Group Policy and printing
Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2
Group Policy and printing
Administrators use Group Policy to define the computer environment that is provided to a group of users and computers, including the applications that are available to them, the applications that appear on their desktop and on the Start menu options, who can modify their desktop and who cannot, and so on. For more information about Group Policy see Group Policy overview.
Administrators can also use Group Policy to change the default behavior of the printing environment and to provide computers and users a standard set of preferences. For example, an administrator can restrict some groups or users from adding or deleting printers, or prevent everyone from using Internet printing or publishing their printers in Active Directory.
The following list shows examples of setting policies on printers.
To disable Web-based printing for every client on the print server:
Open Group Policy. Expand the following: Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Printers. Select Disable Web-based Printing to enable the policy.
To enable Web-based printing for every client on the print server, except Client1:
Select Disable Web-based Printing to disable the policy for everyone on the print server. Then, add the policy as a snap-in for Client1 as the Group Policy object. Here, clear Disable Web-based Printing to enable the policy.
Other usages of Group Policy for printing are as follows:
Administrators can change the default behavior of the Add Printer Wizard. For more information, see Add a printer attached to your computer, or Add a printer attached directly to the network.
Administrators can change the way printers are published in Active Directory. For more information, see Publish a printer in Active Directory, and Manually publish a printer in Active Directory
Administrators can disable Internet printing. For more information, see Manage printers from a browser, and Connect to a printer with a browser
Several other Group Policy settings change the default behavior of printing. For information on these settings, click Explain on the setting's dialog box. For more information about Group Policy and printing, see Set Group Policy for printers