How to copy an existing Windows print queue to a new Queue Deployment

If a network is managed by a Windows domain, print queue connections can be deployed to client machines using Group Policy. However, there are cases where local print queues need to be installed on each PC. For example:

• There is no print server.
• Client PCs are joined to Azure AD with no on-prem Active Directory.
• The network has no domain at all.

Manually installing local print queues on user PCs is a labour intensive task. Using Print Director’s Queue Deployment functionality, this process becomes automated and centrally managed.

Prerequisites

PDAgent must be installed on user PCs

The PDAgent executes the deployment (and updating) tasks so it must be pre-installed on user PCs. It must also be online to copy a queue.

Drivers must be ‘package aware’

Any print queues to be copied must use drivers that are ‘package aware’. Most modern print drivers fit this requirement. If the driver is not ‘package aware’ an error will be displayed when attempting to copy.

Ports must be Standard TCP/IP ports

The queue to be copied must use a Standard TCP/IP port.

Copy queue to new Deployment

To create a new Queue Deployment by copying an existing print queue, follow these steps:

• Open Resource Manager and click PDAgents.
• On the right, double click the PDAgent on which the queue is installed (ensure it is online).
• Click the Print Queues tab.
• Right click the queue to be copied and choose Copy and link to new Deployment. Resource Manager will connect to the PDAgent and download the driver and all queue settings including user printing preferences.
• In the Deployment Scope frame choose whether the queue will be automatically deployed, and/or whether they can self-install using the PDAgent client app.
• In the Updating and deleting queues frame, choose whether linked queues will be automatically updated if changes are made to the Queue Deployment (such as copying new printing preferences after setting the default to single sided printing).
• See Queue Deployment Configuration for further details.
• Click OK.