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Q72206: LAN Enhanced DOS Printer Message Not Displayed

Article: Q72206
Product(s): Microsoft LAN Manager
Version(s): 
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 30-JUL-2001

SYMPTOMS
========

When a printer is temporarily out of service because the paper is jammed, no
paper is in the paper tray, or the printer is offline, normally a message is
sent to the DOS or OS/2 workstation stating that the printer is unavailable to
complete the print job. However, quite often a DOS Enhanced workstation will not
display the message concerning the unavailability of the printer.

CAUSE
=====

The messenger section of LANMAN.INI contains a parameter called sizmessbuf. On
OS/2 workstations, the default value for sizmessbuf is 4096 bytes. On DOS
Enhanced workstations, the default value for sizmessbuf is 256. When a message
is received whose total size is larger than the message buffer size, the message
is dropped. The printer unavailability message can easily exceed the 256 byte
buffer size.

RESOLUTION
==========

Increase sizmessbuf to accommodate longer messages. Doubling the default value
to a 512 byte buffer should be sufficient for the printer messages. Please note,
however, that doubling this value will affect the total available memory to the
DOS workstation.

Additional query words:

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Keywords          :  

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