Setting Up Network Printers in Windows 3.11

In Microsoft Windows 3.11 (notably Windows for Workgroups 3.11), setting up and managing network printing destinations was primarily handled through Print Manager. This utility allowed users to browse available network shares, redirect local printer ports to networked print queues, and manage active print jobs across local area networks.

The Primary Tool: Print Manager

In standard Windows 3.1, Print Manager operated mainly as a local queue viewer, but Windows for Workgroups 3.11 expanded it into a full network management utility. Users used Print Manager (PRINTMAN.EXE) to connect to shared printers hosted on other Windows machines, LAN Manager servers, or Windows NT networks.

To configure a network printer destination using Print Manager:

1. Launch Print Manager from the Main program group in Program Manager.
2. Select Printer from the menu bar and click Connect Network Printer (also accessible via an icon on the toolbar).
3. In the dialog box, choose a local port to redirect (typically LPT1:, LPT2:, or LPT3:).
4. Enter the network path using Universal Naming Convention (UNC) syntax (e.g., \\SERVER\PRINTER) or browse the Show Shared Printers on list to locate the appropriate Workgroup, computer, and shared printer.
5. Check Reconnect at Startup if the printer was intended to be permanent, then click OK.

The Supporting Role: Control Panel Printers Applet

While Print Manager handled the network connection and port redirection, the Printers applet in the Windows Control Panel worked alongside it to install the corresponding printer driver. Users installed the driver for the target printer model, assigned it to the redirected port (such as LPT1:), and set it as the default printer so standard Windows applications could print directly to the networked destination.