2. Right-click the printer, click the Advanced tab, select Print Directly to Printer, and then OK back out to the printer folder.



3. Right-click the printer and select Use Printer Offline.



4. Attempt to print from any installed application.

Additional query words:

Keywords :
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb