Obscure error when printing

[SamuelC]

I have an app which supports standard output to a printer, using TPrinter, built in Delphi 6 on an NT network. The output device is a network printer.

While debugging, I invariable get the message "Operation not supported by selected printer" when a print job begins. I sometimes, but not always, also get a message about failure to initialise a spool DLL. Delphi then displays the CPU windows.

This app is used by over 1000 people, and most have no problem when running the EXE file directly. However, I few get the same error message. I am unable to reproduce the fault, (except from the debugger, which doesn't help to identify the problem.)

Can anyone please explain what's going on, and how to get round the problem?

Regards
Samuel

 

[footpad]

Samuel,

I would compare the configuration of working systems against the ones that don't work. It sounds like the problematic systems are either configured to print without using the spooler or may be running out of disk space on the TEMP drive (which would prevent the spool files from being created).

If niether seems to be the problem, then I'd start checking the printer drivers and their settings. For example, I saw a similar problem a few years back in an area sharing a farily nice HP network laser. In that case, the final problem was related to the configuration of the printer drivers on the problematic machinge; they weren't configured properly for the printer as it was installed (it had more memory and optional equipment than what was reflected in the printer driver defaults).

Not saying that's your problem, but it is where I'd start looking.

Hope this helps...

-- Lance