Devices and Printers Metadata Authoring Wizard

About This Download

The Devices and Printers Metadata Authoring Wizard helps device manufacturers to efficiently develop and build a metadata package for their device. The tool features a graphical user interface that guides you through the process of creating a custom device metadata package. The User’s Guide defines each step of the Devices and Printers metadata development process. While you are not required to know the development process to successfully navigate this tool, this information can help you improve your device experience.

This information applies to the Windows 7 operating system.

On This Page

  User’s Guide
  Introduction
  Getting Started - Installation
  Launching the Wizard
  Previewing Your Device Metadata Package
  Submitting Your Device Metadata Package
  Resources

User’s Guide

Introduction

Devices and Printers makes it easy for users to view and use the devices that are connected to their computer. Device vendors can create custom device metadata that describes their device. In this device metadata package, vendors can provide a photorealistic icon, device descriptions, and custom behaviors. They then submit the device metadata package to Microsoft, where the package is validated and available for download from Windows Metadata and Internet Services (WMIS).

The Devices and Printers Metadata Authoring Wizard is a simplified tool that device manufacturers can use to develop their custom Devices and Printers metadata package for their devices.

Getting Started - Installation

After you have installed the tool from the Download link on this page, follow these steps to start it:

1. Open the DeviceMetadataWizard.exe shortcut on your desktop to launch the Devices and Printers Metadata Authoring Wizard.
2. You receive the following message:

If you are authoring a metadata package for a device connected to your system, launching this wizard from Devices and Printers both saves you time, and reduced the possibility of errors while creating your package.

3. If your device is not connected to your computer, click OK to close the dialog box, and skip to the “Running the tool” section below.
4. If your device is connected, follow these steps:
1. Click OK to close the dialog box, and then click X to close the wizard.
2. Click Start, click Devices and Printers, and then locate your device.
3. Right-click on the device and select Create metadata package.          
4. The Devices and Printers Metadata Authoring Wizard opens.

Launching the Wizard

After you have started the tool, follow these steps to author your Devices and Printers device experience:

1. Click the Icon tab, and follow these steps:
1. If you are not providing an image for your device, Windows will assign a generic icon based on the primary category that you specify. Click Next, and skip to step 2 below.
2. If you are providing an image, open the location where your file is saved, and drag it to the specified area in the wizard.

Note Icons must have transparent backgrounds and smooth edges, and they must follow the format and size requirements listed in the tab. For more information about icon design, please see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa511280.aspx#guidelines.

3. Click Next.
2. Click the Description tab, and then follow these steps:
1. Fill in the following fields.

Note All of the information that you provide will be visible to the end user.

• Model Name: Model name of the device. (Required)
• Manufacturer: Manufacturer name of the device. (Required)
• Model number: Model number of the device. (Optional)
• Description 1: Descriptive text. (Optional)
• Description 2: Additional descriptive text. (Optional)
2. Click Next.
3. Click the Categories tab, and then follow these steps:
1. Under Available categories, select the appropriate categories that the device belongs to.

Note A device can belong to multiple categories.

2. Under Primary category, select the primary category that the device belongs to.

Note Select the category that most users would use to identify the device.

3. Click Next.
4. Click the Associations tab, and then follow these steps:
1. If you launched the wizard from the Devices and Printers folder, Hardware IDs will be listed for you. Click to select them, click Next, and then skip to step 5 below.
2. If you did not launch the wizard from the Devices and Printers folder, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, click Devices and Printers, right-click your device, and then click Properties.
2. In the Properties dialog box, click the Hardware tab, click Properties, and then click the Details tab.
3. Under Property, select Hardware Ids and Model Ids (if implemented), and copy the IDs listed under Value.
4. Click + in the wizard to add the IDs, and then click Next.
5. Click the Options tab, and then follow these steps:
1. Under Locale, select the language of your device experience.

Note You must create a separate package for each locale you want to support.

2. If you want to use this package when a locale-specific language is unavailable, select Locale Default.

Note You can specify only one metadata package as the Locale Default package for each device.

3. If you want the device to be shown in a disconnected state, select Show device in disconnected state.
4. Click Next.
6. Click the Finish tab, and then follow these steps:
1. Review all of the information that you have provided.
2. Make a note of the Package name and Folder location where your package is saved. You will have to retrieve this information later for submission.
3. Select Copy package to your system’s local metadata store to see a preview of your device experience.
4. Click Finish.

Previewing Your Device Metadata Package

To preview the package that you created before you submit it, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Devices and Printers.
2. The device appears in the Devices category.
3. Verify that all the information that appears is correct.

Submitting Your Device Metadata Package

You can now submit your package to Winqual. If you want to distribute it on the device yourself, please submit the package to be digital-signed beforehand. For more information about submissions, please see the Windows Device Experience portal page.

Resources

• Devices and Printers in Windows 7: Frequently Asked Questions
• Device Metadata Package for Devices and Printers: Resource Roadmap
• How to Create a Device Metadata Package for Devices and Printers
• Devices and Printers - Extensibility Guide
• Device Metadata Package Pipeline
• Multifunction Device Support and Device Container Groupings in Windows 7
• Windows Device Experience portal page
• Icon Information