ER: Simpler way of accessing Windows host printer from Ubuntu guest

[Hedley Finger]

I am a non-technical user of VirtualBox 2.2.2 so I can run Linux programs on a Ubuntu guest for purposes of writing third-party user guides in FrameMaker on Windows XP SP3. I would like to remain a non-technical user and therefore propose that Guest Additions for all guest OSes incorporates a virtual printer that can access one or more real network/local/usb/parallel/serial printers on the host OS.

This could be a configuration option in the xVM VirtualBox GUI that allows the user to map guest printers to real printers, however then may be attached to the host.

I am trying to access my Epson CX6900F on Windows XP SP3 from an Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope using CUPS and Samba but without success. (I told you I was non-technical.)

I have shared a folder on Windows to try and access it from Samba but although it scans for shared folders can't find it. Same for shared printer with CUPS.