RenPrinters 5


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5.0 .NET Framework 4.6.1, Server 2008 R2, Server 2016, Server 2019 Download Now

Description

RenPrinters is a service for Microsoft Windows Server that will rename printers installed by Terminal Service / Remote Desktop clients. When a Remote Desktop Client logs in to the server their printer is installed on the system in a format similar to the following (depending on your language):

  • HP LaserJet 5 (redirected 10)
  • HP LaserJet 5 (10)
  • HP LaserJet 5 (from client) in session 10

Every time a user logs in to the Remote Desktop Server the session number in the printer name will change. This causes a problem in some programs that require the printer name to remain exactly the same. Or you just may need a different or shorter naming format than what Windows provides.

The RenPrinters service will rename printers when Remote Desktop Clients connect to the server. Renaming the above printer example to:

  • HP LaserJet 5 from Client

RenPrinters Flexibility

  • Change Printer Name Format - RenPrinters supports multiple naming formats, ie: %username% - %printername%, %printername% From %hostname% etc.
  • Ignore Printers by Driver - RenPrinters will ignore printers that use drivers that you select.
  • Duplicate Printer Handling - You cannot have two printers with the same name, if a duplicated printer is encountered the old one will be deleted.
  • Only Rename Printers Using the TS Port - RenPrinters can ignore local printers and only rename those connected in through a Remote Desktop session.
  • More Printer Name Variables - You can now use more than two variables in the printer name. Example: %printername% - %username% - %clientname%
  • Use Client Name - You now have the ability to use the client hostname / clientname in your printer naming scheme.
  • Use Session ID - You may now use the session id in your naming format.
  • Max Base Name Length - Limit the maximum length of the printer name.
  • Regular Expressions - Use Regular Expressions to define what printer names you would like to rename.

Regular Expression Examples

Regular expressions are used to filter which printers are renamed. For example, if you have multiple HP Laserjet 4 printers but only want to rename those that also contain the term "therm" (for example, HP Laserjet 4 therm-1234 (redirection de 12)), you could use the following regular expression:
therm.*( \(redirection de (\d+)\))
This will retain the "therm-1234" in the result (for example, "HP Laserjet 4 therm-1234 On User1").
Please review the examples in the table below to help determine which regular expression works for your environment. This is not a definitive list, your regular expression may differ based on your operating system language.

Default Session Printer Name Regular Expression Used
HP Laserjet 4 (On User1) in session 12 (\([^\)]+\) in [Ss]ession (\d+))
HP Laserjet 4 (redirected 12) (\(redirected (\d+)\))
HP Laserjet 4 (12 redireccionado) (\((\d+) redireccionado\))
HP Laserjet 4 (von User) in Sitzung: 12 (\([^\)]+\) in Sitzung: (\d+))
HP Laserjet 4 (umgeleitet 12) (\(umgeleitet (\d+)\))
HP Laserjet 4 (redirigé 12) (\(redirigé (\d+)\))
HP Laserjet 4 therm-1234 (redirection de 12) therm.*( \(redirection de (\d+)\))
Match specific language (((?:(?:in [Ss]ession)|(?:in [Ss]itzung)|(?:en [Ss]ession)|(?:a [Ss]essione)) (\d+)))
Match all printer names, useful multi-language ((.+ (\d+)))

Printer Name Format Examples

Default Session Printer Name Printer Name Format Result
HP Laserjet 4 (On User1) in session 12 %printername% On %username% HP Laserjet 4 On User1
HP Laserjet 4 (On User1) in session 12 %printername% - %username% - %clientname% HP Laserjet 4 - User1 - Owner-PC

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Frequently Asked Questions

I have Windows Server 2008 / 2012 with Citrix XenApp 6.5 and I lose the default printer.

Citrix has a solution to this issue posted here: http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX124885
Article Summary:
In previous releases of XenApp, a registry flag called DefaultPrnFlags was used to modify advanced printing options. It was a single DWORD in which a particular hexadecimal value was set if an option was turned on. If two or more options were desired, the corresponding values were added together and the resultant value was stored in the registry. DefaultPrnFlags has been removed in XenApp 6.0, but the functionality it supported is still available for both XenApp and XenDesktop environments.

One of the features introduced in XenApp 6.x and XenDesktop 5.x is Active Directory integration for policies. There are many new settings that can be configured using these policy objects. Most of the functionality previously provided with DefaultPrnFlags can now be set using these policy settings. Refer to documentation on policy configuration for more information about configuring these policy settings.

There are six settings previously covered by DefaultPrnFlags that are not available in Active Directory policies. These instead are configured using new registry flags under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Citrix\Ica\PrintingSettings. These registry flags are not created during installation and in this state the defaults are used. To configure these settings, create the specified REG_DWORD value under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Citrix\Ica\PrintingSettings on either the XenApp server or XenDesktop VDA and set the data to the desired value. Refer to the following table for more information.

You will need to add:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Citrix\Ica\PrintingSettings] "UsersCanManageClientPrinters"=dword:00000001

I have Windows Server 2008 / 2012 and my printers will not rename and the RenPrinters service is running.

In some versions, by default, RenPrinters is configured to ignore / skip over printers that are using the "Remote Desktop Easy Print" printer driver. Windows Server requires those printers to always contain the session # of the client in order to print. The way to get around this is to disable the "Remote Desktop Easy Print" driver by modifying the Group Policy. On Server 2012, you can find the policy setting at the following location: Domain Controller Policy\Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Session Host\Printer Redirection "Use Remote Desktop Easy Print printer driver first" = Disabled Once you Group Policy refreshes (You can do this my running: gpupdate /force), new printers will require a driver installed on server.

RenPrinters service will not start and the event log displays error 0xffffffff.

RenPrinters requires a valid license to run. You may download a trial license for free from the RenPrinters product page.

RenPrinters will not register, it tells me that my license is invalid.

Verify that the information that you used to register your product or download the demo is correct. RenPrinters uses this information to validate your license so it must be entered correctly.

I have lost my registration key for RenPrinters, how do I retrieve this?

You may retrieve your registration key for RenPrinters by visiting our order lookup page.

I already have and older version of RenPrinters, can I upgrade without paying full price?

Yes! We have the option to upgrade available in the shopping cart. You must provide your key from your prior version in order to upgrade or you will be charged full price.

I had to rebuild my server and the name changed so RenPrinters will no longer register, how do I register my product?

You must maintain your server NetBIOS name or purchase a new license of RenPrinters. When you purchase a copy if RenPrinters it is registered for that specific server NetBIOS hostname.

When I start the service my printers will not rename?

Run the RenPrinters Configuration application and verify the following information:
  • Your license is valid and the service is running
  • You have the correct regular expression configured.
  • You have not configured RenPrinters to ignore a driver your printer is using.
For further assistance, please open a Support Ticket and we will be happy to assist you.

I would like a log file of RenPrinters's activities.

If you are running RenPrinters 4.0 or newer, you may enable logging through the RenPrinters Configuration application.
For older versions:
  • Click Start -> Run and type in: services.msc
  • Right click on the RenPrinters service and click on Properties
  • Stop the service if started. In the Start parameters box type in: withLog
  • Start the service
  • The "RenPrinters Log.txt" file will be located in the SysWOW64 directory on 64bit systems
Example screenshot of starting the service with the withLog Start Parameter

Suggestions?

Have any ideas that will improve our product, or make it work better for your business? Please open a Support Ticket and let us know!

Be sure to check this page for future RenPrinters updates.

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Babbage Technologies
Becker, MN
(612)568-2866