How can I print to a network printer from a DOS application under Windows NT, 2000, or XP?
Unlike Windows 95/98/ME, there is no graphical means of 'mapping' or 'capturing' a LPT port to redirect it to a network printer. Instead, you must use the NET USE command to accomplish this.
- Press the Windows Start icon
- Select Run...
- Enter "COMMAND" or "CMD" in the Open text box and press OK
- Type "NET USE LPTx: \\\ /PERSISTENT:YES"
where x is the LPT port you wish to capture (i.e. "LPT2:"), refers to the computer name of the machine where the printer is located, and is the name of the shared printer on that computer. (Do not type the quotes or angle brackets)
- Press
- You may now print to the captured LPT port.
This only needs to be done once since the /PERSISTENT:YES portion of the command tells Windows to establish this connection each time the machine is booted.
Microsoft recommends against capturing (mapping) any printer port which is physically represented on the local computer, such as LPT1: which is the machine's parallel printer port. This is true even if there is not a printer attached to the port.
We suggest using LPT2:, LPT3:, LPT4: etc. You will also need to change the CONFIG for the system to print to the selected port instead of LPT1:.
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