Printing on Unsupported UNIX-Based Networks (Windows)

ID: Q84184


The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows versions 3.1, 3.11


SYMPTOMS

When you print to an unsupported UNIX-based network, such as PC-NFS, through Microsoft Windows version 3.1, the print job may fail.


CAUSE

Printing problems in a network installation have a variety of causes. Follow the troubleshooting steps in this article to locate the problem and correct it.


WORKAROUND

There are a variety of utilities that connect MS-DOS machines to UNIX machines, where the UNIX system is a file and printer server. Usually, the MS-DOS client runs a TCP/IP terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR) program that redirects all printing to a parallel port to the UNIX machine. There are several things to consider if you have trouble printing from Windows.

  1. Start the network redirector from MS-DOS before you start Windows.


  2. If Windows was installed or upgraded with the network running, then Windows sees it and Print Manager selects the Update Network Display and Print Net Jobs Direct check boxes. These two check boxes should NOT be selected. Run Print Manager and choose Network Settings from the Options menu, then clear the appropriate check boxes.


  3. You should run the Control Panel, choose Printers, and select the port LPT1.DOS (or LPT1.OS2 if this Windows installation was upgraded from Windows 3.0 to 3.1):

    1. Run Control Panel and choose Printers.


    2. Choose the Connect button and choose Port LPT1.DOS.


    3. Choose OK and then choose the Close button.


    NOTE: Clearing the Fast Printing Direct To Port check box doesn't allow the system to print, you must choose LPT.x for the port.


  4. If you are printing to a PostScript printer, add the following line to the WIN.INI file's [modelname,port] section:
    CTRLD=0
    An example of the [modelname,port] section would be:
    [Apple LaserWriter II NTX,LPT3]
    This strips the CTRL+D used for resetting the printer from the print job because UNIX-based networks consider the CTRL+D to be an end of file character.


NOTE: At the MS-DOS level or in an MS-DOS application run from Windows, you may not see the print job until the application is exited. For example, run WordPerfect and send a print job. Nothing happens until WordPerfect is exited or the WordPerfect Shell command is used to go out to MS-DOS. This is because the redirector does not know when the print job has actually ended. Turning off the Print Net Jobs Direct box in Print Manager and switching back to LPT1 corrects the problem.

Additional query words: 3.10 tcpip tops stika pcnfs sun eof word perfect dos pc nfs control sitka kbnetwork black square rip ^d linotronic 3.11 hangs current error locks locked Winword pc-nfs

Keywords :
Version : WINDOWS:3.1,3.11
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :


Last Reviewed: November 24, 1999
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