wes228
asked on
Connect to printer via hyperlink
How could I provide a web page with a list of printers in the office to everyone, and each printer listed have a hyperlink to either the que or properties or even add the printer??
Anyone got any ideas?
Thanks,
Wes
Anyone got any ideas?
Thanks,
Wes
Perhaps by running the printers through a CUPS server: http://www.cups.org/
ASKER
Looks like all Unix stuff to me.
CUPS in combination with SAMBA can connect to printers on Windows machine and serve to Windows clients.
You might want to look at using ActiveX controls
Accessing a printer from a web page uses the preferences and those cannot be change using HTML. You would need and activeX control to modify the registry, and I would strongly recommend against that, because it carries series risk of crashing users.
As for using CUPS, I believe you have to have SAMBA or some SMB component to do that which means a linux or posix server. I f you are already using SAMBA on a Linux server that is and easy way to handle transfers with windows desktops, but I'm not sure you can do it off a browser page. If you are in a Microsoft environment and you don't want to use a risky approach like ActiveX then you are left with server side scripting. I guess the question in my mind is why you want to reinvent the wheel? Is there something wrong with the printers window already available on the desktop, that gives everything you are asking for and more?
Cd&
As for using CUPS, I believe you have to have SAMBA or some SMB component to do that which means a linux or posix server. I f you are already using SAMBA on a Linux server that is and easy way to handle transfers with windows desktops, but I'm not sure you can do it off a browser page. If you are in a Microsoft environment and you don't want to use a risky approach like ActiveX then you are left with server side scripting. I guess the question in my mind is why you want to reinvent the wheel? Is there something wrong with the printers window already available on the desktop, that gives everything you are asking for and more?
Cd&
ASKER
No Unix, Samba etc..
What I have is an Autocad drawing of our floor plan referencing shared cd-roms, printers etc..
Example: A person who needs to use a cd-rom drive can look at the floor plan, find the nearest one, put in his cd, go back to his desk and hit the link which maps directly to the drive. This keeps us from trying to explain to idiots how to map a cdrom drive. The printers are my only hang-up. I agree completely about inventing the wheel, I'm just trying to make things a "little" more idiot proof.
What I have is an Autocad drawing of our floor plan referencing shared cd-roms, printers etc..
Example: A person who needs to use a cd-rom drive can look at the floor plan, find the nearest one, put in his cd, go back to his desk and hit the link which maps directly to the drive. This keeps us from trying to explain to idiots how to map a cdrom drive. The printers are my only hang-up. I agree completely about inventing the wheel, I'm just trying to make things a "little" more idiot proof.
OK... why would you need to link to a CD-ROM drive? YOur computers don't have them? ANd if I have to get up and go to the computer with the CD-ROM drive, why not just work THERE?
Same with printers. If the printer is on the network, you open the document, bring up the print dialog box and select the printer. I can't imagine too many situations when you'd want to print to a printer halfway around the block, or in another building. It's too easy to print the copies you need and take them with you, or take the file and print it when you get there. If you print it in another location, there's too much chance of somebody else walking off with your printout, and then you have to make another one -- which wastes paper and time.
Why create something that has little use or already exists in another form? ;-)
Same with printers. If the printer is on the network, you open the document, bring up the print dialog box and select the printer. I can't imagine too many situations when you'd want to print to a printer halfway around the block, or in another building. It's too easy to print the copies you need and take them with you, or take the file and print it when you get there. If you print it in another location, there's too much chance of somebody else walking off with your printout, and then you have to make another one -- which wastes paper and time.
Why create something that has little use or already exists in another form? ;-)
ASKER
I should have worded the question like this, "Does anyone know any HTML code to hyperlink to a printer?"
webwoman, they need to link because they don't have a cd-rom, not everyone needs a cd-rom drive all the time. "Why not work there?" because someone else sits there.
I'm not even going to get into the next paragraph.
It has use to me, thats why I came here. I don't need a company analyst just some code.
Anyway,
Thanks for your help guys
webwoman, they need to link because they don't have a cd-rom, not everyone needs a cd-rom drive all the time. "Why not work there?" because someone else sits there.
I'm not even going to get into the next paragraph.
It has use to me, thats why I came here. I don't need a company analyst just some code.
Anyway,
Thanks for your help guys
well if you want to link to a network drive via Internet Explorer on windows its \\computername\sharedfolde
for example the d drive on a computer with the name developmentserver1 would be
<a href="\\developmentserver1
I don't know how to link to the printer properties though, you can link to the machine with the printer on it and make them click the printer from there.
for example the d drive on a computer with the name developmentserver1 would be
<a href="\\developmentserver1
I don't know how to link to the printer properties though, you can link to the machine with the printer on it and make them click the printer from there.
oh sorry, you've already got that far. I'll shut up now
try the windows scripting host activex control descibed here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/script56/html/wsconaccessingnetworkprogrammatically.asp
I'm studying it now and will post correct code when available
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/script56/html/wsconaccessingnetworkprogrammatically.asp
I'm studying it now and will post correct code when available
ASKER
Thanks for the help assasin, let me know what you find out.
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Sorry I should have mentioned that theres a better way on windows 2000 and XP using rundll32 and the printui.dll but it's fairly involved.
Experts,
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Cerebro
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Cerebro
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I believe my answer is a suitable solution to this scenario and claim the points accordingly.
After reading through the comments, I believe assasin's comment on 05/23/2003 08:47AM PDT and the following one are good answers.
Cerebro
EE Moderator
Cerebro
EE Moderator
ASKER
By the way, thanks for the info assasin.
I couldn't get that code to work but I'm still trying.
I couldn't get that code to work but I'm still trying.
ok email me ron@intech.co.uk and I'll try and help
if you work out a solution, please post it here for reference.
Thank you for being so cooperative.
Cerebro
EE Moderator
Thank you for being so cooperative.
Cerebro
EE Moderator