Hide XPS Writer from Devices and Printers

Submission details

9 +24/-15 votes

Hide XPS Writer from Devices and Printers

Submitted by antiufo on January 3, 2009 to Aesthetics

Problem: XPS Writer is not a printer, it is just a way to export data from any program.

Devices and Printers should be an easy way to manage phisical and external devices, you don't see for example RAM or CPU, so there is no reason to show the XPS printer.

Solution: Set the device metadata of XPS printer to hide it from the Devices and Printers center.

Severity: Low

Impact: Medium

Status: Not fixed

Image:

Discussion (15 comments)

antiufo wrote on January 3, 2009, 7:58pm

Added new image attachment.

antiufo wrote on January 3, 2009, 7:58pm

Added new image attachment.

antiufo wrote on January 3, 2009, 7:59pm

Changed problem description.

antiufo wrote on January 3, 2009, 8:00pm

Changed problem description.

antiufo wrote on January 3, 2009, 8:01pm

Changed problem description.

tino wrote on January 3, 2009, 8:04pm

Why? Programs do use these virtual printers like real ones and where would you manage the settings for PDF or XPS creation?

-1

xombie wrote on January 3, 2009, 8:13pm

Nope.
I agree with toni.
It may be a virtual printer, but it needs drivers and stuff too.
Print a test page with it and you'll see what I mean.
Being in the devices lets you know its working fine and available.

Tihiy wrote on January 3, 2009, 10:37pm

+1 very confusing for user.

.Chris wrote on January 4, 2009, 2:28am

@ Tino, Zombie,

The title says HIDE it, not get rid of it. It will still be there, just hidden from user view. If a user wants to hide it, they should be able to. Why be foreced to look at something if you dont need it

+1 promoted

antiufo wrote on January 4, 2009, 9:46am

@xombie
ok, it needs drivers (already included with Windows), but this is true for harddisks and dvd drives too! Why don't you see there? They are more phisical and more subjected to drivers problems than a Microsoft own's virtual printer!

.Chris wrote on January 4, 2009, 9:46am

No one is saying get rid of them, just hide them when not in use!

billerr wrote on January 4, 2009, 12:50pm

It's just cumbersome. Programs that want to print aggregate the printer list, so the XPS (and similar virtual printers) should be available in the printer list. And the Devices and Printers list is also aggregating the printer list, obviously. So it's either hidden from anywhere in Windows, or showing up everywhere in Windows.

An option system could make this complicated. Setting a printer to hidden, would also have it hidden from programs, and then you would have to go unhide it, print, and then hide it again.? Cumbersome.

Ensign Joe wrote on January 4, 2009, 3:51pm

You can still customize its settings when starting to print and choose "Options" so you CAN get rid of it in the device center.

antiufo wrote on January 4, 2009, 4:09pm

Changed title from [Hide virtual printers from Devices and Printers] to [Hide XPS Writer from Devices and Printers].

tino wrote on January 4, 2009, 6:50pm

It's a printer. No matter if its virtual or not. As the screen shot shows you also can see what is actually printing.

Why should it be removed? No space for one single icon? Come on... ;)

antiufo wrote on January 4, 2009, 8:41pm

I don't want to remove it from the Print dialog, but from the "Devices and Printers" window.

.Chris wrote on January 4, 2009, 8:42pm

Yes, so your wanting to hide it, but not remove it.

xombie wrote on January 4, 2009, 8:44pm

I don't really think it needs to be changed, but how about a different icon?
To show that its a virtual printer, not a real one.

fiji wrote on January 4, 2009, 9:13pm

-1. I just want the Windows team to change the icon.

fiji wrote on January 4, 2009, 9:15pm

BTW, what device work with Device Stage other than the Sansa Clip.

Tuanese wrote on January 6, 2009, 3:20pm

Not recommended