Why do the office apps need network access to print?

[James Howison]

I was locking down the firewall so that only applications that need to
use the internet can. By banning Word from using the network access
to the printers fails silently? This happens when either a remote or
a local printer is the default.

This doesn't happen with any other applications as far as I can see
.... why do the office apps need network access for printing.

In any case they shouldn't fail to show local printers just because
they are blocked from using the network.

(in case anyone is wondering I'm blocking the MS applications from the
net to avoid the incredibly annoying 'links' that they all embed
everywhere as well as the open port that Office sees fit to listen on
....)

Any ideas or workaround known?

 

[John McGhie [MVP - Word]]

Hi James:

There's an easier way to stop Word from embedding hyperlinks: have a look in
Tools>Autocorrect>Autoformat as you type. Disable hyperlinks there.

The network access is used by Word for two purposes: to enable you to
install more than one copy on your single licence, and to check for Help
updates.

Sounds like you might have put the cork in the wrong hole if you can't get
to your local printer: Word does not need access to the network to print
locally. Just make sure you don't have some irritating glitch like a print
server, driver, or template for the document you are trying to print hanging
around on the network. If you *do* have a document with a network resource
that used to be there but suddenly cannot be found, this can cause a very
extended time-out that "looks" like it has failed silently.

Sorry to be not much help.


This responds to article <[email protected]>,

I was locking down the firewall so that only applications that need to
use the internet can. By banning Word from using the network access
to the printers fails silently? This happens when either a remote or
a local printer is the default.

This doesn't happen with any other applications as far as I can see
... why do the office apps need network access for printing.


In any case they shouldn't fail to show local printers just because
they are blocked from using the network.

(in case anyone is wondering I'm blocking the MS applications from the
net to avoid the incredibly annoying 'links' that they all embed
everywhere as well as the open port that Office sees fit to listen on
...)


Any ideas or workaround known?

--

Please respond only to the newsgroup to preserve the thread.

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer,
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
Sydney, Australia. GMT + 10 Hrs
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]