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MaxStr
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How can I save the user's default printer, and restore it after recomposing?

I have an issue when I recompose, all the user's default printer goes back to either Adobe PDF or Microsoft PDF. Can someone please walk me through how I can use DEM to save the printer on log-off, and then re-map it on log-on? I'm not very familiar with DEM and I can't seem to find any step-by-step guides online. I did see there is a setting under Personilization, Windows Settings, Network Printers, but I have no idea how to configure it.


Thank you!

My environment:

Horizon 7.10, DEM 9.9, AppV 2.18, Windows 10 1909 (linked-clone VDI)

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DEMdev
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Hi MaxStr,

For that sample Network Printers config file from the Easy Start, all you need to do is Enable it:

pastedImage_1.png

No further configuration required (assuming that you have deployed and configured the DEM agent.)

Once this particular config file is enabled, whenever a user logs off, the DEM agent will persist their printer settings at logoff, and restore them at logon.

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RoderikdeBlock
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You can do it like this:

https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Dynamic-Environment-Manager/9.10/com.vmware.dynamic.environment.ma...

Roderik de Block


Blog: https://roderikdeblock.com
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MaxStr
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That article only shows how to map a printer. But I'm looking for a way to save all the user's printer mappings, then restore them back when they log in.

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RoderikdeBlock
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UEM Saving Default Printer

Roderik de Block


Blog: https://roderikdeblock.com
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DEMdev
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Hi MaxStr,

For that sample Network Printers config file from the Easy Start, all you need to do is Enable it:

pastedImage_1.png

No further configuration required (assuming that you have deployed and configured the DEM agent.)

Once this particular config file is enabled, whenever a user logs off, the DEM agent will persist their printer settings at logoff, and restore them at logon.

MaxStr
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Aha OK I see now. Finally it's become crystal clear. I can't believe it took me this long to understand how DEM works. I wasn't aware all it took was enabling it.

So I think maybe one of the reasons people are having difficulty understanding DEM is due to the way the UI is presented. When I create a new config file for a Windows Setting for example, (either from the quick start or a new config), I get presented with a blank screen in the Personalization tab, and all the other tabs are blank. That left me sitting there saying, "Ok, now what do I do?" The answer is... nothing! It's already configured to capture the user's settings, but I didn't know that. Instead, I thought I had to manually enter everything. I was expecting to see an actual configuration somewhere, like a ton of registry keys or script files. But the UI makes it look like it's a blank config, and nowhere does it inform me that all the tabs are optional. Even the documentation simply states to Enable the config, and it ends there. That made me think it was up to me to figure out what to actually type into all those fields.

I'm just sharing with you my own experience with DEM, and I'm sure others make the same mistake too. I think you might get more users of DEM if you changed a few minor things. Take it as you will, but this is my own feedback.

  • Clearly indicate that an "Enabled" config goes live immediately.
  • Even better, make all Personalization/User/Computer configs Disabled by default when creating from quick start or new config. (When I first was trying UEM last year I ended up with a ton of UEM icons all over my test desktop and I had no idea why. And most people are going to use quick start).
  • Clearly indicate that the Import/Export tab and all the other tabs are OPTIONAL if all you want to do is capture user settings. When everything is blank, I assume I'm supposed to fill it all out, because I expected to see all the registry entries for Default Apps, or Network Printers or whatever to be pre-populated somewhere. The only tab visible should be something like the "Information" tab that indicates it's Enabled and Active. Add an "Advanced" or "Customize" button or something that opens the rest of the tabs.
  • Lastly, it would be lovely to access all the user's log files and archive settings directly in the Management Console ( please ❤️ ❤️  )

Thanks for reading my long post

DEMdev
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Hi MaxStr,

Happy to hear that helped, and thank you for your "long post" Smiley Happy.

Starting with your last remark: I just wanted to check whether you're aware of the Helpdesk Support Tool?

I very much appreciate your feedback. I will need to let that sink in a bit, but I might very well reach out to you for further input. Thanks!

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MaxStr
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Yes, I've looked at the Helpdesk Support Tool when it was released, but I didn't find much use for it at the time. I'll have to take a look at it again, because I didn't know it accesses the DEM logs.

And I'd be happy to provide more of my "complaints" if you really want. That wasn't an exhaustive list, but I didn't want to come off as being pedantic!

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DEMdev
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Hi MaxStr,

I've looked at the Helpdesk Support Tool when it was released, but I didn't find much use for it at the time. I'll have to take a look at it again, because I didn't know it accesses the DEM logs.

Yep, the Helpdesk Support Tool allows you to browse through your users, check their profile archives and backups, and view their logs:

pastedImage_0.pngpastedImage_1.png

And I'd be happy to provide more of my "complaints" if you really want. That wasn't an exhaustive list, but I didn't want to come off as being pedantic!

What's wrong with pedantic? Smiley Happy

Either way, would much appreciate additional feedback. Maybe in a separate thread?

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MaxStr
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OK I just installed the Helpdesk tool, (and it's not the tool I was thinking of earlier). So yeah, this is what I'm talking about, why DEM is so frustrating to me. The Helpdesk tool should be part of the Management Console rather than a whole new app, and I shouldn't have to create a new GPO setting just to open it.

I guess you wanted to separate it for access control, but why not build it into the Management Console too?  The people who need the Helpdesk tool are most likely the same people who use the Management Console.

Anyway like you said, this should all be in a separate thread

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DEMdev
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Hi MaxStr,

The Helpdesk tool should be part of the Management Console rather than a whole new app, and I shouldn't have to create a new GPO setting just to open it.

You can launch the Helpdesk Support Tool with the -FlexConfig command-line argument, in which case you don't have to configure that Group Policy setting. Maybe that makes it easier to deploy in your environment?

For many of our customers, there's a clear distinction between DEM admins who manage the configuration files, and helpdesk staff that take care of dealing with user calls regarding profile settings.

Having given this a bit more thought, I think it should be pretty easy to add a menu option to launch the Helpdesk Support Tool from the Management Console. No guarantees, but I'll see if we can add that to a future version.

surplusaphid76
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This is a good post. Glad I found it.

Was having the same issue. Who knew printers was disabled. Right click "Enable" and my printer problem is solved. Wonderful.

Thank you

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