WMI and VBScript to query a printer using a Win32

This WMI script offers a variety of solutions to printer problems on a Windows Network. WMI provides and impressive range of eight classes of printer object so it is possible to query any aspect of a printer. To let you into a secret, as I researched the Win32_Printer properties I found printer attributes that I did not even know existed.

Topics for Querying Printers

Scenario - Why do Want to Query a Printer?

Printers and Print Devices, give more than their fair share of administrative problems. While the most likely solution is to add paper or toner; however, you may want to run a WMI script just in case there is a configuration setting that would help prevent the problem re-occurring. As with most WMI scripts, the key is identifying the best Win32_Classes to query. In the case of printer, there are eight Win32 objects to choose from, so if at first you don't succeed try a different class of object.

Example 1 - Query Win32_Printer

I am impressed by the sheer number of properties, from obvious items such as share name and printer driver to little known Horizontal Resolution.

The only pre-requisite is that you have a printer attached to the machine where you run the script. Be aware, there may be a delay while the script checks all possible printer ports.

Script to List the Processes Running on the Computer

' PrinterWMI.vbs
' Sample VBScript to interrogate Printer properties with WMI
' Author Guy Thomas http://computerperformance.co.uk/
' Version 2.3 - December 2005
' --------------------------------------------------------------'
Option Explicit
Dim objWMIService, objItem, colItems, strComputer, intPrinters

strComputer ="."
intPrinters = 1

' --------------------------------------------
' Pure WMI Section
Set objWMIService = GetObject _
("winmgmts:\\" & strComputer & "\root\CIMV2")
Set colItems = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
("SELECT * FROM Win32_Printer")

Call Wait() ' Goto Sub Routine at the end

' On Error Resume Next
For Each objItem In colItems
WScript.Echo "Printers on " _
& objItem.name & ", Printer Number: " & intPrinters & VbCr & _
"====================================" & VbCr & _
"Availability: " & objItem.Availability & VbCr & _
"Description: " & objItem.Description & VbCr & _
"Printer: " & objItem.DeviceID & VbCr & _
"Driver Name: " & objItem.DriverName & VbCr & _
"Port Name: " & objItem.PortName & VbCr & _
"Printer State: " & objItem.PrinterState & VbCr & _
"Printer Status: " & objItem.PrinterStatus & VbCr & _
"PrintJobDataType: " & objItem.PrintJobDataType & VbCr & _
"Print Processor: " & objItem.PrintProcessor & VbCr & _
"Spool Enabled: " & objItem.SpoolEnabled & VbCr & _
"Separator File: " & objItem.SeparatorFile & VbCr & _
"Queued: " & objItem.Queued & VbCr & _
"Status: " & objItem.Status & VbCr & _
"StatusInfo: " & objItem.StatusInfo & VbCr & _
"Published: " & objItem.Published & VbCr & _
"Shared: " & objItem.Shared & VbCr & _
"ShareName: " & objItem.ShareName & VbCr & _
"Direct: " & objItem.Direct & VbCr & _
"Location: " & objItem.Location & VbCr & _
"Priority: " & objItem.Priority & VbCr & _
"Work Offline: " & objItem.WorkOffline & VbCr & _
"Horizontal Res: " & objItem.HorizontalResolution & VbCr & _
"Vertical Res: " & objItem.VerticalResolution & VbCr & _
""
intPrinters = intPrinters + 1
Next

sub Wait()
If strComputer = "." then
strComputer = "Local Host"
else strComputer = strComputer
end if

WScript.Echo "Wait 2 mins for " & strComputer _
& " to enumerate printers"

End Sub

WScript.Quit

' End of Sample Printer VBScript

WMI Tutorial - Learning Points

1) If you are new to WMI then you will soon appreciate that all WMI scripts begin by instructing winmgmts to access the root of the CIM library, here is the command:
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")

2) If you have already looked at WMI scripts, then you will know the importance of Win32_Service and objItem.name.

3) Set colProcess = objWMIService.ExecQuery _ is a standard WMI phrase to prepare for the WQL command: Select * from Win32_Printer
". The part we are particularly interested in is _Printer. WMI has eight different types of printer object, we need to query the Printer component and not the PrinterController or PrinterDriver.

4) What makes scripting so powerful is the speed with which VBScript loops through an array of properties, in this instance the loop is controlled by: For Each....In... Next.

5) In this script I have added a sub routine called sub Wait(). In addition to introducing you to the syntax of the sub routine, I wanted to put the extra cosmetic detail at the end of the script.

6) It is also possible to output the WMI information not to the screen but to a file. VBScript has all the tools you need to create a file and write a service on each line. Writing to text files with FSO is covered in other VBScripts.

Summary of Querying Printer Properties

Computer Training Software - Recommended Training Videos

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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.

WMI - Query Printer

Introduction to Querying Printers with WMI