Knowledge Base

PRB: Cannot Specify Multiple Port Names Under Windows 95

Article ID: 158361

Article Last Modified on 7/11/2005

Microsoft Platform Software Development Kit-January 2000 Edition, when used with:
- Microsoft Windows 95

This article was previously published under Q158361

4.00 WINDOWS kbprint kbprb

SYMPTOMS

SetPrinter fails when pPortName is set to multiple ports under Windows 95.

If printer pooling is desired, Windows NT should be used. Otherwise, a single port should be specified under Windows 95.

CAUSE

The use of multiple ports (printer pooling) is not supported under Windows 95.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

The Win32 SDK documentation for PRINTER_INFO_2 states that multiple port names can be specified in the pPortName field. However, the documentation fails to state that this is only valid under Windows NT. Printers may not be connected to multiple ports under Windows 95.

SetPrinter fails with the following error message if multiple ports are specified under Windows 95. :

#1796 - ERROR_UNKNOWN_PORT

Additional query words: 4.00 GetPrinter pool kbdsd

Keywords: kbprb KB158361