Roaming profiles and local (default) printers

[Fran]

I have 2 companies that have Win2k LAN's where there are roaming
profiles used in the AD domain.

The problem I have is when users change to different computers they
should be printing off the local (departmental or LPT1: attached)
printer (rather than what was stored in their roaming profile)

How can I make sure when a roaming user logs on that the computer sets
the default printer to what it SHOULD be rather than what's stored in
the user's roaming profile (as this is rarely correct when they're
truly roaming.)

In 80% of the cases there is a local printer attached to the computer
(usually shared in the department with other user/computers).
Is there a script I can run when the user logs on that will set the
default (not a networked) printer to the local printer attached to the
computer?

 

[John Koswalski]

Using groups for your PC's you can even make sure that the closest network
printer is assignd based on what PC (loaction) they log on to ... Yes what
you as is quite possible

 

[Fran]

John,

Thanks for the info. How would I go about setting up such a group for
this profile by machine?

Fran

 

[David White]

Fran,

You can greate a group that contains PC's

Let's say you have 3 printers. So you create 3 groups and add evry PC in
the group that matches the closest printer.

group_hp8100asdefaultprinter ==> PC1, PC2, PC3
group-epson500 ==> PC4, PC5, PC6
group-hp4000 ==> PC7, PC8, PC9

Now in the login script you must check for the PC to witch the current users
is logging on to then check the group to which that PC belongs and set the
macthing printers as the defaultprinter for that user on that PC. That way
no matter on what PC the user logs in to the default printer will be the
closest.

in that same script you can set thet default printer to the local printer if
you find one, it will need some extra logic but i'm sure you can do that. We
no longer use local printers but it can be done.

let me know if you need some scripting tips, but do visit the scripting
clinic on the tech net site

 

[Guest]

Fran,

I am intesting in the logon script, if you don't mind I would like to have a look on how is written.

Thank,

Shing.

 

[Ace Fekay [MVP]]

In

Fran,

I am intesting in the logon script, if you don't mind I would like to
have a look on how is written.

Thank,

Shing.

SInce I cannot see the original post, or what was previously posted, what
script are you referring to and who told you about it?

--
Regards,
Ace

Please direct all replies ONLY to the Microsoft public newsgroup so all
can benefit.
This posting is provided "AS-IS" with no warranties and confers no
rights.

Ace Fekay, MCSE 2000, MCSE+I, MCSA, MCT, MVP
Microsoft Windows MVP - Active Directory

HAM AND EGGS: A day's work for a chicken; A lifetime commitment for a
pig. --
=================================

 

[Fran]

I am intesting in the logon script, if you don't mind I would like to have a look on how is written.


I got this from a post in a newsgroup. This works great but it doesn't
solve my local printer/default printer problem. But here's my printers
script that establishes network printer shares on any computer (and
this really works great so THANK YOU to whoever posted this in the
first place!)

Printer.vbs (name of script file)


on error resume next
Set WshNetwork = CreateObject("WScript.Network")
WshNetwork.AddWindowsPrinterConnection "\\printserver\printershare1"
WshNetwork.AddWindowsPrinterConnection "\\printserver\printershare2"
WshNetwork.AddWindowsPrinterConnection "\\printserver\printershare3"
WshNetwork.SetDefaultPrinter "\\printserver\printershare1"
Set WshNetwork = nothing

I hope this helps.

Fran