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VBS Logon Scripts - SetDefaultPrinter

Introduction to SetDefaultPrinter

Whether you have recently added a printer, or just removed one, I expect that you want to set the default printer.  Naturally, if there is only one printer, then Windows XP will automatically make that one the default and there will be less need for a SetDefaultPrinter section in your Windows logon script.

Topics for SetDefaultPrinter

• SetDefaultPrinter Arguments
• Example 1 - Set Default Printer Script
• Example 2 - Full SetDefaultPrinter Syntax
• Summary of SetDefaultPrinter

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SetDefaultPrinter Arguments

Compared with scripting Active Directory, scripting printers is easy because there are fewer parts to each command.  In the case of SetDefaultPrinter, we need only the name of the printer - that is all.  Here is the SetDefaultPrinter method and its one argument:

objNetwork.SetDefaultPrinter "HP LaserJet 2420"
or
objNetwork.SetDefaultPrinter strUNCPrinter

You will see in my logon script examples that SetDefaultPrinter is a straightforward VBScript method that can be used on all clients from XP and Windows 2003 to NT 4.0 and Windows 9x.

Example 1 - Set Default Printer Script

With other examples, I have provided additional steps to first create a printer, then manipulate it.  Since setting the default printer is so easy, and follows on so logically, here is one complete script, which creates a printer and then sets that printer as the default.

Instructions to SetDefaultPrinter

1. This script works on XP, Windows Server 2003, and Windows 2000.
2. Copy and paste the script below into notepad or get a script editor such as OnScript (free download).
3. Save the file with .vbs extension e.g. SetDefaultPrinter.vbs.
4. Double click and launch your Printers folder.  Check which is printer is the default.

Learning Points

Note 1: The basic SetDefaultPrinter is a short command with no commas and only one argument - the printer share name.

Note 2: Surprisingly, you do not need to know the whereabouts of the print server.

Note 3: To appreciate this SetDefaultPrinter script, I suggest that you create another printer and manually set that as the default.  Now run this script again and see what happens.

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Example 2 -  SetDefaultPrinter to a Different Printer

Scenarios:
Suppose that your XP computer has 4 printers. What if you you just delete the default printer from the default Printers and faxes folder?  Now there are 3 printers remaining, which should become the new default?  Do you leave it to chance, or do you script it?  If it were me I would want the control, therefore, I would run up a SetDefaultPrinter VBScript.

Take another scenario, suppose that you are adding a printer and you don't want it to be the default, you want to enforce one of the others as the default.  Then again, the answer is to script it.

Instructions to SetDefaultPrinter

1. Copy and paste the script below into notepad.
2. Save the file with .vbs extension e.g. SetDefaultPrinter.vbs.
3. Double click and check in your Printers folder.  Which printer is the default?

Learning Points

Note 1:  This time strLocal points to a different printer from strUNCPrinter.

Note 2:  To see this script to best effect you need a third printer which is initially set to the default printer.  The good news is that you can play 'fantasy printers' just pretend that you have an Epson xyz or a Lexmark 123ABC, just to practice your scripting.

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Employ PowerShell for Printer Logon Scripts

 You may have noticed that VBScript is being superseded by PowerShell.  While PowerShell is used mainly for configuring the operating system, it's possible to employ its cmdlets to add network printers. The technique is to create a ComObject, which can act as a wrapper for familiar VBScript commands. Here is example of PowerShell's New-Object cmdlet setting the default printer:

You could save these instructions in a .ps1 file.  However, the hard part is executing  this .ps1 file as a logon script.  See more about PowerShell logon scripts.

Summary - SetDefaultPrinter

It costs very little in terms of scripting time or space, to add an extra line of code to explicitly set the default printer.  SetDefaultPrinter only needs one argument, the name of the UNC path to the print server.  This is one of the easiest Windows VBScripts that you will encounter.  For a more demanding challenge try EnumPrinterConnections.  (See below for links).

See more printer logon scripts examples

• Logon Script Home   • Printer computer   • Remove printer logon script

• AddWindowsPrinterConnection script   • SetDefaultPrinter script

• EnumPrinterConnections   • Multiple printers    • Assign Logon Script AD

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