Troubleshooting printing problems

Isolating bad hardware or corrupt software

The following suggestions will help you to isolate the specific location of any bad hardware or corrupted printing software in your printing setup.

  1. Use a different method to send the job to the queue.

    If a different method works, there may be a problem with CAPTURE.EXE, NPRINT.EXE, or the options that are being used with them.

    If you are currently using CAPTURE, try NPRINT. If you are currently using NPRINT, try a DOS COPY to a captured port. Make sure you use similar options with CAPTURE and NPRINT.

  2. Print the job using CAPTURE or NPRINT using the ``HOLD'' option.

  3. Find the print job name in the queue as described in ``Checking the contents of your job for incorrect control sequences''.

  4. If it is a text file, view the contents of it using FILER.

    If the job is corrupt, the problem occurred before or while the job was written to the queue.

  5. If the job is not corrupt or you cannot tell because it is graphics, make a reference file by copying the job file to a different name or directory.

  6. Allow the job to print by removing it from hold status.

  7. Print the reference file by using PCONSOLE or NPRINT, or by copying it to a captured port.


    WARNING: When printing the reference file, do not use a print job configuration that specifies a mode. This will cause the control codes to be duplicated in the job.

  8. Compare the printout of the reference file to the first printout.

    If the two printouts are different, the job is being corrupted after it is written to the queue. There may be a problem with the printer hardware (port, cable, printer) or the print server (PSERVER), port driver (NPRINTER), or printer configuration.

  9. If the printouts are the same, print the same job from the application again using the ``HOLD'' option.

  10. Use DOS COMP, MS-DOS FC, or a similar utility to compare the reference file and the job that has been reprinted from the application.

    If these files do not compare, the job is being corrupted before or during being written to the queue.

  11. If a NetWare utility appears to have a problem, recopy it to ensure that it is not corrupt.

    If the problem persists, contact your support representative to see if there is an updated version of the utility.


© 1999 The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc. All rights reserved.
UnixWare 7 Release 7.1.1 - 5 November 1999