How To Open The 'printing Preferences' And 'printer Properties' Dialogs Via Cmd/pwsh?

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Introduction

Are you tired of navigating through the Control Panel to access the 'Printing Preferences' and 'Printer Properties' dialogs? Do you want to access these dialogs directly from the command line or via a shortcut file? Look no further! In this article, we will explore how to open the 'Printing Preferences' and 'Printer Properties' dialogs via Cmd/Pwsh.

Understanding the Dialogs

Before we dive into the command line methods, let's briefly understand what these dialogs are used for.

  • Printing Preferences: This dialog allows you to configure various printing settings, such as paper size, orientation, and layout. You can also adjust the print quality, paper type, and other settings specific to your printer.
  • Printer Properties: This dialog provides detailed information about your printer, including its name, location, and status. You can also use this dialog to configure printer settings, such as the printer's default paper size and orientation.

Accessing the Dialogs via the Control Panel

While it's possible to access these dialogs manually via the Control Panel, we want to explore alternative methods that allow us to access them directly from the command line or via a shortcut file.

Method 1: Using the rundll32 Command

The rundll32 command is a powerful tool that allows us to run DLL files and access various system dialogs. We can use the following command to open the 'Printing Preferences' dialog:

rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /h

This command will open the 'Printing Preferences' dialog, where you can configure various printing settings.

To open the 'Printer Properties' dialog, we can use the following command:

rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /s

This command will open the 'Printer Properties' dialog, where you can view detailed information about your printer and configure its settings.

Method 2: Using the control Command

The control command is another powerful tool that allows us to access various system dialogs. We can use the following command to open the 'Printing Preferences' dialog:

control printers

This command will open the 'Printing Preferences' dialog, where you can configure various printing settings.

To open the 'Printer Properties' dialog, we can use the following command:

control printers /s

This command will open the 'Printer Properties' dialog, where you can view detailed information about your printer and configure its settings.

Method 3: Creating a Shortcut File

If you prefer to access these dialogs via a shortcut file, you can create a new shortcut file with the following command:

rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /h

Save this command as a new shortcut file, and you can access the 'Printing Preferences' dialog directly by double-clicking the shortcut file.

To create a shortcut file for the 'Printer Properties' dialog, use the following command:

rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /s

Save this command as a new shortcut file, and you can access the 'Printer Properties' dialog directly by double-clicking the shortcut file.

Conclusion

In this article, we explored three methods to open the 'Printing Preferences' and 'Printer Properties' dialogs via Cmd/Pwsh. We used the rundll32 command, the control command, and created shortcut files to access these dialogs directly from the command line or via a shortcut file. Whether you prefer to use the command line or a shortcut file, these methods provide a convenient way to access these dialogs and configure your printer settings.

Additional Tips and Tricks

  • To access the 'Printing Preferences' dialog for a specific printer, use the following command:

rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /h /n <printer_name>


    Replace `<printer_name>` with the name of the printer you want to access.

    

  • 

    To access the 'Printer Properties' dialog for a specific printer, use the following command:
    

    

    • 



rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /s /n <printer_name>


Replace `<printer_name>` with the name of the printer you want to access.

  • To create a shortcut file for a specific printer, use the following command:

rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /h /n <printer_name>


    Save this command as a new shortcut file, and you can access the 'Printing Preferences' dialog for the specified printer directly by double-clicking the shortcut file.


Q: What is the rundll32 command, and how does it work?


A: The rundll32 command is a powerful tool that allows us to run DLL files and access various system dialogs. It is a command-line utility that can be used to launch system dialogs, such as the 'Printing Preferences' and 'Printer Properties' dialogs.


Q: What is the difference between the rundll32 command and the control command?


A: The rundll32 command and the control command are both used to access system dialogs, but they work in different ways. The rundll32 command uses the printui.dll DLL file to launch the 'Printing Preferences' and 'Printer Properties' dialogs, while the control command uses the printers control panel applet to launch the same dialogs.


Q: Can I use the rundll32 command to access other system dialogs?


