Guy's Scripting Ezine 116 - Map Multiple Printers

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Guy's Scripting Ezine 116 - Map Multiple Printers

• This Week's Secret
• This week's Mission to Map Two Printers
• Stage one - Map one Printer
• Stage two - Map two printers
• Stage three-  Set your Default Printer
• Summary of Mapping Two Printers

This Week's Secret

Work smart.  This week's secret is pay attention to your overall strategy.  Apply techniques you acquire in one area to another area.  For example, once you learn how to map multiple network drives, then apply that knowledge to create multiple printers, or vica versa.

Avoid 'Over-think'

With VBScript, sometimes we cannot believe that a script can be so simple, consequently; we add unnecessary elements.  Worse still, we start inserting commands that cause a perfectly good script to fail.  In the case of mapping multiple printers here are two common examples of 'Over-think'.

Firstly, instead of recycling the same object for each printer, we waste time creating two network objects.  Secondly, we start looking for too many arguments.  When all we need is the name of the printer, we attempt to introduce an argument for a target machine, or we look erroneously for the equivalent of a drive letter.  The message is keep it simple and work smart, just stick with the printer's UNC path and the AddWindowsPrinterConnection verb.

If you are looking for handy network utilities, try some of the free downloads at Tools4Ever

This week's mission to map two printers

Our mission is to map not one, but two (or more) printers.  As VBScripts go, this is a straightforward script and consequently it is an ideal vehicle for beginners to learn the structure of this language.  Nevertheless, there are instructive pointers for all levels of ability.  I have divided our mission into three stages:

1) Map one printer
2) Map multiple printers
3) Set the default printer.

Pre-Requisites

You don't need Active Directory, what you do need is a machine with two shared printers.  Alternatively use two print servers.  Be flexible and if necessary cheat by creating 'fantasy' printers with the Add Printer Wizard.

Instructions

1. Your server is unlikely to be called \\ grand, therefore, find and then edit the value of strUNCPrinter1. 
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. Printer1.vbs.
4. Double click and observe the message box and check your Printers and Faxes folder.

Stage One - Map one printer

Learning Points

Note 1:  AddWindowsPrinterConnection is the key command.  Providing the client is XP or Windows 2000, you only need one argument, the UNC path to the network printer.  In this example, the printer is controlled by the variable strUNCPrinter1.   However, it is possible to use the UNC path directly, without creating a variable:
objNetwork.AddWindowsPrinterConnection \\ grand\HPLaserJ

Note 2: To help with the line numbers, and to color code your commands get OnScript (free download).

Stage Two - Map two printers

Here in Stage Two is where we fulfil our mission and add more printers.  Let us build on the success of Stage One and add an extra command, which maps a second printer.

.

Learning Points

Note 1:  You only need one object: objNetwork.  The secret is to recycle this object by AddWindowsPrinterConnection to two different strUNCPrinter variables.

Note 2: It is straightforward to add a third printer by introducing another strUNCPrinterX and then inserting a matching objNetwork.AddWindowsPrinterConnection strUNCPrinterX statement.

 Stage Three - Bonus Set your Default Printer

Once you add a second or third printer, it makes sense to set the default printer rather than leave it to chance.  In this instance I have set the default printer to strUNCPrinter1, however, you may wish to amend this value.

Learning Points

Note 1:  You may have been wondering why I introduced strLocal, but not used this variable.  The answer is that I have left a little work for you:
a) Change the value of strLocal 
b) Then amend this line :
objNetwork.SetDefaultPrinter strUNCPrinter1
to
objNetwork.SetDefaultPrinter strLocal

Summary of Mapping Two Printers

Mapping two printers is not difficult.  Use this as an opportunity to apply knowledge from others areas, for example mapping multiple network drives.  Once you have created two or more printers, then it makes sense to control which printer is the default.

Guy Thomas recommends Computer Training Software. 

Their topics and material are ideal for getting you started with VBScript.  The videos are easy to follow and you can control the pace.  Try their free demo material and then see if you want to buy the full package. See more about VB Script Training CD.

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