Create a list from which users can choose a printer

It is possible to provide end users with an alternative user interface when connecting to a printer from Printing Preferences. Usually, the Connect button will show a Microsoft Windows dialog in which the user can browse the network for the desired printer. However, a geographically oriented interface would be more intuitive for an average user. To enable this alternative interface, complete the following procedure:

Create a file with the name "printers.lst". This file consists of sections for each location that contains lines for each printer on that location. For example:

[USA\Detroit\Building 1\Floor 2\Office XYZ]
\\fileserver1\printer212|Friendly name for printer 212
\\fileserver1\printer213|Friendly name for printer 213
\\fileserver1\printer214|Friendly name for printer 214

[USA\New York\Office ABC]
\\fileserver8\printer845|Friendly name for printer 845
\\fileserver7\printer713|Friendly name for printer 713
\\fileserver7\printer715|Friendly name for printer 715

The part between square brackets defines the folder structure, where every level is separated by a slash ("\"). If you want to use a backslash ("\") in the name of a folder, use a double backslash ("\\"). The lines that follow the line with folder names each define a printer that is displayed in that folder. This line must start with the printershare name ("\\server\share"), optionally followed by a pipe character ("|") and a friendly name for the printer.

The printers.lst file can be distributed through a User Home Directory Action (in <HomeDir>\Personal Settings) which allows distribution based on Zones or through Custom Resources with the class "PowerLaunch \ Printers". The printers.lst file will then look for the printers.lst file located in "%ProgramFiles%\Ivanti\Workspace Control\Data\DBCache\Resources\pl_prn".