Preventing users from setting Default Printer 1

[wlfpackr]

Our color printing costs are getting a little out-of-hand. Before we go a little too over the top on restricting access to color printers, I'd like to create multiple printer queues.

My ideal world would be to have a B&W only print queue and a color print queue for each color printer here. I'd then want to make it where the color print queue could not be set as the default. Is this last step an option? Is there a way to prevent a printer from being set as a default?

If it matters, print server is on Server 2003 and all desktops are Windows XP Pro on a domain.



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There are 10 kinds of people in this world, those that understand binary and those that do not.

 

[TechyMcSe2k]

You can only control who prints to them with security groups. I do not know of a way to prevent users from making the color printer their default printer on their machines.



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Great knowledge can be obtained by mastering the Google algorithm.

 

[markdmac]

I would simply use VBScript to set the default printer you want them to have at each login. Furthermore you can use the below code to notify users that have it set that they are not allowed to do that.

You could easily also grab the username and computername and email that to management if desired.

On Error Resume Next 
strComputer = "." 
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2") 
Set colItems = objWMIService.ExecQuery("Select * from Win32_Printer Where Default = 'True'",,48) 
For Each objItem in colItems 
	 If objItem.Name = "Color LaserJet" Then
			WScript.Echo "ATTENTION:Company policy prohibits setting the color printer to your default." 
	 End If
Next

Refer to my login script FAQ faq329-5798 for sample code to set the default printer based on user location in the office (using group memberships).


I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

Work SMARTER not HARDER. The Spider's Parlor's Admin Script Pack is a collection of Administrative scripts designed to make IT Administration easier! Save time, get more work done, get the Admin Script Pack.

 

[TechyMcSe2k]

markdmac...I should have known a fancy script would be helpful! Star for ya

_______________________________________
Great knowledge can be obtained by mastering the Google algorithm.

 

[markdmac]

Well, that isn't so fancy but thanks.

Where I would go with this next is to detect the default, if the wrong printer set it to where it should be. Then log the fact that the user had changed it. If they change it again I would block their access to that printer via security.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

Work SMARTER not HARDER. The Spider's Parlor's Admin Script Pack is a collection of Administrative scripts designed to make IT Administration easier! Save time, get more work done, get the Admin Script Pack.

 

[wlfpackr]

Unfortunately, I don't think the VBScript is viable for our situation. We have way too many people that move around way too often to attempt to keep up with who should be getting what printers as default.

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There are 10 kinds of people in this world, those that understand binary and those that do not.

 

[markdmac]

OK, so use just what I posted above to let the usrs know they need to change their default.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

Work SMARTER not HARDER. The Spider's Parlor's Admin Script Pack is a collection of Administrative scripts designed to make IT Administration easier! Save time, get more work done, get the Admin Script Pack.

 

[TechyMcSe2k]

The security groups it is and employee training will go a long way.

_______________________________________
Great knowledge can be obtained by mastering the Google algorithm.

 

[TechyMcSe2k]

Otherwise, set up print monitoring and charge each department when they over utilize the color printer

_______________________________________
Great knowledge can be obtained by mastering the Google algorithm.

 

[Torturednacho]

Wouldn't it be easier just to make the color printer print in B&W. Then create a "Printers" group adding only those able to change the configurations of the printer to change it from B&W to color?

 

[wlfpackr]

Wouldn't it be easier just to make the color printer print in B&W. Then create a "Printers" group adding only those able to change the configurations of the printer to change it from B&W to color?

If I could only stop the color option from being changed that would work. It appears, though, it's an all or nothing deal. You either have the ability to change all printing options or no printing options. A lot of these users are engineers and would need the ability to change some of the options i.e. paper size between 8.5x11 and 11x17.

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There are 10 kinds of people in this world, those that understand binary and those that do not.