Problems with default printers on Windows Server 2016

[Former Member]

I'm having an issue with the CrystalReportViewer control when running an winforms application on windows 2016 server. When remoting into the server using Rempte Desktop Connection, we're selecting the option to use local devices and resources, including printers. This makes the default printer on the server the same as the default printer on the machine I'm remoting from. But when running my application to view the report, when I click the print button, my default printer is not automatically selected. Now, when I change the default printer to a printer already on the server, it works fine. It just doesn't seem to work with redirected printers. If I manually select one of the redirected printers, my report does print to the printer.

So far I've tried updating the runtime on the server, and setting the ReportDocument.PrintOptions.PrinterName. I wasn't previously setting that property unless it was printing directly (not going to the viewer). I've also been told (but not witnessed myself) that this did work in Windows Server 2012. Is there a better way to set the printer even though I want to initially view vs print?

Thanks in advance!

[former_member11696 · Accepted solution]

This issue is now fixed in SP 24:

https://wiki.scn.sap.com/wiki/display/BOBJ/Crystal+Reports%2C+Developer+for+Visual+Studio+Downloads

Don

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Thank you so much Don!!

[former_member11696]

I had a case with this same issue. It appears MS and Citrix will always use the Default printer on the Remote Server you are logging into. Nothing we can do about it.

The case was closed and the Partner was taking it up with Microsoft. I asked for updates but nothing so far...

And we found the same keys, we tried adding the old ones and nothing changed. Nothing CR can do it's the Remote Server selecting it's default printer.

Use Google and search for this KBA:

2631171 - Default printer always selected when using Remote Desktop or Cirtix client into a CR for V...

[Former Member]

We found some info on a Microsoft Technet forum thread that might help with this issue. Please look at this thread (https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/ie/en-US/785cbcc6-4f0b-4d88-b12f-2b1d89b85a44/remoteapp-default-printer-redirection-not-working-in-server-2016?forum=winserverTS), specifically the post from 12/15/16 (the first one marked as an answer). It references 2 API calls. We created a small test program that would find and display the default printer information using the GetProfileString API call and also find and display the default printer information using the GetDefaultPrinter API call. Our hypothesis was that if we ran the test program on a Windows 2012 Server, both functions would display the same default printer path (the one redirected from the client). However, if we ran the test program on a Windows 2016 Server, the hypothesis was that the GetProfileString call would display the default printer path from that server and the GetDefaultPrinter call would display the default printer path redirected from the client (like Server 2012).

The results of our tests proved our hypothesis . . . the GetProfileString call displayed the default printer path from the client on 2012 server, whereas it displayed the default printer path from the server on 2016 server. The GetDefaultPrinter call displayed the default printer path from the client on both 2012 and 2016 servers.

Our guess is that the CrystalReportViewer control currently uses GetProfileString to determine the default printer path. What are the chances that SAP would update the CrystalReportViewer control to use GetDefaultPrinter instead? We would be happy to provide our test program if that would help. Thanks.

[former_member11696]

I had a case with this same issue. It appears MS and Citrix will always use the Default printer on the Remote Server you are logging into. Nothing we can do about it.

The case was closed and the Partner was taking it up with Microsoft. I asked for updates but nothing so far...

And we found the same keys, we tried adding the old ones and nothing changed. Nothing CR can do it's the Remote Server selecting it's default printer.

Use Google and search for this KBA:

2631171 - Default printer always selected when using Remote Desktop or Cirtix client into a CR for V...

Don

[former_member11696]

When viewing reports the formatting engine uses the printer driver so it is required on the app server.

Using Redirected printer can cause a huge performance issue.

If using No Printer is used then it uses the usp10.dll/GDIPlus.dll to format plus some of the PC's Default printer properties.

It's always been this way.

Don

[Former Member]

Don, we did some digging and found that the registry key used to store the default printer is different in Windows Server 2016 vs 2012. In 2012 it's HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows (Device) and in 2016 it's HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\SessionDefaultDevices\S-X-X-X-X-xxxxxxxxx. Do you think that has anything to do with the default printer being incorrect when it's a redirected printer?

[former_member11696]

Don't use the Windows Redirected driver, they are a piece of c....

Install the printers on the PC you are remoting into

Don

[Former Member]

Thanks Don.

Did you have an answer to my question about setting the printer even though I just want to view?

Jessica