NetWare 4.1/9000 Print Services

D-10
Troubleshooting Printing Problems
Troubleshooting Notes
Cabling Problems
If random, unexpected characters appear in your printer output, your printer
cables may be too long or improperly attached. Make sure that everything is
connected properly and that the cabling is within specified lengths and in
good condition.
For more information on cabling, see Appendix B, “Cabling Printers.”
Incorrect Printer Configuration
Run the configuration program supplied with the printer, or use DOS
commands like MODE or PRINT to check that the printer settings are
accurate. For example, if the printer is cabled to LPT2, make sure to send
print jobs to LPT2. Use the documentation supplied with the printer to check
other necessary settings.
If you cannot get a printer cabled to a workstation to print locally, check the
workstation's NET.CFG file to see if it contains the following line:
LOCAL PRINTERS=0
If NET.CFG contains this line, temporarily remark it so it is not executed
(place a pound sign # in front of it) or change the line to read as follows:
LOCAL PRINTERS=number
(The number should be the number of printers attached to the machine).
Faulty hardware
The printer may be failing and need service or replacement. If necessary,
have faulty hardware repaired. See Appendix A, “Setting Up and Servicing
Printers” for more information.
4. Determining Whether Your Job is an ASCII Text File
Print jobs that are not ASCII text files should be printed as “Byte Stream”
files. ASCII text files may be printed as “Text” files. The difference between
these two types is whether tab conversion is enabled.
Tab conversion means that as a job is printed, a tab character is replaced by a
specified number of spaces. Tab conversion takes place if “File contents” is
set to “Text” in the print job configuration or if “Tabs” is set in the
CAPTURE command.