How can I make a copy of a printer in Windows 7?

Question

Assume there is a Class called A which has a method as follows:

public void SomeMethod<T>(ref T para1)
{
    ...
}

Now I have an interface (lets call it ITest) that enforces a method (lets call it RequiredMethod()) and there are a bunch of classes that implement this interface.

In the declaration of SomeMethod, how can I mention that T needs to implement ITest so that I can do something like this?

public void SomeMethod<T implements ITest>(ref T para1)
{
    ...
    para1.RequiredMethod();
    ...
}

Solution

I know its being a while since this question was raised and I’m sure everyone concerned found its own answer. But since I searched for an answer my self yesterday and could not find anything reasonable I thought I post my solution here … for future reference …

First thing first, it’s possible. Yes you can install the same printer twice with different printer preferences for each (don’t let you tell otherwise, even from Microsoft employs). Secondly, yes Windows 7 makes it a bit confusing, because it displays only one instance of the installed printer in its Control Panel Printer section (Microsofts wisdom) … anyway here is how to do it. I assume you have installed your printer.

1. Go to [Control Panel] -> [Devices and Printers] and select [Add a Printer]
2. Now select [Add a local printer]
3. Select the set port of your printer in [Choose a printer port], commonly USB001 etc.
4. In [Install the printer driver] select your printers Manufacturer and Model
5. [Next]
6. In [Which version of the driver do you want to use?] select [Use the driver that is currently installed]
7. Enter a name for this new printer reference in [Type a printer name]

So, what we have now is a new printer reference, a reference you can see and select in the [Print] window printer selection [Name]. What we have to do now is to setup this printers individual settings

1. Go back to [Control Panel] - [Devices and Printers] and select your printer (clicking)
2. Select [Customize your printer]
3. In [Select a printer] select your printer the same way as you would in the [Print] menu
4. The [Print property] window pops up and you can set your individual printer settings here

Voilà, confusing but easy, happy computing …

Erwin Hofmann

Comments

[Xantec]

what error does windows report when you try to add it through Add Printer? also, for giggles have you tried using an app like 7zip to extract the HP install exe, to see if you can pull out the driver files?

[hawbsl]

@Xantec, from memory it isn't an error message, but the printer icon is marked with an exclamation/question mark.

[Servy]

Are you really sure you need to be passing the parameter by reference? This is usually not required in general, and particularly in generic methods.

[John Saunders]

I have edited your title. Please see, "Should questions include “tags” in their titles?", where the consensus is "no, they should not".

[iivel]

+1 ... From the microsoft forums - it is by design in Win7 that you can't just copy/paste answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-hardware‌​/…

[Psycogeek]

@ErwinHofmann we have used that method to install 2 "versions" of a Network printer and it worked just fine in 7 same for XP. One is set for landscape and one set for portrait, then default settings for the printer are adjusted. If ever that does not work, take a look at what "PORT" it is assigned to would be the only thing that might mess things up.

[echristopherson]

@Psycogeek How did you set up a network printer this way? When I go through these instructions but instead of Add a local printer choose Add a network, wireless, or Bluetooth printer, then either choose the printer from the list or enter its UNC path, it says it was set up successfully, but I'm left with only one copy of the printer.

[Psycogeek]

@echristopherson Then add another printer again, select to use the same drivers. I think it helps to change the "friendly name" things that are changable first before adding the second.

[echristopherson]

@Psycogeek I guess I'm not sure where to start with it. When I went through the wizard I was never asked for the drivers or the friendly name. Should I look at the existing printer's port, and then set up the new printer as a local printer using that port?

[echristopherson]

@Psycogeek I finally got it; thanks. It turned out I needed to find the IP address from the original printer, and then use that IP in the new printer wizard. I had been using the UNC path of the printer instead; but that method never actually created a new printer icon.

[echristopherson]

@Psycogeek Hmm. Now I find that if I select a tray in my new printer icon's Printing Preferences dialog and press OK, it forgets that preference by the time I print or go back into the dialog. Any ideas?

[Psycogeek]

@echristopherson Again , in printer properties , Advanced tab , "Printing Defaults" setting the printing defaults for this copy of the printer that you have made, that usually stays. Other changes made when printing, or via printer preferances only stay for a single session.

[O. R. Mapper]

Can you show an example of how you imagine that would look?

[MikeV]

My mistake... I misread the question. I thought he was using T as a class name, not a generic.

[WackStr]

That did the trick! thank you! the interface needs to be public as well else there is an accessibility problem