Set default printer by location only

[Easy_506]

Hi there. I'll admit i'm a complete novice when it comes to scripting, so thought i'd try this forum out.

There are a lot of scripts floating about the web relating to the automated setting of default printers.

What we've got is six separate ICT suites, each with their own networked printer (although a number of different makes and models).

What i'd like to know is whether it is possible to set a script to run on startup, that will assign the classroom printer as default, no matter if it is a pupil or a staff member logging on to the machine.

The reason i'm looking to do this is two-fold:
1) Office 2010 keeps setting 'Send to OneNote' as the default print device.
2) Asking pupils and staff to simply select the correct printer from the drop-down menu is too mammoth a task.

Many thanks in advance for anybody's help.

[andyrite]

Is this for XP or Windows 7?

[sonofsanta]

Are you running a 2k8 server to have access to Group Policy Preferences? (or do you have access to a Vista/Win7 computer to be able to administer them)

[Easy_506]

Is this for XP or Windows 7?

Sorry, these are all XP SP3 machines.

[Easy_506]

Are you running a 2k8 server to have access to Group Policy Preferences? (or do you have access to a Vista/Win7 computer to be able to administer them)

We are currently still on 2k3. I'd also like everyone reading this to assume that our network was designed and administrated by a chimpanzee for the last 8 years, so we cannot use AD. I think a startup script is what i'm looking for.

[sonofsanta]

We are currently still on 2k3. I'd also like everyone reading this to assume that our network was designed and administrated by a chimpanzee for the last 8 years, so we cannot use AD. I think a startup script is what i'm looking for.

How are you intending to set the script to run without AD then? startup folder in the Start Menu?

FWIW, though, such scripts do exist and aren't advanced, I just don't have one to hand as we use GPO to deploy printers. Plenty on here should be able to help though (if a Google search doesn't turn something up round here anyway)

[Easy_506]

How are you intending to set the script to run without AD then? startup folder in the Start Menu?

FWIW, though, such scripts do exist and aren't advanced, I just don't have one to hand as we use GPO to deploy printers. Plenty on here should be able to help though (if a Google search doesn't turn something up round here anyway)

Yes, I was intending to run from All Users\Startup.

I've obviously had a good search with Google, and got started on a script, however, I found a few different versions that claimed to do the same job, and upon testing they had no effect. My posting here was mainly to engage with a human being on it. I still dream of the day we can use GPO to do...well, pretty much everything

Thanks for your input.

[glev26]

Hope this helps I use a program called j2prt.exe all you need it a text file this is the pfile.ini that I use

' ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' This file contains printer configuration data
' The format of this file is as follows:
' [Location_name]
' \\Server\PrinterShare
' \\Server\PrinterShare...
'
' The Location name must match the location name of the computer
' There can be any number of printers listed for a location
' The first printer entry for the location will be the default printer
'
' Comments can be added to this file by specifying an apostrophe as the first
' character of the line.
'
' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'
' Configuration data follows:
'
' This is the default location, used if the computer location has not
' been specified. If you do not want to connect to default printers then
' rem these lines out
'
[Default]
\\GROVEAD4\Kyocera Junior Colour
[*ROAMING*]
\\GROVEAD1\ICTPrinter1
\\GROVEAD4\Kyocera ICT Colour
\\GROVEAD4\Kyocera Junior Colour
\\GROVEAD4\Kyocera PPA Room
[ICTSuite]
\\GROVEAD1\ICTPrinter1
\\GROVEAD4\Kyocera ICT Colour
[Juniors]
\\GROVEAD4\Kyocera Junior Colour
[PPA]
\\GROVEAD4\Kyocera PPA Room
[Infants]
\\GROVEAD4\Kyocera PPA Room
[Nursary]
\\GROVEAD4\Kyocera Nursery
[Library]
\\GROVEAD4\Kyocera Junior Colour

You then make a call to it via the login script.

\\GroveAD2\JSData$\JS2Prt\JS2PRT.exe /D=Local

It wrks every time.