Redistributing Windows Vista Print Drivers
Windows Vista provides three print driver architecture models that can be used by driver developers to create customized print drivers for print devices. These architecture models are Unidrv, for PCL devices, PScript5 for PostScript devices, and XPSDrv, for drivers or devices that process the XPS document format. This document outlines the methods by which driver developers can access the Microsoft components of these print driver models for redistributions with driver installation packages.
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Redistribution of Microsoft Unidrv Components
The Unidrv print driver architecture is compatible with Windows 2000 and later OS releases. The Unidrv Redist Package contains the system and driver components that enable the Windows Vista version of Unidrv to function on supported pre-Windows Vista releases. The Unidrv Redist Package will be redistributed via a executable package (exe).
You can access the Unidrv Redist Package and redistribution agreement through the Microsoft Connect site, under the 'Windows Vista Unidrv Driver Redistribution program'. See https://connect.microsoft.com for more information.
Redistribution of Microsoft PScript5 Components
The PScript5 (PostScript) print driver architecture is compatible with Windows 2000 and later OS releases. The PScript5 Redist Package contains the system and driver components that enable the Windows Vista version of PScript5 to function on supported pre-Windows Vista releases. The PScript5 Redist Package will be redistributed via a executable package (exe).
You can access the PScript5 Redist Package and redistribution agreement through the Microsoft Connect site, under the 'Windows Vista PostScript5 Driver Redistribution' program. See https://connect.microsoft.com for more information.
Redistribution of Microsoft XPSDrv Components
The XPSDrv print driver architecture enables high quality, high performance printing on the Windows platform. The XPSDrv architecture is supported on Windows XP SP2 and later releases. Driver developers who author and ship XPSDrv print drivers are required to redistribute Microsoft system components to ensure the print drivers function properly on supported Windows operating systems prior to Windows Vista. In addition developers must follow the proper setup guidelines to ensure proper installation of XPSDrv print drivers and compatibility with the Windows client/server printing architecture.
To enable the functionality of XPSDrv print drivers on Windows XP SP2 and Windows Server 2003 operating systems, driver developers must redistribute the following components according to the license terms outlined by each.
XPSDrv Redist Package
The XPSDrv Redist Package (XPSEPSC) contains the system and driver components that enable the XPSDrv print drivers to be installed and to enable the XPSDrv filter pipeline component to function. The XPSEPSC will be redistributed via a executable package (exe). You can access the XPSEPSC package and redistribution agreement through the Microsoft Connect site, under the 'Windows Vista XPSDrv Driver Redistribution' program. See https://connect.microsoft.com for more information.
Microsoft Core XML Services 6.0
The Microsoft Core XML Services (MSXML) 6.0 package contains system components that enable the XML parsing and processing features required for XPSDrv print drivers to function. MSXML 6.0 will be redistributed via a MSI package. You can access the MSXML 6.0 MSI package and redistribution agreement at the following URL:
All Architectures: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=76573
Windows Imaging Component
The Windows Imaging Component (WIC) package contains the components required for image processing of some XPS image formats. WIC will be redistributed as an executable package (exe). You can access the WIC package and redistribution agreement at the following URLs:
Note: This component is only necessary if the XPSDrv print driver is processing image formats that are not supported by the target OS. An example would be HD Photo processing.
Installation of Microsoft XPSDrv Components
To properly install XPSDrv print drivers, driver developer setup packages must install the following prerequisites before installing the XPSDrv print driver.
Installing the XPSDrv Redist Package
The XPSEPSC will install a new core driver package (installed via the MSXPSDRV.inf INF file) on the system that references the required system components for the execution of XPSDrv print drivers.
The XPSEPSC must be installed with the standard installer UI disabled. Driver setup packages must therefore invoke the XPSEPSC using the following command:
"XPSEPSC-<arch>-en-US.exe /quiet"
In the command string above, 'XPSEPSC-<arch>-en-US.exe' is the name of the XPSEPSC EXE package.
<arch> represents the platform architecture, for example 'x86' or 'amd64'.
