Remote printing from Windows applications

Symantec.com > Home & Home Office > Support > Knowledge Base

PRINT THIS SOLUTION

RATE THIS SOLUTION

Remote printing from Windows applications

I want to create and configure the remote printer

STEP 1

I want to create and configure the remote printer

I have pcAnywhere 9.0

1: Make a pcAnywhere connection to the host computer.

2: On the host computer, launch pcAnywhere.

3: Click Tools > Application Options. The Application Options window appears.

4: Click the Remote Printing tab, and then click Add. A printer selection list appears.

5: Select the printer manufacturer and the printer model from the list, and then click Next.

6: Enter a name for the printer, and then click Finish.

This printer is automatically assigned to Pcaw.prn.

I have pcANYWHERE32 8.x

1: Make a pcANYWHERE connection to the host computer.

2: On the host computer, launch pcANYWHERE32.

3: Click File > Application Options. The Application Options window appears.

4: Click Remote printing > Add. A printer selection list appears.

5: Select the printer manufacturer and the printer model from the list, and then click Next.

6: Enter a name for the printer, and then click Finish.

This printer is automatically assigned to Pcaw.prn (PCAW under Windows 2000).

	I have pcANYWHERE32 7.x
	Add a printer in the Windows control panel, ensuring you assign that printer to Pcaw.prn.

STEP 2

Configure the remote printer

STEP 1

Check whether the printer in remote compute can print properly

In most situations, the default configuration for the printer is the proper configuration.

1: In the printer Properties, click the details tab > Spool Settings.

2

The default settings are:

Spool print jobs so program finishes printing faster
Start printing after first page is spooled
Spool data format equals "EMF"

STEP 2

Select the correct printer (this is done at the Host):

Ensure that the Windows application is printing to the printer assigned to the Pcaw.prn port (PCAW under Windows 2000).

To do this, either make the PCAW printer the default printer or select the PCAW printer from the application (this is typically done by clicking the File menu and then clicking Print or Print Setup).

STEP 3

Assign the Pcaw.prn printer as the default printer:

1: Click Start > Settings > Printer. The Printers window appears.

2: Select the remote printer.

3: Click File and then click Set as Default.

4: Close the Printer window.

A printer assigned to LPTx or PRN will print to the host. If you want to print to both the remote and the host, you will have to print twice -- once to the Pcaw.prn printer and once to the LPTx printer.

Troubleshoot the remote printing

Choose the situation

Nothing happens when you print from the application at the host

STEP 1

Ensure you are printing to the correct printer and that printer is assigned to Pcaw.prn

I have Windows 9x/ME/XP

1: Click Start > Settings > Printers.

2: Right-click the printer you've created for remote printing and then click Properties.

3: On the Properties screen, click the Details tab.

4: Check Print to the following port field. It should read "pcaw.prn (unknown local port)".

If it does not, change it to pcaw.prn, and then click Apply.

5: Click OK.

I have Windows 2000

6: Click Start > Settings > Printers.

7: Right-click the printer you've created for remote printing and then click Properties.

8: On the Properties screen, click the Ports tab.

9: In the Port column, verify that the PCAW port is checked. If not, click the checkbox next to it.

10: Click OK.

STEP 2

Check the manufacturer and model of the printer

Check the manufacturer and model of the printer you are printing to. A number of modern multi-function, laser and jet printers will not remote print. Either the printer drivers do not support remote printing or the printer drivers actually replace or supplant the Windows print spooling system which makes remote printing impossible. For a list printers that cannot remote print, please see the document Error: "This Printer and/or Driver does not Support Remote Printing".

STEP 3

Check whether the printer ports are captured to a network printer

If you are on a Novell network, your printer ports may be captured to a network printer. End print capturing to remote print successfully.

1: Click Start > Settings > Printer. The Printers window appears.

2: Right-click the printer used for remote printing and then click Properties on the shortcut menu.

3: Click the Details tab.

4: Click End Capture.

5: A list of captured printers will appear. Select the appropriate printer, and then click OK. This will end capturing of that particular printer.

You only get a partial print or you lose connection during the remote print

STEP 1

Lower the speed (data rate) on your modem

If you are connected to the host via modem, you may need to slow down the data rates on the modems. Most modern modems are rated for and installed for 115,200 bits per second. This is generally too fast for data transfers (including remote printing) across modems and will cause transfers or connections to stop responding or to drop.

1: Right-click the pcAnywhere connection item and then click Properties.

2: On the Connection Info tab, click Details.

3: Change the Data rate setting to 38,400 and then click OK.

4: Repeat this at the other end of the connection.

STEP 2

Change the spool setting

The default EMF (Enhanced MetaFile) printer setting in Windows creates an image of the print job and then sends it to the printer. If this image is too large, the printer may truncate the print job. This can happen with older printer models. Sometimes changing the spool format to RAW resolves this.

1: At the host, Click Start > Settings > Printers. The Printers window appears.

2: Right-click the printer you have created for remote printing and then click Properties.

3: On the Properties screen, click Details tab > Spool Settings.

4: Change the Spool data format to RAW, and then click Apply.

5: Click OK.

6: Ensure that the printer at the remote is also set this way.

Available Translations:

RATE THIS SOLUTION: Was this solution helpful to you?
Yes
No; If any information was unclear, or the information you were seeking was not provided, please let us know. Your feedback will help us improve this service.
NOTE: Comments entered here will NOT recieve a personal email response.

Document ID: 1999111116103012
Last Modified: 11/04/2006
Date Created: 11/11/1999
Operating System(s): Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows Me, Windows NT3.51
Product(s): pcAnywhere 9.0