Question

I’m trying to write a simple web interface to allow users to install one of a few predefined network printers. I had initally thought this would be a simple task, as I can easily install printers via the run command by hitting the printer dead on (\printserv\printername). I had planned to either use that in the tag, or prefix it with a “file://” but both methods result in the following error

“\printserv\printername is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions.”

I know I have permission to use this resource as I can install it via the run command. Any idea what I may be doing wrong, or an alternative solution?

Answer 1

Opening local locations – whether on the filesystem or in the network – has become awfully difficult due to security reasons. I have yet to find a method that does this in Firefox for myself as a developer (with full access to the browser) so I can add direct links to my Web development IDE while browsing my web apps in debug mode.

I would recommend to detect the user’s operating system (XP/2000/Vista/7/Whatever), display the network address in question big and fat in the center of the screen:

\printserv\printername

and then display customized step-by-step installation instructions:

1. Click the “Start” button.
2. Click “Run….”
3. Copy and paste the address above into the field.
4. Click “OK”

etc.