By LEROY MCLEAN, ContributorTODAY, I WANT to shift my focus and talk about printing in Microsoft Windows. Here are some interesting printing tips that will allow you to become more productive and secure under Windows 2000/XP. There are some computer users who are using shared printers at home and in the office, these tips will also be of great assistance to them.
CREATING A CUSTOM FOLDER FOR PRINTERS.
To ease printer administration, create a custom folder for the printers and for the folders of any print server you manage regularly. You can also create a shortcut for that folder on the Desktop.
USING THE 'SEARCH FOR PRINTERS' UTILITY.
The best and fastest way to find and connect to a printer in Windows 2000 environment is through the search for printers utility. From the 'Start' menu click 'Search', then click 'For Printers', and then type the criteria for the printers you are searching for.
INSTALLING ADDITIONAL PRINTER DRIVERS.
If you share printers with clients other than Windows 2000 clients, install the required additional printer drivers for these clients. Using the same guidelines that apply to any shared resource.
Create a local printer_name users group with Print permission, and then put global groups in the local group. Removing Print permission from the default group Everyone. Instead, assign the Print permission to the built-in group Users. This limits printer use to those users in the domain for which you have created accounts.
DISTRIBUTING THE ADMINISTRATIVE LOAD.
If security is not an issue, assign the printer_name Users group the Manage Documents or Manage Printers print permission, or add a user to the Print Operators group to manage the printer. Maintaining security.
Secure the printer in a locked room if it is used for confidential information. Let only members of the Administrators group manage the printer.
CHOOSING A PHYSICAL LOCATION FOR PRINTING POOLS.
For printing pools, place the printers physically close to each other so users do not have to check separate locations for their printed documents. Managing printer traffic. Create multiple logical printers with different schedules to reduce printer traffic during peak hours.
Have users send large documents, such as accounting reports, to a logical printer that is available only at night so that those documents wait until off-peak hours to be printed.
MAINTAINING RECORDS.
Document information about printers and the users who have the ability to administer them. Auditing printers. Use the Windows 2000/XP audit feature to keep track of changes made by administrators who manage shared printers. Using the printer troubleshooter.
To solve problems quickly, use the printing troubleshooter. Also, you can use the networking (TCP/IP) troubleshooter for networking problems.
