KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q194558: Print Server Translates Characters Below 0x40 to Spaces (0x20)

Article: Q194558
Product(s): Microsoft SNA Server
Version(s): 3.0,3.0 SP1,3.0 SP2,3.0 SP3,3.0 SP4,4.0,4.0 SP1
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbbuglist kbfixlist
Last Modified: 08-MAY-2002

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft SNA Server, versions 3.0, 3.0 SP1, 3.0 SP2, 3.0 SP3, 3.0 SP4, 4.0, 4.0 SP1 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry.
Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if
a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring
the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key"
Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS
========

SNA Print Server translates EBCDIC characters below 0x40, including null
characters (0x00), to ASCII spaces (0x20). This can cause unwanted lines and
incomplete sections in HP-GL plots.

CAUSE
=====

In the HP-GL language, an ASCII space is treated as a command terminator. An
HP-GL print job from a host may contain null characters in the middle of a
command. When SNA Print Server translates the null to a space, it may cause the
plotter to terminate the command in the wrong place, possibly in the middle of a
plot address. This can cause the address to be truncated and a line to be
plotted incorrectly.

EBCDIC characters below 0x40 are control codes that are not normal printable
characters. Therefore, the SNA Server Print Server is designed to convert these
to ASCII spaces.

RESOLUTION
==========

SNA Server 3.0
--------------

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for SNA Server version
3.0. For additional information, please see the following article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q184307 How to Obtain the Latest SNA Server Version 3.0 Service Pack

Note: A fix is also available for SNA Server 3.0, which is newer than SNA Server
3.0 SP4. The updated module is PPD3270.DLL, which needs to be applied on the SNA
Server 3.0 SP4 computer.

SNA Server 4.0
--------------

This problem was corrected in the latest SNA Server version 4.0 U.S. Service
Pack. For information on obtaining this Service Pack, query on the following
word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

  S E R V P A C K

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products that are
listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION
================

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may
require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that
problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use
Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And
Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete
Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in
Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If
you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk
(ERD).

In addition to the fix, a registry entry is required to enable the translation of
characters below 0x40. After applying the hotfix:

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).

2. Locate the following key in the registry:
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SnaPrint\Parameters
  NOTE: The above registry key is one path; it has been wrapped for
  readability.

3. On the Edit menu, click Add Value, and then add the following registry value:
  Value Name: HonorCharsUnder0x40 Data Type: REG_SZ Value: (leave blank)

4. Quit Registry Editor.

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          :  kbbuglist kbfixlist
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbSNAServSearch kbSNAServ300 kbSNAServ400 kbSNAServ300SP3 kbSNAServ300SP1 kbSNAServ400SP1 kbSNAServ300SP2 kbSNAServ300SP4
Version           : :3.0,3.0 SP1,3.0 SP2,3.0 SP3,3.0 SP4,4.0,4.0 SP1
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.