To install the x86 US English build, for example, driver setup packages should execute the following command:
"XPSEPSC-x86-en-US.exe /quiet"
To install non-English builds of the XPSEPSC, the driver package must also install a language pack for each target language. The language packs contain localization (MUI) files for the Microsoft XPS Document Writer UI module. All other binaries in the XPSEPSC either contained embedded localized strings or have no localized content. Driver setup packages must invoke the XPSEPSC language packs using the following command:
"XPSEPSCLANGPACK-<arch>-<lang>-langpack.exe /quiet"
In the command string above, 'XPSEPSCLANGPACK-<arch>-<lang>-langpack.exe' is the name of the XPSEPSC Language Pack EXE package.
<arch> represents the platform architecture, for example 'x86' or 'amd64'.
<lang> represents the language identifier, for example 'en-US'.
To install the x86 German language pack, for example, driver setup packages should execute the following command:
"XPSEPSCLANGPACK-x86-de-DE-langpack.exe /quiet"
Note: These packages are not intended for use on Windows Vista and later releases and driver setup packages should not attempt to install these packages on Windows Vista. The XPSDrv system components are pre-installed on Windows Vista and later releases.
Installing Microsoft Core XML Services 6.0
MSXML 6.0 must be installed before executing the XPSDrv print driver. Microsoft recommends that you install this component before installing the XPSDrv print driver.
Note: This component is already present in Windows Vista and driver setup packages should not attempt to install this on Windows Vista.
Installing Windows Imaging Component
If WIC functionality is needed by the XPSDrv print driver, WIC must be installed before executing the XPSDrv print driver. Microsoft recommends that you install this component before installing the XPSDrv print driver.
Note: This component is already present in Windows Vista and driver setup packages should not attempt to install this on Windows Vista.
XPSDrv Print Driver Components
Once the prerequisites are successfully installed, the standard installation process for print drivers should be followed to install the XPSDrv print driver. The primary changes for XPSDrv Print Drivers on pre-Windows Vista releases are the updates to the INF file. The summary of the necessary changes are:
| • | INF Print Processor directive. The INF MUST reference the XPSDrv Filter Pipeline manager as the print processor for the driver. For example: PrintProcessor="MS_XPS,filterpipelineprintproc.dll" |
| • | INF Include directive. The INF MUST reference the XPSDrv core driver components installed by the XPSEPSC package. The core driver components are referenced in the MSXPSDRV.INF. For example: Include=NTPRINT.INF, MSXPSDRV.INF |
Microsoft recommends that driver developers create a single INF file that supports all supported OS releases and supported architectures.
Please see the Windows Vista Windows Driver Kit (WDK) topic 'XPSDrv Installation' and the WDK 'XPSDRVSMPL' print driver sample for more information.
Using the Microsoft Connect Site to Access Driver Components
As described above, the Windows Vista Print Driver components are available from the Microsoft Connect site. This section walks through the main steps to access these components.
Participate in the Windows Vista Print Driver Redistribution Programs
1. | |||||||
2. | Sign In using a valid Windows Live ID account | ||||||
3. | If you previously have not used the Microsoft Connect site, Select 'Manage Your Connect Profile' located at the bottom left of the page. Complete the Registration information and select 'Continue' | ||||||
4. | Select 'Available Connections' from the left-hand tool bar | ||||||
5. | Scroll or Search for the following programs
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6. | Select 'Apply' for the appropriate programs you are requesting to join |
Complete Mandatory Surveys
Programs selected from step 6 above will appear in 'My Participation' page located on the left-hand toolbar. Selecting the appropriate Connection from the 'My Participation' page will redirect you to the Mandatory Surveys associated with each Program. Complete the listed Mandatory Surveys.
Download Redistribution Packages
Once the mandatory surveys are completed, you will be able to access the 'Downloads' page located on the left-hand toolbar.
Additional Resources
| • | XPSDrv Redistribution Package https://connect.microsoft.com, Windows Vista XPSDrv Driver Redistribution program. |
| • | Microsoft Core XML Services 6.0 Package |
| • | Windows Imaging Component x86 Package |
| • | Windows Imaging Component x64/amd64 Package |
| • | Windows Driver Kit (WDK) |
| • | If you have questions about this process or XPS, send mail to prninfo@microsoft.com |