Printing From VersaForm on a Win2K/XP Workstation

The Windows 95/98/ME environment allowed you to capture a printer port. Win2K/XP does not have that option. To direct a print job to a specific network printer use the “net use” command at the command prompt.

Here is the syntax:

net use lptx \\server\printer persistent

• Where the “x” is the LPT port on the workstation – 1, 2, or 3
• If the server or printer name contains spaces or special characters enclose the phrase in quotes “\\server\printer”.

To determine the “\\server\printer” information follow these steps:

• Click on Start
• Click on Control Panel
• Click on Printers
• Locate the icon for the printer you have installed – right click on it
• Left click on “properties”
• In the properties dialog there is a tab for “Ports”, left click on it
• 
• Your printer will have a check mark by it.
• To see the full path for the printer put the cursor on the line to the left of “Description”.
• The cursor shape will change. Hold down the left mouse button and drag to the right until you can see all of the information
• 
• In this example the \\server\printer is \\test\hp 4000”.

To issue the net use command you will want to be at a command prompt:

· Click on Start

· Click on Run

· Type in “cmd”

· Click on OK

· A command window will open.

· At the prompt type the net use command.

· In this example we would type:

o Net use lpt3 “\\test\hp 4000” persistent

· Then press enter.

· This directs all print jobs sent to LPT3 to the printer called “hp 4000” on the computer called “test”. The “persistent” tells the computer to re-set this connection when the computer starts up.

· If the command is successful you will see:

o Command completed successfully.

To direct a print job to a LPT port in VersaForm follow these steps:

• Anywhere in the program press ALT+U to open the “Utilities Menu”.
• 
• Take the first choice “Printer functions…” and press Enter
• 
• Highlight the port of choice (“Standard Printer” is LPT1) and press Enter.
• All print jobs will then be sent to that LPT port until it is changed.
• When the program starts “Standard Printer” (LPT1) is selected automatically.