How to use a Printer Queue installed on Different PC than DocOut™

This document describes how you configure the Windows environment so that DocOut™ can use a printer that doesn't have a local spool queue.

DocOut™ is not able to print to printers which do not have a local spool queue. For example, DocOut™ is installed on a separate NT Server or NT Workstation, but the printers in the network are defined on another NT Server.

Since DocOut™ can only use printers which have a queue present on the same PC on which DocOut is installed, we cannot use Share Names. The reason for this is that if we define a Network Printer instead of a Local Printer, it only appears like a queue; in fact no queue is created locally.

This gives not only a problem for DocOut™, but also for NT-Workstations. If, for example, a user wants to change the Printer Settings, he is, depending on the PrintServer's Authorisation, not able to - or if he is allowed to do that, the Settings are changed on the PrintServer. This would affect all users!

The only way around this problem is to use LPR printing to the Printserver. This means, that we have to create a Local Printer using LPR on the Workstation or Server where DocOut™ is located and to allow LPR printing on the Server where the printers are defined.

On the Windows NT PrintServer, do the following:

1. Install the Microsoft TCP/IP Printing Services if not already installed.

   

2. In the System Settings select Services and look for TCP/IP Print Server.

   

3. Click on Starttype and Select Automatic. Then click on OK.
4. Now click on Start and verify that the Service shows Started.

Now the PrintServer is ready to accept Jobs via the TCP/IP LPR Protocol on all Printers defined as Shared. The Share Name is used as LPR Queue Name.

On the DocOut™ Workstation or Server, do the following:

1. Install the Microsoft TCP/IP Printing Services.
2. Add all printers using the Add Printer Wizard and select Local Printer.

   

3. Click on Add Port.
4. Select LPR Port and then New Port.

   

5. In the first field, enter the IP-Adress or IP Hostname of the Server, where the printers are defined and in the second field enter the Share Name.
6. Click on OK.
7. Click on Next.
8. Select the printer manufacturer and model
   Note: If a model is requested for the first time, Windows NT asks you to insert the Installation CD.
9. Specify a name for the printer.
   We recommend you use the same name as it is defined already in the Printserver.
10. Choose Not Shared.
11. Select Print Testpage and verify afterwards that the Testpage has been printed.

You are now able to use the defined Print Queue in DocOut™.