Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of Cook09
Cook09Flag for United States of America

asked on

Virtual USB Printer Port

Within some of our applications, a virtual USB printer port is created by the application  during the installation process (USB001   Virtual printer port for USB -- from description within Control panel). The USB  port is for a local label printer.  Most users have two virtual USB printer ports, but some have only one, but they may have two seperate local label printers.

How does one set up a virtual USB printer port that one can setup for more than one label printer?

Also, is the Virtual USB Printer Port, specifically tied to a physical USB port, or to the application that is set up to use a specific virtual port?
Avatar of John
John
Flag of Canada image

I have used a USB connected printer and it creates a USB printer port as you note. If I change the USB port used, the printer will re-install and map to the new port. That is, the device (printer) knows which particular USB port it has been attached to.

So you can use your two printers, but use them on the same ports all the time or things will get confused.

... Thinkpads_User
Avatar of Cook09

ASKER

ThinkPad_User

I also have a ThinkPad, but tried to set up a Virtual Printer Port manually, for one of the printers, just to see how it is done.  Was initially not successful, but since they can be created, how is this done?

Cook
The Virtual USB port will want to set itself up when the printer is plugged in. Most printer instructions (but not all) will tell you to wait until the driver is installed before plugging in the USB cable. USB has under the covers addressing so I do not recommend manually setting it up and I have not done so myself.

.... Thinkpads_User
Avatar of Cook09

ASKER

If a label printer is set up for a local port, is it to be deleted from that port, unplug the printer, wait a while, then plug it back in?  It seems that this may have been tried, but was never set up as a Virtual USB Printer Port. If USB002 can be viewed, then does one direct the printer to that port?  

What occurs when a network printer and a label printer is mapped to the same virtual printer?  One user wanted to print labels to a network printer from Word, with Labels set up in Word.  There was a conflict, the label printer did not print, until that network printer was deleted, then added back in, and the label printer then worked. The network printer was set up twice, one for the network printer and one for the local label printer.  Does one take precedence during the printing process?

If a Virtual USB port is assigned to another printer, does a new printing device create a new Virtual printier port?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of John
John
Flag of Canada image

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
@Cook09 - Thank you and I was happy to help you with this.

.... Thinkpads_User