smbprint.exe - Samba Print Command for OS/2
===========================================

CONTENTS:

   A. Introduction
   B. Installation
   C. Limitations, To-Do list
   D. FAQ
   E. Author
   
A. Introduction:

The Samba Server requires an external print command script or program
to pick up the spoolfile, send it to the printer and remove it afterwards.

This is what smbprint.exe does. It acts as a bridge between Samba and OS/2's 
current printer subsystem.

B. Installation:

  1. Put smbprint.exe into the Samba directory (the one where smbd.exe resides).

  2. Make sure you have VROBJ.DLL somewhere in your LIBPATH (should be there
     anyway, as it comes with all recent OS/2 and eCS versions.

  3. Add the following lines to the [global] section of smb.conf:

     printing = bsd

  4. Add a printer section to smb.conf:

Example:
---------------------------<snip>-----------------------------------
;Name of the printer share
[stylus]
;   Make sure this directory exists!
    path = x:/samba/var/spool/stylus
    create mask = 0700
    printable = Yes
;   Do not change this line except the path to smbprint.exe!
;   smbprint.exe requires the parameters exactly in that order!
;   The "print command" may be added either separately for each
;   printer or in the [global] section. In this case is is used
;   for every printer
    print command = x:/samba/smbprint.exe "%s" "%p" "%J" "%c" "%z"
;   Set the OS/2 printer queue (shown as "physical name" on the
;   first notebook page of a printer object) as the printer name. 
;   This is required by smbprint.exe in order to know to which OS/2 
;   printer a file should be printed.
    printer name = OMNIStyl
---------------------------<snap>-----------------------------------
    
  5. Install the appropriate driver on the client. 

  6. You are done.

C. Limitations, To-Do list:

  - smbprint should remember its position
  - smbprint should be configurable to run optionally invisibly 
  - smbprint should have configurable fonts, colours etc.
  - smbprint should have a wizard-like mode to add printers to smb.conf
    (This functionality has gone into the Small Samba Config Center (SSCC)).

D. FAQ:

  1. Q: Why this? A 'print command = PRINT.EXE /D:LPT1 /B %s' should be 
        sufficient.

     A: No, not at all. The spool files will not be removed and you only 
        can print to printers connected to LPTx, COMx but not to all others. 
        By using smbprint.exe you can print to ANY printer KNOWN to OS/2, 
        regardless how it is connected to your machine and the spoolfile
        will be removed after printing. In addition the print job shows up
        with the appropriate title in the OS/2 printer objects.
        
  2. Q: I have CUPS - do I still need this utility?
  
     A: Depends. In case you have installed and working CUPS, you do not need
        this utility. In case the "normal" OS/2 printer subsystem, is 
        sufficient for you, you need smbprint.exe

E. Author:

  Herwig Bauernfeind, bww bitwiseworks GmbH.
  mailto:herwig.bauernfeind@bitwiseworks.com