Overview

What is the Universal Print Driver?

The Lexmark Universal Print Driver provide users and administrators with a standardized, one-driver solution for their printing needs. Instead of installing and managing individual drivers for each printer model, administrators can install the Lexmark Universal Print Driver for use with a variety of both mono and color laser printers and multi-function devices.

Benefits

Allows versatility

The UPD is available in 27 languages, supporting more than 200 printer models that are connected locally or over a network. 

All packages are Microsoft certified and digitally signed, and have been tested in the following: 

• Cluster server environment 
• Microsoft Terminal Server 
• Citrix XenApp/XenDesktop 

The following emulation drivers are available on computers running on Microsoft Windows Vista® operating system or later: 

• PCL 5 
• PCL XL 
• PostScript 3

Enables bidirectional communication

The Job Accounting option allows an organization to track print jobs for accounting purposes by associating the print job with specific account information, including a user name or ID, an account code, and a department code. This enables the tracking of the number of print jobs from different users or departments, and the billing of those print jobs to a specific account. By associating print jobs with specific account information, quotas can be enforced on the print jobs that users can submit. 

Reduces cost for IT support

With only one package to manage, testing and internal certification of print drivers is simplified by the use of the Lexmark Universal Print Driver packages. Time spent on installation, both on servers and workstations, is greatly reduced, and hard drive space formerly occupied by many product-specific drivers is now diminished significantly.

Enables increased user efficiency

The Lexmark Universal Print Driver packages use the same graphic user interface as the product-specific drivers the users are accustomed to, and now all queues will share that same interface, decreasing calls to the help desk. Users can create and save profiles for their most frequently used settings, or use profiles that were created for them by IT.

Facilitates corporate sustainability initiatives

Administrators can use the Lexmark Universal Print Driver packages to encourage their organization’s environmental policies. The default queue settings can be modified to include duplex, multi-page printing (N-up), toner darkness, and other resource-saving measures.

What’s New

What’s new in Universal Print Driver v2?

The latest version of the Lexmark Universal Print Driver features enhancements designed to improve usability for the end-user, and many changes to administrator tools to reduce the time and effort required to deploy and maintain your devices. Listed below are highlights of the latest release, which still includes the great eco-friendly features found in the previous version.

New user interface

The new user interface of the Universal Print Driver provides a more consistent look and feel across all printer models, with controls and settings that have been modified to provide better language support and overall customer experience.

The Universal Printer Driver is now available in more languages, and matches the language of your operating system. Administrators can also manually choose a specific language from the Configuration tab in the Printer Properties dialog if desired.

Enhanced Job Accounting

The Job Accounting option allows an organization to track print jobs for accounting purposes by associating the print job with specific account information, including a user name or ID, an account code, and a department code. This enables the tracking of the number of print jobs from different users or departments, and the billing of those print jobs to a specific account. By associating print jobs with specific account information, quotas can be enforced on the print jobs that users can submit. 

Custom installation package

With the new Universal Print Driver installer, administrators can choose to create preconfigured installation packages that include only the software and drivers that meet their organization's needs. This is accomplished by combining the custom installation package with Driver Configuration Files (DCFs), which lets administrators create a deployment package that best suits their environment. DCFs are described in more detail below.

Dynamic driver configuration

The latest version of the Universal Print Driver has the ability to update its user interface to reflect the features and options of any supported printer model. When the driver is connected to a printer through USB or over a network, the driver automatically updates its configuration, showing only the features and functions of a chosen printer model. For example, only the paper sizes, trays, paper types, finishing options, and other options that the printer supports are shown to the user.

The driver can be configured to determine a printer model automatically. Administrators can also manually choose a specific printer model from the Configuration tab in the Printer Properties dialog.

Printer Driver Configuration Utility

Administrators can use the Printer Driver Configuration Utility to create driver configurations. A driver configuration is a group of saved printer driver settings and other options that is stored in a Driver Configuration File (DCF). You can also create subset driver configurations that work across different printer models. You can use the utility to:

• Configure a printer object when installing it.
• Configure multiple printer objects, each with unique settings, for the same printer driver (also referred to as creating virtual printer objects).
• View, edit, or delete an existing configuration.
• Apply Resource Administration.
• Recommend settings that can be changed only at print time.
• Enforce settings that cannot be changed by a user.

Mono Laser Printers

Mono Multifunction Printers

Color Laser Printers

Color Multifunction Printers

Color Inkjet Printers

1 The duplex function is not supported.
2 Custom forms, collation, booklet printing, and most print quality controls are not available.
3 Windows 2000 support is limited to UPD version 1.6.2 - Click here to download