Microsoft KB Archive/170583

= Zero Length RU Causes a Blank Page to be Printed =

Article ID: 170583

Article Last Modified on 12/4/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Host Integration Server 2000 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft SNA Server 3.0 Service Pack 4
 * Microsoft SNA Server 4.0
 * Microsoft SNA Server 3.0 Service Pack 2
 * Microsoft SNA Server 3.0 Service Pack 3
 * Microsoft SNA Server 3.0 Service Pack 4
 * Microsoft SNA Server 4.0
 * Microsoft SNA Server 4.0 Service Pack 1
 * Microsoft SNA Server 4.0 Service Pack 2
 * Microsoft SNA Server 4.0 Service Pack 3
 * Microsoft Host Integration Server 2004 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q170583



SYMPTOMS
When a zero-length RU is sent to the SNA print server as part of a host print job, a blank page will be printed. The following is an example of a zero-length RU as captured in a SNA Server Data Link Control Message trace: 04160080->01020101 DLC DATA DAF:EC OAF:01 ODAI:off Normal RQE FMD BC EC DR1 PI BB EB

Header at address 01034418, 1 elements 04B00004 00002C00 EC010004 01002102    <......,.......!.>

Element at address 0152D5A4, start 10, end 12 0391C0                                 <.j.             > The Element portion of the preceding frame contains a Request Header (RH) of x'0391C0', but no actual data.



CAUSE
Print Server treats the zero-length RU as a unique print job where 0D 0C (CR FF) is sent to the printer. The print server calls "StartDoc" to start a new document as soon as it receives a request, and "EndDoc" when the document is complete. Even though there is no data submitted to the printer between the "StartDoc" and "EndDoc" calls, the printer will still print a form feed (FF).



RESOLUTION
There are two possible workarounds for this issue:  Configure the print session to use a PDF file. The PDF file uses "StartDocPrinter" and "EndDocPrinter" which do not automatically produce a FF. For instructions on configuring PDF files, refer to the SNA Server online help Chapter 6 Printer Definition Files.

-OR- Use the DelayPrintStart Registry parameter as discussed in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

172283 Title: Blank Page Is Printed Between Each Print Job



Keywords: kbprb KB170583

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