The latest iteration of the Lexmark Universal Print Driver, version 2, introduces a suite of improvements focused on enhancing user experience and streamlining administrative tasks. This update maintains the eco-conscious features of its predecessor while significantly reducing the effort needed for deployment and ongoing maintenance of your printing devices. Below are the key highlights of this release.
Revamped User Interface for Enhanced Usability
The Universal Print Driver v2 boasts a redesigned user interface, aiming for a uniform and intuitive experience across all compatible Lexmark printer models. Controls and settings have been refined to improve language accessibility and overall user satisfaction.
Expanding its reach, the Universal Printer Driver now supports a broader range of languages, automatically aligning with your operating system’s language settings. For environments requiring specific language preferences, administrators retain the flexibility to manually select a language via the Configuration tab within the Printer Properties dialog.
Advanced Job Accounting for Detailed Tracking
The integrated Job Accounting feature empowers organizations to meticulously monitor print activities for accounting precision. By associating print jobs with detailed account information—including user names or IDs, account codes, and department codes—businesses can effectively track print volumes across different users or departments. This functionality facilitates accurate billing to specific accounts and enables the implementation of print quotas to manage user consumption.
Tailored Installation Packages for Efficient Deployment
The updated Universal Print Driver installer offers administrators the capability to generate custom installation packages. This feature allows for the inclusion of only essential software and drivers, precisely tailored to an organization’s specific requirements. By leveraging custom installation packages in conjunction with Driver Configuration Files (DCFs), administrators can create deployment solutions perfectly optimized for their unique environments. Further details on DCFs are provided below.
Dynamic Driver Configuration for Seamless Adaptation
Version 2 of the Universal Print Driver introduces dynamic configuration, enabling the driver to intelligently adapt its user interface to reflect the specific features and options of any supported printer model. Upon establishing a connection with a printer, whether via USB or network, the driver automatically updates its configuration. This ensures users are presented only with the relevant features and functions supported by their chosen printer, such as paper sizes, trays, media types, finishing options, and other model-specific capabilities.
While the driver is designed for automatic printer model detection, administrators also retain manual control. A specific printer model can be manually designated through the Configuration tab within the Printer Properties dialog, providing flexibility for diverse administrative needs.
Printer Driver Configuration Utility for Streamlined Management
Administrators can leverage the Printer Driver Configuration Utility to define and manage driver configurations. A driver configuration encapsulates a collection of saved printer driver settings and preferences, stored within a Driver Configuration File (DCF). This utility facilitates the creation of subset driver configurations applicable across various printer models, enhancing deployment efficiency and consistency. The utility’s functionalities include:
- Streamlining printer object configuration during installation.
- Enabling the configuration of multiple printer objects, each with distinct settings, for a single printer driver, effectively creating virtual printer objects.
- Providing tools to view, modify, or remove existing configurations.
- Implementing Resource Administration for granular control.
- Recommending settings modifiable at print time for user flexibility.
- Enforcing settings that remain fixed and non-modifiable by end-users, ensuring policy compliance.
