[BC] DOS programs on Windows 2000 O/S

[Sid Schweiger]

Jeff Glass inquires:  "Will the Windows 2000 O/S accept and carry out print commands from a DOS program that's running in the Win2000 DOS window? All I want it to do is print on a locally connected printer."

I've had to deal with this a number of times, since we're still using the DOS version of Selector.  There is a way to do this, which you only need configure once:

1) Share the printer and give it a share name that's eight characters or less.

2) Map the LPT1: port to it, using the command:

NET USE LPT1 \\computer_name\printer_share_name /PERSISTENT:YES

Just to be safe, I write up that command as a batch file and put a shortcut to the file in the Startup folder.  Note:  This command will not work unless the logged-in user is a computer administrator.

Sid Schweiger
IT Manager, Entercom New England
20 Guest St / 3d Floor
Brighton MA  02135-2040