Download Adprintx freeware to manage printers from the command line.
The readme.txt file contains:
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
DOCUMENT: AdPrintX Readme
AUTHOR: James Hart (watermarkdesign@bigpond.com)
CREATED: 3 May 2002
VERSION: 1.0.0.001
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
IMPORTANT:
- To install network printers for Windows 9x systems it is
necessary for the appropriate printer drivers to be available
on the system. See below for further information.
- AdPrintX has been tested on Windows 95® and Windows 98®
(preliminary testing only), Windows NT®, Windows 2000® and
Windows XP®. Has NOT been tested on Windows ME®.
LEGAL:
- AdPrintX is available as freeware and, as such, provides no
guarantee. Any usage of this utility is completely at the
users own risk.
AUDIENCE:
- Microsoft network administrators
OVERVIEW:
- AdPrintX is a utility to manage Windows® network printers from
the command line. It was originally designed to complement
client printer management for Windows Terminal Server® and
Citrix® environments, as well as other network printer control.
CON2PRT COMPATIBILITY -
- AdPrintX is very similar to Microsoft's Zero Administration Kit
printer management utility Con2Prt, but has additional
functionality, including compatibility with Windows 9x systems.
- AdPrintX is based on Con2Prt's parameters and should be able to
directly replace Con2Prt with AdPrintX for Windows NT or later
systems to control network printers - BUT PLEASE DO YOUR
TESTING FIRST.
- AdPrintX provides for the removal of a single network printer
(see "/r" option in usage), as wells all network printers (see
"/f" option in usage).
WINDOWS 9x -
- in Win9x, both local and network printers are controlled by
the local print processor and must have the appropriate drivers
available on the system. You can achieve this in a number of
ways -
- install the printer drivers via the Windows print manager
- copy the appropriate drivers to the system and then let
AdPrintX install the driver
TIP: if you print a test page for a locally installed
printer it will generally list the drivers and
everything else you need to know to install the
printer
- whatever other way you can dream up...
- Win9x requires additional parameters to be filled to add a
printer. You will need to specify driver name (/n) and driver
file (/s) parameters, plus a name for the printer (/p).
TIP: Use " ()" as the printers name
so as not to clash with the same printer name from another
server.
USAGE:
[ /? | /h | /l | /v | /f | [/r "\\server\\printer" ] |
[/c "\\server\printer" | /cd "\\server\printer"
/p "Printer Name" | /n "Driver Model"
/s "driverpath\filename" [ /t "datatype" = "EMF" ] ] ]
WHERE:
/? or /h - help
/l - list all installed and connected printers
/v - verbose operation (displays messages)
/c or /cd - UNC of network printer (e.g. "\\server\\printer")
/p - printer name (e.g. "MyPrinter (MyServer)" *
/n - driver name (e.g. "Canon LBP-8 III") *
/s - driver path (e.g. "c:\windows\system\canonlbp.drv") *
/t - datatype (e.g. "RAW" - default is "EMF") *
/d or /cd - make printer the default (e.g. "\\server\printer")
/r - remove network printer connection (e.g. "\\server\printer")
/f - remove all network printer connection
- * used by Win9x only
- order of parameters is not important
- Win9x specific parameters are ignored by WinNT or higher systems
- sequence of operation is -
- list installed printers
- remove single printer
- remove all printers
- add printer
- set default printer
REQUIRED FILES:
- AdPrintX.exe
EXAMPLES:
IMPORTANT: multiple lines used in examples is for readability only
- remove a network printer and add a printer and sets it as the
default (messages are displayed) -
AdPrintX.exe /v /r "\\MySvr\hplaser" /cd "\\MySvr\canon lbp"
/p "Canon LBP-8 (MySvr)" /n "Canon LBP-8 III"
/s "c:\windows\system\canonlbp.drv"
NOTE: this will work for both Win9x and WinNT (or higher) systems
- add a printer (WinNT or higher only) -
AdPrintX.exe /c "\\MySvr\canon lbp"
- remove a printer (all Windows versions) -
AdPrintX.exe /r "\\MySvr\canon lbp"
- list all installed printers -
AdPrintX.exe /l
- remove all network printers (messages are displayed) -
AdPrintX.exe /f /v
NOTES -
- always place double quotes around parameter values to ensure
the argument is read correctly including its spaces (e.g.
"\\MySvr\canon lbp").
- sometimes the command prompt window in Win9x will not hold the
required command line. As a work around move these commands
to a batch file.
KIX SCRIPT EXAMPLE:
- this example can be used in a Kix script to install a printer
on either Win9x or (>=) WinNT systems. The beauty of this set
up is if you wish to change the server from where your users
print you need only change the $PrintSvr variable to the name
of your new print server (this is assuming your printer and its
share name is the same) -
$DblQ = Chr(34)
; print server
$PrintSvr = "\\MySvr"
; local kix path
$KixPath = "c:\kix"
; assign command line
$AdPrintX_Cmd =
"/cd " + $DblQ + $PrintSvr + "\hp laser" + $DblQ + " " +
"/p " + $DblQ + "HP Laser (" + LCASE(SUBSTR( $PrintSvr, 3, LEN($PrintSvr))) + ")" + $DblQ + " " +
"/n " + $DblQ + "HP Laserjet 4Si" + $DblQ + " " +
"/s " + $DblQ + "c:\windows\system\hppcl5ms.drv" + $DblQ + " " +
"/t " + $DblQ + "RAW" + $DblQ + " "
IF GetFileAttr( $KixPath + "\AdPrintX.exe" ) > 0
; call AdPrintX
SHELL $KixPath + "\AdPrintX.exe /v " + $AdPrintX_Cmd
IF @ERROR 0
? "Error occurred...AdPrinX returned error..."
END IF
ELSE
? "Error occurred...could not find path..."
ENDIF
VERSIONS:
Version 1.00.001 (previous version n/a)
ADDITIONS -
- n/a
BUG LIST -
- none known
FUTURE VERSION -
- include indication of the default printer when listing printers
- include flag to specify printer memory (??)