Multi-Printer PDFCreator Installation Guide

I've really struggled to install multiple PDFCreator printers, so I propose to share the fruits of my research with you. This work results from many hours of research and tearing out my hair...

Installation Guide for Multi-Printers PDFCreator

Note: Tested with PDFCreator-0_9_3 and PDFCreator-0_9_7 on Windows XP Pro SP2

Foreword:

I have struggled so much to install multiple PDFCreator printers that I want to share the results of my research. I have not invented anything, I have read and tested. I am not saying that this solution is the best or the most optimized, nor do I guarantee that it will work for everyone, but for me it works very well. So I hope it will work for you too... This document is written for `everyone`! That means it is even for beginners... As experts will find some explanations superfluous, I have dedicated a section for them (see Install PDFCreator (experts only)).

Warning: In this document, I only address the installation of local printers; I do not cover and have not tested the installation of network printers.

Needs:

In my establishment, I often have to convert doc/jpg -> pdf. Sometimes for putting on our website and other times for internal use. Unfortunately, PDFCreator does not allow the selection of a predefined setting. So depending on the task to be done, you have to modify the JPG quality, compression, etc., and other times you need to reconfigure a good quality, etc.

The installation of multiple printers allows the use of "preconfigured" printers without having to modify the different parameters. Thus, with this method, we create printer profiles (a feature not available from the settings).

Example of use: 3 (virtual) printers:

• A PDF printer: excellent quality
• A PDF printer: draft quality
• A JPG printer

However, be cautious, the multiplicity of printers is generally a source of error (human); do not abuse this feature because the more printers there are, the more likely you are to choose the wrong printer!!!

Table of Contents:

1. Download PDFCreator
2. Create a shortcut to install PDFCreator with INI file management
3. Install PDFCreator
4. Copy/Paste the default settings
5. Create a new PDFCreator printer
6. Modify the new printer
7. Configure and test the new printer
8. And if I want another printer and another one
9. Install PDFCreator (experts only)
10. What should I keep to deploy or back up a configuration

1 - Download PDFCreator

If a previous version of PDFCreator exists, remove it beforehand (Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs).

Download this version of PDFCreator: PDFCreator-0_9_7_setup.exe (ex link: https://www.pc-infopratique.com/telecharger-urlprog-32.html

2 - Create a shortcut to install PDFCreator with INI file management

We have just downloaded the PDFCreator installation program. We will make small modifications to make this installation "special".

• Select PDFCreator-0_9_7_setup.exe and create a shortcut (right-click > Create shortcut); a new shortcut should appear.
• Edit the properties of this shortcut (right-click > Properties), and go to the Shortcut tab.
• In the Target field, at the end of what is already written, type: /UseINI (don't forget the space before the /) This should give, according to your download folder: "C:\Documents and Settings\xxx\Desktop\PDFCreator-0_9_7_setup.exe" /UseINI

Note: here, the download was performed on the desktop

3 - Install PDFCreator

We have just created a shortcut to install PDFCreator. Moreover, we have provided it with "special" arguments for a special installation.

• Double-click on the shortcut to install PDFCreator with INI file management (the reason for /UseINI)
• ... Install like any other program ... Next > Next > ... while taking care of the warnings ...

4 - Copy/Paste the default settings

PDFCreator is now installed. We need to create the configuration document of the new printer. Rather than creating it ourselves, we will use a copy of the default configuration. We will modify the settings later.

• From My Computer, go to the folder: C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Application Data\PDFCreator.

Note 1: By default, the Application Data folder is hidden. To show it, from My Computer, open the Folder Options (menu Tools > Folder Options...), View tab check Show hidden files and folders

Note 2: %username% is the name of the current user, the one who has logged in. To check, type (with spaces) in Run (menu start > Run): cmd /k echo %username%&&pause

Once in the folder, copy/paste PDFCreator.ini or PDFCreator (right-click > Copy --> right-click > Paste) and rename it for example PNGCreator.ini (right-click > Rename); this new INI file will contain the configuration of the new printer.

Note: The destination folder of the INI file does not matter.

5 - Create a new PDFCreator printer

PDFCreator being installed, a PDF printer has been created by default. We will need to create a new printer that meets our needs.

• Open the printer management window (Control Panel > Printers and Faxes)
• Double-click on Add a printer to add a new printer, then click Next >.
• Check A local printer connected to this computer, and uncheck Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer, and click Next >.
• Check Create a new port, and choose as port type PDFCreator and click Next >.
• Name this port, it will serve to identify the correct port. Example: PDFPort

Note: If the port name is already in use, just give it another name.

• In the Install the printer driver window click on the Disk provided... button and select the ghostpdf driver located here: <pdfcreator_install>\GS8.63\gs8.63\Lib\ghostpdf.inf (or other than GS8.63) where <pdfcreator_install> is the folder where PDFCreator is installed. (By default: C:\Program Files\PDFCreator\GS8.63\gs8.63\Lib\ghostpdf.inf)

Note: The message "This driver has not been digitally signed!" should appear. Do not worry about it...

• Click Next > to install the drivers.
• Check Keep existing driver (recommended). Click on Next >
• Name the printer; this is the name that will appear in the printer list and will be editable later. Example: PDFPrinter
• Choose whether or not to use this printer as default. Click on Next >
• Choose whether or not to share this printer. Click on Next >
• Choose whether or not to print a test page. Click on Finish

6 - Modify the new printer

Now that we have created a new printer, we need to modify some of its settings.

• Select and open the properties of the new printer (right-click > Properties).
• In the Advanced tab, uncheck if not already done Start printing after last page is spooled.
• In the Ports tab, the port we named in (5) must be listed and selected. Then click on Configure Port....
• The properties window (Properties in English) of the port should open. We will fill in the fields "Redirect this port to the program" and "Arguments for this program are".
• In the Redirect this port to the program field, click on Browse, then select <pdfcreator_install>\PDFSpool.exe where <pdfcreator_install> is the folder where PDFCreator is installed. (By default: C:\Program Files\PDFCreator\PDFSpool.exe)
• In the Arguments for this program are field, type: -PPDFCREATORPRINTER -OptionsFile"<INI_file>" where <INI_file> is the path to the INI document which will contain the settings of this new printer; this document was copied in (4) (e.g. -PPDFCREATORPRINTER -OptionsFile"C:\Program Files\PDFCreator\PNGCreator.ini")

WARNING: There is no space between -OptionsFile and "<INI_file>", otherwise the configuration file will not be taken into account.

7 - Configure and test the new printer

Now that we have a new printer, we will configure and test it.

• Open any software that allows printing (Word, Writer, etc.)
• Print (generally menu File > Print) and select the new printer.
• After a few seconds, the PDFCreator window should appear.
• Click on Options and modify all the expected settings (I refer you to the official documentation provided with the software). Especially modify the default saving format (section Save > Standard Save Format), which depends on the type of printer you wish to have. By default, the type of printer is PDF.
• Confirm these modifications by clicking on Save.
• Output the document to the new printer (virtual printer, since we do not print on real paper with real ink).
• See that it works ...

8 - And if I want another printer and another one

No problem! Just repeat sections (4) to (7) (INI->configuration) for each new printer.

However, pay attention to the warning mentioned at the beginning regarding the abusive use of a multi-printer installation.

9 - Install PDFCreator (experts only)

WARNING: You need to have some knowledge to understand what follows. If any point is unclear, refer to the details given in the previous sections.

• Uninstall any previous version of PDFCreator.
• Install PDFCreator with the /UseINI arguments to configure from a file (and not the registry).
• An INI file must be used to configure the installation.