# How to Use a Printer

This page explains how to use a USB printer (or a USB device with printing capability) connected to a device server using SharePort Utility.

SharePort Utility has a feature that detects print jobs and then automatically connects to, prints to and disconnects from the printer (or USB device with printing capability) if it is connected to a device server.

You will not have to click the Connect button in the SharePort Utility's main window before you print a job.

The printer auto-connect function may not be available for some USB devices with printing capability. In such cases, please connect/disconnect to/from the USB device manually by clicking the Connect/Disconnect buttons in SharePort Utility. To use the printer auto-connect function, SharePort Utility must be running. Please be sure to start SharePort Utility before you print a job. For those who print frequently, it is recommended to set SharePort Utility to automatically start at PC startup. For details, refer to SharePort Utility Optional Settings.

If you have configured the printer auto-connect setting from the message below, which pops up from SharePort Utility when a new printer is discovered, you do not have to configure the following settings since they would automatically be configured.

How to enable the printer auto-connect function:

1. Select a printer in SharePort Utility's main window and click the Properties button . When the properties dialog is displayed, click the Optional settings tab.

2. Check Enable auto connect, select Connect automatically only for printing and click OK.

   Enable auto connect | Enables the auto connect feature. When checked, one of following options also needs to be selected.
   Automatically connect this device when it is available (Sharing disabled) | Automatically connects to the USB device when it is detected.
   Connect automatically only for printing | Automatically connects to the USB device and disconnects from it after the print job is finished. Allows you to print without worrying about Connect/Disconnect operations.

   If the USB device driver is not installed on your PC or the USB device has never been connected to your PC via SharePort Utility, the following window is displayed. To enable the Connect automatically only for printing setting, the USB device driver needs to be installed on the system. Check Enable auto connect, select Connect automatically only for printing and then click the Configure button to install the USB device driver. After the driver is installed, the window will be displayed as in step 2. If the last part of a job is not printed completely while the printer auto-connect function is active, click the Confirm button to open the printer monitoring dialog. Extend the time period in Time before disconnecting after print job is sent field.

The printer auto-connect function has been enabled.

All the jobs output to the printer you have selected at step 1 will be printed automatically.

Some printers may show an error message on their printer status monitor after a job is printed. In such cases, close the printer status monitor manually as it has no effect on printing.

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