We need to map a USB printer to a LPT port so that Control under windows can print to it. This can be achieved by sharing the printer, and then mapping it to a LPT port. This gives several problems. one is that windows will refuse to connect/print to the share if your network connection is not up. The other is that it does not remember the connection after a reboot.

In order to print from DOS in an offline environment like the stores, you will need to do a couple of things.

  1. Install the Microsoft Loopback Adapter
    • In Control Panel, double click on Add Hardware.
    • Click Next
    • When the scan finishes, select "Yes, I have already connected the hardware"
    • Click Next
    • Scroll to the bottom of the list and select "Add a new hardware device" Click Next
    • Select "Install the hardware that I manually select from a list (Advanced)"
    • Click Next
    • Select "Network Adapters"
    • Click Next
    • Select "Microsoft" under the Manufacturer list.
    • Select "Microsoft Loopback Adapter" in the Network Adapter list.
    • Click Next
    • Click Next
    • Click Finish
  2. Configure the Adapter
    • The loopback adapter is a virtual network adapter and can be configured the same as a regular network card.
    • Set the adapter to have a static IP address such as 10.0.30.1/ 255.255.255.0
  3. Share the printer.
    • It is recommend you use a share name that you will remember. I used “Docket” for thermal docket printers, and "laser" for full A4 laser printers.
  4. Capture the printer port.

    • NET USE LPT1: \\[Computer Name]\Printer /PERSISTENT:YES

[Computer Name] is either the computer's name or the IP address you mapped to the loopback adapter. Once you have done the above and tested it, store the command into a text file in your CCDIR and name it setprnt.bat. Create a shortcut in your Program Files->Startup menu to this file. Reboot the computer and make sure printing still works.

A related but different configuration is if you actually want to connect to a password protected windows share. The command is

* NET USE LPT1: \\[Computer Name]\Printer [password] /PERSISTENT:YES /USER:[username]

Printing_to_USB_printer_from_windows (last edited 2013-09-18 06:09:34 by localhost)