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Device Fundamentals
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Device Fundamentals Overview
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Audio
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Display and Graphics
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Input and HID
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Media and Networked Devices
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Networking
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Printing
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Storage
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Windows Device Experience
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Windows Portable Devices
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Windows SideShow
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Printing - Architecture and Driver Support

Microsoft-provided spooler and driver components are replaceable, so hardware vendors can easily add support for new hardware. Support for a new printer usually requires only creating new data files to use with one of the Microsoft-supplied printer drivers.

XML Paper Specification. The XML Paper Specification (XPS) defines an open document format that simplifies creating, sharing, printing, viewing, and archiving digital documents. We use XPS to optimize the print architecture of Windows Vista to significantly improve print fidelity and performance while maintaining compatibility with and support for the familiar GDI print path. See the XPS Web site.

Printing and Windows 7
White PaperAuthoring Experiences for Printers, Scanners, and Multifunction Printers  
White PaperHow to Implement Compatible IDs in Printing Devices  
WHDC Portal/NodalWindows 7 Logo Program for Printers FAQ  

Windows Vista Printing Overview
White PaperAsyncUI Notifications from Printer Drivers
White PaperPrint Driver Compatibility with Windows Vista
White PaperXPS and Color Printing Enhancements in Windows Vista
Windows MultimediaVideo - Inside Windows Vista Printing

XPS and Print - WinHEC 2007
Microsoft Powerpoint (.ppt)Performance Optimization for XPS Documents [WinHEC 2007; 1.4 MB]
Microsoft Powerpoint (.ppt)XPSDrv: Best Practices Using Print Verifier [WinHEC 2007; 916 KB]
OtherSee Also: Presentations at WinHEC 2006

Printer Driver Development and Testing
ToolsReference Raster Image Processor (RIP)
White PaperBest Practices Guide for Developing Printer Drivers

Printer Driver Installation
White PaperPoint and Print Security on Windows Vista
White PaperPrint Driver Setup: 64-bit Drivers and Platforms
White PaperPrinter Installation in Windows Vista
White PaperRedistributing Windows Vista Print Drivers

XPS and Color for Printer Drivers
White PaperMaximum Performance from XPS Documents
White PaperPrintTicket and PrintCapabilities Support in Windows Print Drivers
White PaperXPSDrv Configuration Module Implementation
White PaperXPSDrv Filter Pipeline

Notes from Windows Development Team on Print Drivers
White PaperDebugging Printer Drivers
White PaperTesting and Troubleshooting the Print Subsystem
White PaperTesting Printing and Imaging Devices with the Driver Test Manager
Microsoft Powerpoint (.ppt)Core Printer Driver Improvements [482 KB]
Microsoft Powerpoint (.ppt)Debugging Print And Imaging Drivers [152 KB]
Microsoft Powerpoint (.ppt)Testing and Tools For Print and Imaging Drivers [306 KB]

Web Services for Printing
Microsoft.comWeb Services on MSDN
Microsoft.comWS-Discovery
Microsoft.comWS-Eventing

Printing Developer References
Microsoft.comWDK Online – Print Drivers

See Also
WHDC Portal/NodalArchived White Papers
WHDC Portal/NodalWindows Color System
WHDC Portal/NodalWindows Imaging Component
WHDC Portal/NodalXPS Home

Resources
Windows LogoIndustry Specification References for Windows Logo Program
WHDC Portal/NodalDriver Installation
WHDC Portal/NodalDriver Signing Requirements for Windows
WHDC Portal/NodalPnP & Power Management
WHDC Portal/NodalSupport for Developer Kits and Tools
DownloadableScalable Networking Pack - NDIS 5.2 Driver Kit (DDK) [16.1 MB]

 


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