Abstract: The disclosure relates to a computerized method and system for implementing a multi-tiered approach to defining printer driver configuration settings. A printer driver configuration management utility allows establishing settings for multiple printer drivers and multiple printing devices with a single multi-tiered configuration file. In a network environment the configuration file is stored in a location accessible by a client prior to utilizing a printer. A single multi-tiered configuration file makes it possible to pre-configure and post-configure multiple printer drivers. Compatible installed printer drivers check for the configuration file and update settings accordingly. Each setting may have rules of behavior such as a default value, enforced default value, value setting lock and disallowance of a value. An alternate value, such as a secondary value, can be deferred to when a primary setting value is not supported for a particular driver.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of controlling operation of a printer, apparatus and computer-readable medium. The embodiments control operation of a printer by displaying to a user a print user interface including selectable document settings and a default/saved settings control, the default/saved settings control displaying a list of at least one saved default setting and command settings, the at least one saved default setting including selected ones of the document settings, the command settings allowing the user to create additional default settings and to delete the at least one saved default setting, and controlling printing of a document to print on the printer using the saved default setting and the selected ones of the document settings.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of creating drivers for use in a network, the network including computers and devices, and corresponding apparatus and computer-readable medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for updating print drivers is described. The described system includes a port monitor that monitors the configuration and status of a printer. When changes occur to the configuration of a printer, the port monitor updates a print driver registry on the print server. The port monitor also wakes the print driver on the print server and informs the print driver of the configuration changes. Depending on the client operating system used, a client device connected to the server's shared print queue may either directly read or request the configuration data from the print server. In some client operating systems, the client device may also update a local registry on the client device to reflect the changes in configuration of the printer. The described system allows print drivers to have a consistent interface to printer configuration and status data regardless of which version of the Microsoft Windows Operating System is used by the client.