Microsoft KB Archive/65759

Excel for OS/2: Not Recognizing Network Queue PSS ID Number: Q65759 Article last modified on 06-23-1993 PSS database name: W_eXceL

2.20 2.21

OS/2

Summary:

Microsoft Excel for OS/2 will read the OS2.INI file for information that it displays in the File menu’s Printer Setup dialog box. Any queue that is not defined in this file will not display as a valid queue in Excel.

Many networks allow network administrators to dynamically assign a print queue to users at their workstations. This queue will appear in the Print Manager as a queue that looks something like the following:

\SERVERNAME

Print Manager shows this queue to allow the workstation to monitor the print queue at the server. It will not display under Setup Queue in Print Manager or in Excel’s Printer Setup dialog box because no entry has been made to the OS2.INI file. Therefore, this queue cannot be changed or configured from any workstation.

More Information:

You can assign a network printer to a port (on IBM LanServer and MS LANMAN compatible networks, for example) with a NET USE command that looks something like the following:

NET USE LPT1: \SERVERNAME

This command redirects the output of a printer driver assigned to use LPT1 to the \SERVERNAMEprinter. It is the assignment of a printer driver to utilize a certain port that allows the NET USE command to function properly.

When printing to a port that is redirected, the print job will first spool to the local queue for LPT1, then appear to spool in the \SERVERNAMEqueue. The job will then be removed from the local queue and the server queue will indicate that the job is printing.

It is suggested to define a printer name under Print Manager Setup Printer that uses the appropriate printer driver and a network administrator defined port; NETPRINTER on LPT8 using the IBM4201 printer driver, for example. This will create the necessary entries in the OS2.INI file at the workstation.

The network administrator would then issue a global NET USE command and redirect the output of LPT8 to the appropriate network printer.

This method is recommended by both Microsoft and IBM.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1993.