Information about Unidrv4 raster printer minidrivers for Windows NT 4.0 (302915)

SUMMARY

The original release version of Microsoft Windows 2000 includes the Unidrv5 raster printer driver.

After the original release of the operating system, the Unidrv5 raster printer driver was back-ported to Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 as Unidrv4.

For versions of the operating system that are earlier than Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 6 (SP6), raster printer driver solutions on Windows NT 4.0 were based on the RasDD printer driver. This configuration required using Unitool. Unitool is a tool that developers use to create Generic Printer Characterization (GPC) files that are specific to the particular printer hardware.

However, Unidrv uses text-based description files that are known as generic printer description (GPD) files. Unidrv does not use GPC files. Each Unidrv minidriver includes one or more GPD files. Starting with Windows NT 4.0 SP6, printer IHVs can deploy Unidrv solutions for their devices.

The following files make up a working example of a Windows NT 4.0-based Unidrv raster printer minidriver for Lexmark printers:

Unidrv4.dll: The Unidrv4 kernel-mode rendering component
Uni4ui.dll: The Unidrv4 common user interface for all Unidrv4 printer minidrivers
Unires.dll: The Unidrv4 common resource DLL
Lmpclres.dll: Resource DLL for the Lexmark printer
Lxos2455.gpd: GPD file for the Lexmark printer

The Lxos2455.gpd file that is included with the Windows NT 4.0 SP6 product CD in the I386\Support\Printers folder can be used as a proof-of-concept GPD file example. The Lxos2455.gpd file uses the Lmpclres.dll resources.

Examples of GPD files are also in the Windows 2000 driver development kit (DDK). You can use these files for Windows NT 4.0 printer minidrivers.

MORE INFORMATION

Because of the differences between GDP and GPC files, the following Windows 2000 features do not work in Windows NT 4.0:

*PrintRateUnit keyword and feature.
The following standard paper sizes:
- {"DBL_JAPANESE_POSTCARD", DMPAPER_DBL_JAPANESE_POSTCARD},
- {"A6", DMPAPER_A6},
- {"JENV_KAKU2", DMPAPER_JENV_KAKU2},
- {"JENV_KAKU3", DMPAPER_JENV_KAKU3},
- {"JENV_CHOU3", DMPAPER_JENV_CHOU3},
- {"JENV_CHOU4", DMPAPER_JENV_CHOU4},
- {"LETTER_ROTATED", DMPAPER_LETTER_ROTATED},
- {"A3_ROTATED", DMPAPER_A3_ROTATED},
- {"A4_ROTATED", DMPAPER_A4_ROTATED},
- {"A5_ROTATED", DMPAPER_A5_ROTATED},
- {"B4_JIS_ROTATED", DMPAPER_B4_JIS_ROTATED},
- {"B5_JIS_ROTATED", DMPAPER_B5_JIS_ROTATED},
- {"JAPANESE_POSTCARD_ROTATED", DMPAPER_JAPANESE_POSTCARD_ROTATED},
- {"DBL_JAPANESE_POSTCARD_ROTATED",DMPAPER_DBL_JAPANESE_POSTCARD_ROTATED},
- {"A6_ROTATED", DMPAPER_A6_ROTATED},
- {"JENV_KAKU2_ROTATED", DMPAPER_JENV_KAKU2_ROTATED},
- {"JENV_KAKU3_ROTATED", DMPAPER_JENV_KAKU3_ROTATED},
- {"JENV_CHOU3_ROTATED", DMPAPER_JENV_CHOU3_ROTATED},
- {"JENV_CHOU4_ROTATED", DMPAPER_JENV_CHOU4_ROTATED},
- {"B6_JIS", DMPAPER_B6_JIS},
- {"B6_JIS_ROTATED", DMPAPER_B6_JIS_ROTATED},
- {"12X11", DMPAPER_12X11},
- {"JENV_YOU4", DMPAPER_JENV_YOU4},
- {"JENV_YOU4_ROTATED", DMPAPER_JENV_YOU4_ROTATED},
- {"P16K", DMPAPER_P16K},
- {"P32K", DMPAPER_P32K},
- {"P32KBIG", DMPAPER_P32KBIG},
- {"PENV_1", DMPAPER_PENV_1},
- {"PENV_2", DMPAPER_PENV_2},
- {"PENV_3", DMPAPER_PENV_3},
- {"PENV_4", DMPAPER_PENV_4},
- {"PENV_5", DMPAPER_PENV_5},
- {"PENV_6", DMPAPER_PENV_6},
- {"PENV_7", DMPAPER_PENV_7},
- {"PENV_8", DMPAPER_PENV_8},
- {"PENV_9", DMPAPER_PENV_9},
- {"PENV_10", DMPAPER_PENV_10},
- {"P16K_ROTATED", DMPAPER_P16K_ROTATED},
- {"P32K_ROTATED", DMPAPER_P32K_ROTATED},
- {"P32KBIG_ROTATED", DMPAPER_P32KBIG_ROTATED},
- {"PENV_1_ROTATED", DMPAPER_PENV_1_ROTATED},
- {"PENV_2_ROTATED", DMPAPER_PENV_2_ROTATED},
- {"PENV_3_ROTATED", DMPAPER_PENV_3_ROTATED},
- {"PENV_4_ROTATED", DMPAPER_PENV_4_ROTATED},
- {"PENV_5_ROTATED", DMPAPER_PENV_5_ROTATED},
- {"PENV_6_ROTATED", DMPAPER_PENV_6_ROTATED},
- {"PENV_7_ROTATED", DMPAPER_PENV_7_ROTATED},
- {"PENV_8_ROTATED", DMPAPER_PENV_8_ROTATED},
- {"PENV_9_ROTATED", DMPAPER_PENV_9_ROTATED},
- {"PENV_10_ROTATED", DMPAPER_PENV_10_ROTATED}
The following halftone options:
- {"HT_PATSIZE_SUPERCELL", HT_PATSIZE_SUPERCELL},
- {"HT_PATSIZE_SUPERCELL_M", HT_PATSIZE_SUPERCELL_M}
*rcHTPatternID keyword and feature (OEM defined halftone).

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.