How to get default printer's network path?

Question

How could I get printer's network path (\COMPUTER\PRINTERNAME) from default printer, when the default printer isn't local? Thx in adv.

Jan Montano · Answer

I see. AFAIK, the code will only return installed printers. I thought you were concerned with the DEFAULT printer's (w/c needs to be installed) network path. I'm not sure if the EnumPrinters API will return uninstalled printers though.

SANDIP · Answer

Thanks for your reply. The code I have used gives me only the printers that are added on my local machine. It means , if I want to show the printers using this code, then first it should be added on my local machine. The printers avaliable in my local network but not installed/ added on my machine are not shown by this code. I am searching for something that could help me to show all the printers that are avaliable in my local network but not installed/ added on my machine. Where can I get something to read regarding this?

Jan Montano · Answer

The code you posted is just the same as the code I posted. Have you tried to run the code I posted? It will return your default printer, regardless if it's local or not. When you click on Start->Printers and Faxes, this will list all your printers. This list should be the same as with the queryCollection.

SANDIP · Answer

Thanks for your reply. I have used System.Management namespace and the query, but it gives the address path of the printers installed on local machine only, it do not display network printers information. Here is the code I used to get information, string strQuery = "SELECT * FROM Win32_Printer" ; System. Console .WriteLine( "WMI Query: '{0}'" , strQuery); System. Console .WriteLine( "==============================================" ); System.Management. ObjectQuery oq = new System.Management. ObjectQuery (strQuery); System.Management. ManagementObjectSearcher query1 = new System.Management. ManagementObjectSearcher (oq); System.Management. ManagementObjectCollection queryCollection1 = query1.Get(); System.Management. ManagementObject newDefault = null ; Is there something that I am missing?

Jan Montano · Answer

// add System.Management as reference first using System.Management; static void GetDefaultPrinter() { string strQuery = "SELECT * FROM Win32_Printer"; ObjectQuery objectQuery = new ObjectQuery(strQuery); ManagementObjectSearcher query = new ManagementObjectSearcher(objectQuery); ManagementObjectCollection queryCollection = query.Get(); foreach( ManagementObject managementObject in queryCollection ) { PropertyDataCollection propertyDataCollection = managementObject.Properties; if ((bool)managementObject["Default"]) // DEFAULT PRINTER { Console.WriteLine(managementObject["Name"]); Console.WriteLine(managementObject["Location"]); } } }

How to get default printer's network path?

Answers (5)