LPR.EXE Command Can Pass Control Characters to an LPD Server

ID: Q124567

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0

SUMMARY

In Windows NT 3.5, the LPR command (LPR.EXE) can be used to send a file directly to an LPD server without using Print Manager. The LPR command usually defaults to the 'f' control character, which tells the LPD server to format the incoming file, taking out any extraneous ASCII control characters.

MORE INFORMATION

It is possible to send a different control character to an LPD server through the LPR.EXE command by using the following parameter

-oX

where X is the control character that will be passed to the LPD server.

The following command is an example of using the Windows NT LPR command to send a file to a UNIX LPD server and have the file formatted as a PostScript print job:


   LPR -S 100.10.10.10 -P printq -oo c:\test.txt

   NOTE: If the -o parameter is used without a control character, LPR will
   send an 'l' control character to the LPD server, instructing it not to
   format the print job.

Control characters coming from an LPR client instruct an LPD server on how to handle the incoming print job (or data file). Not all LPD servers implement all control characters, contact the manufacturer of the LPD server to verify what control characters are supported.

For additional information on LPR.EXE, type the following at a Windows NT command prompt:


   LPR /?

For additional information on control characters and LPR/LPD, refer to RFC1179, which is the standard for TCP/IP Printing.

NOTE: LPR through the Windows NT Print Manager by default uses the 'l' control character, which tells the LPD server not to format the print job. This is necessary because a Windows NT printer driver has already formatted the job. LPR through the Print Manager can be configured in the Registry; for information on doing this, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q121786: LPR and LPD Registry Entries for TCP/IP Printing

The UNIX product discussed here is manufactured by Novell, Inc., a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

Additional query words: prodnt

Keywords : kbprint ntprint NTSrvWkst
Version : 3.5 3.51 4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type :