Hello all, 

I am trying to get a temporary Q&A system set up to run along side Sesame until the database translation and testing is completed.  There is only one hurdle to get over, we would like four printers to run off the file-server in Q&A possibly over a print-server, because we use masses of pre-printed forms it is better than having the printers local.

I have tried it with an IBM 4072 pro-printer with a HP Print-server but it isnt being recognised as a valid LPT device in Q&A.  It just sits there at "Waiting for printer"

The present setup has Novell which handles the task of re-mapping the printers and it works okay but is to be replaced.

What other method could be used to make Q&A see network printers and to be able to select them as a LPT port in Q&A? 

Back in the 80's I simply used DOS with a RPTI Network and that was fab,  now, with Windows it seems to be a difficult task.

A few details: 
Windows 2000 running as a simple file server for Q&A
Windows 2000 running Sesame in server mode
8 Windows 2000 Workgroup Clients connecting to Q&A

Sesame will not be connected to the clients untill all is finished on the translation side, first the database translations and then I need to translate all the Sesame commands into German so it can be understood by the users.

I have probably written this to be more complicated than it really is but here goes.  Look forward to your valuable input.

Thanks for your help Bob,

that seems to work a treat even with my router's built-in USB print-server.  I may have to disable the local LPT1 ports as described in a M$ tech sheet due to non-admins not being able to re-map a physical port but I can live with that.

Yes, in theory.

I don't think I have ever used it, but as long as the destination is a device on a shared COM port, I think it should be ok.  Should look something like this:

NET USE COM2: \\SharedSource\SharedDeviceName /PERSISTENT = YES

Should also be sure that source and destination COM device settings are identical re parity, bits, speed, etc.
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This is only needed on Win200x\XP systems.  Older systems just use the Capture Tab on the Windows Printer.