Suggested ways to optimize print job size

  • Thread starter Thread starter Drazen
  • Start date Start date
D

Drazen

We have remote TS users printing to their local printers.
Printers are HP LaserJet 1300, and driver is HP's, PCL 6. Since there
is very limited bandwidth limited available for users (WAN) we are
thinking of ways to optimize printing speed through TS, becouse printing
itself is the biggest "bandwidth eater".

First way would be to decrease DPI resolution, for example LaserJet
1300 defaults to 600 DPI which is more than enough for clients. 300 DPI
would be enough, which would by logic make up to 4 times smaller spool
jobs? Is that correct? Maybe even 150 DPI would be sufficient.
However, the bad thing is that I cannot set resolution to
lower than 600 DPI through HP driver's interface (Advanced driver options).
Looking at www.printingsupport.com, I cannot see the HP 1300
in the matrix, however 1200 PCL 6 is there and suggested replacement
driver is "LaserJet II Series". So I could make HP 1300 use the
"LaserJet II Series" driver (Microsoft's driver) and then DPI
resolution can be changed. Would that be a good way to solve
the problem?

Which other options do I have to reduce the printjob size?
Also I read on the www.printingsupport.com that turning off the
"advanced printing features" in driver can make printjobs much
smaller. Is that correct? What does it really mean if I turn off
"advanced printing features", aside from making the printjob smaller?

If I change some printing driver options on clients computers
will that reflect automatically to their future TS sessions?
What about if I change their printer settings when users are logged on, on
their published printers on server, will that change be permanent?

Drazen
 
One printer driver option I've found on HP LaserJets that really makes a huge
difference is to disable advanced printing options

Printing Preferences -> Paper Quality -> Advanced -> Document Options ->
Advanced Printing Features (Disable).

In my testing this decreased many print jobs by a magnitude of 10-12, i.e.
10MB PDF spool decreased to 800-900KB.

I found this just by testing all of the different settings on thin-clients
that connect over our WiFi Bridge. Unfortunately I couldn't find a way to
set it for everyone, and had to logon as each user and make these changes.

Obviously going from 1200 -> 600 DPI is a mandatory change, as I don't know
many people that use 1200 DPI, although mast applications won't print at this
high of res, except for Photosphop.

Patrick Rouse
Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server
http://www.workthin.com
 
You may want to look into .ThinPrint [
http://www.thinprint.com ] it is an add-on commercial
product, however, depending on your criticality and how
bad your users want this to improve this option may prove
viable.
 
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