How to get print spooler to release/close open device(Parallel0)

To be able to query local attached printers for information, I need to
force/convince the print spooler to release the ports (parport), which it has
opened.

As the spooler (or language monitor) needs to monitor the printer for
unsolicited status messages, it makes sence that the spooler opens the
port(s) and keeps it open. But, now, when another applications tries to open
the port (\Device\Parallel0), access is denied.

So how do I get the print spooler to release/close the device, so that I can
use it?

I know this is possible, as I can see Lexmark is doing this from their
"lexbces.exe" service. I have used Portmon to monitor all requests sendt to
the device, and always before "lexbces.exe" tries to open the device, the
print spooler magically closes the device.

I don't know if this is a undocumented feature provided by MS to help their
chums at Lexmark ;), or if Lexmark uses some tricks and hacks to do this -
but I
also would realy like to know, how this magic works.

Kind Regards,
Christoph Lindemann

bobbym
Thu Apr 13 17:29:54 CDT 2006

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Hi Christoph,

I don't see a supported way to ask the spooler to close the parallel port
if it is already associated with a printer.
I have not tested this myself, maybe they are setting the port for the
printer to something else and then setting it back again after they are
done.


Thank you,
Bobby Mattappally
Microsoft

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.


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Thread-Topic: How to get print spooler to release/close open
device(Parallel0)
thread-index: AcZeEtZUj0pXVc7eQzKn66x6YyV0bA==
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From: =?Utf-8?B?Q2hyaXN0b3BoIExpbmRlbWFubg==?=
<clindemann2@newsgroups.nospam>
Subject: How to get print spooler to release/close open device(Parallel0)
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2006 02:24:02 -0700
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Message-ID: <88406A04-6F95-4309-A574-C8C6942312CC@microsoft.com>

To be able to query local attached printers for information, I need to
force/convince the print spooler to release the ports (parport), which it
has
opened.

As the spooler (or language monitor) needs to monitor the printer for
unsolicited status messages, it makes sence that the spooler opens the
port(s) and keeps it open. But, now, when another applications tries to
open
the port (\Device\Parallel0), access is denied.

So how do I get the print spooler to release/close the device, so that I
can
use it?

I know this is possible, as I can see Lexmark is doing this from their
"lexbces.exe" service. I have used Portmon to monitor all requests sendt to
the device, and always before "lexbces.exe" tries to open the device, the
print spooler magically closes the device.

I don't know if this is a undocumented feature provided by MS to help their
chums at Lexmark ;), or if Lexmark uses some tricks and hacks to do this -
but I
also would realy like to know, how this magic works.

Kind Regards,
Christoph Lindemann

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\viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs20
\par Hi Christoph,
\par
\par I don't see a supported way to ask the spooler to close the parallel port if it is already associated with a printer.
\par I have not tested this myself, maybe they are setting the port for the printer to something else and then setting it back again after they are done.
\par
\par
\par Thank you,
\par Bobby Mattappally
\par Microsoft
\par
\par This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
\par
\par
\par \pard\li720 --------------------
\par Thread-Topic: How to get print spooler to release/close open device(Parallel0)
\par thread-index: AcZeEtZUj0pXVc7eQzKn66x6YyV0bA==
\par X-WBNR-Posting-Host: 195.184.118.241
\par From: =?Utf-8?B?Q2hyaXN0b3BoIExpbmRlbWFubg==?= <clindemann2@newsgroups.nospam>
\par Subject: How to get print spooler to release/close open device(Parallel0)
\par Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2006 02:24:02 -0700
\par Lines: 24
\par Message-ID: <88406A04-6F95-4309-A574-C8C6942312CC@microsoft.com>
\par
\par To be able to query local attached printers for information, I need to
\par force/convince the print spooler to release the ports (parport), which it has
\par opened.
\par
\par As the spooler (or language monitor) needs to monitor the printer for
\par unsolicited status messages, it makes sence that the spooler opens the
\par port(s) and keeps it open. But, now, when another applications tries to open
\par the port (\\Device\\Parallel0), access is denied.
\par
\par So how do I get the print spooler to release/close the device, so that I can
\par use it?
\par
\par I know this is possible, as I can see Lexmark is doing this from their
\par "lexbces.exe" service. I have used Portmon to monitor all requests sendt to
\par the device, and always before "lexbces.exe" tries to open the device, the
\par print spooler magically closes the device.
\par
\par I don't know if this is a undocumented feature provided by MS to help their
\par chums at Lexmark ;), or if Lexmark uses some tricks and hacks to do this -
\par but I
\par also would realy like to know, how this magic works.
\par
\par Kind Regards,
\par Christoph Lindemann
\par \pard
\par
\par }
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