| Capturing
a Network-Node Printer to an LPT Port in Win2K
Step 1: Create a bogus printer on any server that has the target printer
defined.
- Click
Start/Settings/Printers.
- Double-click
Add Printer.
- Add
a networked printer named "Bogus Printer" (or whatever), Temporarily assign it
to a free LPT port.
- Share
the printer as "BogusPri" (or whatever).
- Complete
the process using the driver for the actual target printer.
- Right-click
the new printer and click Properties.
- Click
the Ports tab.
- Find
the IP port for the printer you need to print to. You should already see that
the working printer is
- using
that port.
- Check
the box next to the IP port.
- Click
OK.
Step 2: Create a bogus printer on the workstation. (This must be done for
each workstation that needs to use the printer.)
- Follow
the same steps as above, but this time, make it a local, non-shared printer.
- Use
the driver for the actual target printer.
- For
the printer name, use the \\servername\printername format. Use the shared printer
name you created above.
- Check
the box next to the IP port.
- Finish
the process and click OK.
- Step
3: (For Win2000 users. Win 95/98 users, see below.) Create a User Environment
Variable (This must be done for each workstation that needs to use the printer.)
- Click
Start/Settings/Control Panel.
- Double-click
System.
- Click
the Advanced tab.
- Click
the New button.
- In
the Variable Name field, enter "LPTx" (where "x" is the port number you want to
use.)
- In the
Variable Value field, enter \\servername\printername using the shared printer
name you created above.
- Click
the OK button until you're back at the Desktop.
Step
3: (For Win 95/98 users. Win2K users, skip this step.) Create an environment
variable in AUTOEXEC.BAT.
- Edit
AUTOEXEC.BAT.
- Add
a line that reads: SET LPTx=\\servername\printername using the shared printer
name you created above. (Where "x" is the port number you want to use.)
- Save
your changes and reboot.
Step
4: Set up the printer in CompuVend.
- From
the CompuVend Main Menu, press F8.
- Select
#3,
- Select #1,
Add/Change/Delete a Printer Definition.
- Describe
the printer any way you want, but enter LPTx (see the definition of "x", above)
for the Printer Port.
- Save
the record.
- Press
<Esc> twice.
- Repeat
the last 4 steps for #5, User Printer Definitions, if User definitions are used.
FYI:
This effectively uses the server as a "router" for the printer on the network
node.
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