A: Yes, the rundll32 command can be used to access other system dialogs, such as the 'Display Properties' dialog, the 'Sound Properties' dialog, and the 'Network Properties' dialog. You can use the following command to access the 'Display Properties' dialog:


rundll32 desk.cpl,UpdateDisplaySettings
</code></pre>
<h2><strong>Q: Can I use the <code>control</code> command to access other system dialogs?</strong></h2>
<p>A: Yes, the <code>control</code> command can be used to access other system dialogs, such as the 'Display Properties' dialog, the 'Sound Properties' dialog, and the 'Network Properties' dialog. You can use the following command to access the 'Display Properties' dialog:</p>
<pre><code class="hljs">control desktop
</code></pre>
<h2><strong>Q: How do I create a shortcut file to access the 'Printing Preferences' dialog?</strong></h2>
<p>A: To create a shortcut file to access the 'Printing Preferences' dialog, follow these steps:</p>
<ol>
<li>
<p>Open Notepad or any other text editor.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Type the following command:</p>
<pre><code class="hljs"></code></pre>
</li>
</ol>
<p>rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /h</p>
<pre><code class="hljs">
3.  Save the file with a `.lnk` extension, such as `print_preferences.lnk`.
4.  Double-click the shortcut file to access the &#39;Printing Preferences&#39; dialog.

**Q: How do I create a shortcut file to access the &#39;Printer Properties&#39; dialog?**
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A: To create a shortcut file to access the &#39;Printer Properties&#39; dialog, follow these steps:

1.  Open Notepad or any other text editor.
2.  Type the following command:

    ```powershell
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /s
</code></pre>
<ol start="3">
<li>Save the file with a <code>.lnk</code> extension, such as <code>print_properties.lnk</code>.</li>
<li>Double-click the shortcut file to access the 'Printer Properties' dialog.</li>
</ol>
<h2><strong>Q: Can I use the <code>rundll32</code> command to access the 'Printing Preferences' dialog for a specific printer?</strong></h2>
<p>A: Yes, you can use the <code>rundll32</code> command to access the 'Printing Preferences' dialog for a specific printer. Use the following command:</p>
<pre><code class="hljs">rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /h /n &lt;printer_name&gt;
</code></pre>
<p>Replace <code>&lt;printer_name&gt;</code> with the name of the printer you want to access.</p>
<h2><strong>Q: Can I use the <code>control</code> command to access the 'Printer Properties' dialog for a specific printer?</strong></h2>
<p>A: Yes, you can use the <code>control</code> command to access the 'Printer Properties' dialog for a specific printer. Use the following command:</p>
<pre><code class="hljs">control printers /s /n &lt;printer_name&gt;
</code></pre>
<p>Replace <code>&lt;printer_name&gt;</code> with the name of the printer you want to access.</p>
<h2><strong>Q: What are some common errors that can occur when using the <code>rundll32</code> command?</strong></h2>
<p>A: Some common errors that can occur when using the <code>rundll32</code> command include:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Error 0x0000007E</strong>: This error occurs when the <code>rundll32</code> command is unable to find the <code>printui.dll</code> DLL file.</li>
<li><strong>Error 0x0000007F</strong>: This error occurs when the <code>rundll32</code> command is unable to launch the 'Printing Preferences' or 'Printer Properties' dialog.</li>
<li><strong>Error 0x00000080</strong>: This error occurs when the <code>rundll32</code> command is unable to access the printer settings.</li>
</ul>
<p>To troubleshoot these errors, try the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>Make sure that the <code>printui.dll</code> DLL file is installed and registered on your system.</li>
<li>Make sure that the printer is properly installed and configured on your system.</li>
<li>Try running the <code>rundll32</code> command with elevated privileges.</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>Q: What are some common errors that can occur when using the <code>control</code> command?</strong></h2>
<p>A: Some common errors that can occur when using the <code>control</code> command include:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Error 0x0000007E</strong>: This error occurs when the <code>control</code> command is unable to find the <code>printers</code> control panel applet.</li>
<li><strong>Error 0x0000007F</strong>: This error occurs when the <code>control</code> command is unable to launch the 'Printing Preferences' or 'Printer Properties' dialog.</li>
<li><strong>Error 0x00000080</strong>: This error occurs when the <code>control</code> command is unable to access the printer settings.</li>
</ul>
<p>To troubleshoot these errors, try the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>Make sure that the <code>printers</code> control panel applet is installed and registered on your system.</li>
<li>Make sure that the printer is properly installed and configured on your system.</li>
<li>Try running the <code>control</code> command with elevated privileges.</li>
</ul>
<p>By following these FAQs, you can troubleshoot common errors and use the <code>rundll32</code> command and the <code>control</code> command to access the 'Printing Preferences' and 'Printer Properties' dialogs with ease.</p>