KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q276288: WritePrinter() Error Recovery with SNA Server Print Service

Article: Q276288
Product(s): Microsoft SNA Server
Version(s): 4.0,4.0 SP1,4.0 SP2,4.0 SP3
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbDSupport sna4 kbsna400sp1 kbsna400sp2 kbsna400sp3 kbSNA400sp4fix kbSNA400PreSP4fixkbb
Last Modified: 12-JUN-2001

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

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

SYMPTOMS
========

The Print Service of SNA Server uses the WritePrinter function call to send data
to the printer. Errors may sometimes occur when this function is called, which
may cause such problems as incorrect output (dropped characters) to be printed.

CAUSE
=====

Because all errors to WritePrinter are intermittent and appear to be related to
stress conditions, Print Service was modified as follows:

1. If an error occurs, a retry loop is entered, where the call is made five
  times with a 20 millisecond delay, which usually resolves stress-related
  errors.

2. If the WritePrinter call still fails, the failure is marked as a job error,
  and printing of the job is stopped.

RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for SNA Server 4.0. For
additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  Q215838 How to Obtain the Latest SNA Server Version 4.0 Service Pack



STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft SNA Server, versions
4.0, 4.0 SP1, 4.0 SP2, 4.0 SP3.

This problem was first corrected in SNA Server 4.0 Service Pack 4.

Additional query words: Winvprt Ppd3270 Ppd5250 sp1 sp2 sp3

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbDSupport sna4 kbsna400sp1 kbsna400sp2 kbsna400sp3 kbSNA400sp4fix kbSNA400PreSP4fix kbbuglist kbfixlist
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbSNAServSearch kbSNAServ400 kbSNAServ400SP1 kbSNAServ400SP2 kbSNAServ400SP3
Version           : :4.0,4.0 SP1,4.0 SP2,4.0 SP3
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.