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Redistributing Windows Vista Printer Drivers

Updated: June 15, 2007

Windows Vista provides three printer driver architecture models that can be used by driver developers to create customized printer 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 printer driver models for redistributions with driver installation packages.

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Redistribution of Microsoft Unidrv Components   Redistribution of Microsoft Unidrv Components
Redistribution of Microsoft PScript5 Components  Redistribution of Microsoft PScript5 Components
Redistribution of Microsoft XPSDrv Components  Redistribution of Microsoft XPSDrv Components
Installation of Microsoft XPSDrv Components  Installation of Microsoft XPSDrv Components
Using the Microsoft Connect Site to Access Driver Components  Using the Microsoft Connect Site to Access Driver Components
Additional Resources  Additional Resources


Redistribution of Microsoft Unidrv Components

The Unidrv printer 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) printer 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 printer 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 printer drivers are required to redistribute Microsoft system components to ensure the printer 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 printer drivers and compatibility with the Windows client/server printing architecture.

To enable the functionality of XPSDrv printer 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 printer 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 printer 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 printer 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 printer drivers, driver developer setup packages must install the following prerequisites before installing the XPSDrv printer 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 printer drivers.

The XPSEPSC must be installed with the standard installer UI disabled. Driver setup packages must therefore invoke the XPSEPSC using the following command:

Copy 
"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:

Copy 
"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:

Copy 
"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:

Copy 
"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 printer driver. Microsoft recommends that you install this component before installing the XPSDrv printer 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 printer driver, WIC must be installed before executing the XPSDrv printer driver. Microsoft recommends that you install this component before installing the XPSDrv printer driver.

Note: This component is already present in Windows Vista and driver setup packages should not attempt to install this on Windows Vista.

XPSDrv Printer Driver Components

Once the prerequisites are successfully installed, the standard installation process for printer drivers should be followed to install the XPSDrv printer driver. The primary changes for XPSDrv Printer 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' printer driver sample for more information.

Using the Microsoft Connect Site to Access Driver Components

As described above, the Windows Vista Printer 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 Printer Driver Redistribution Programs

  1. Go to https://connect.microsoft.com.

  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

    • Windows Vista PostScript5 Driver Redistribution

    • Windows Vista Unidrv Driver Redistribution

    • Windows Vista XPSDrv Driver Redistribution

  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
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