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How can I delete all printers with Remote Desktop or terminal ?

I want to delete all installed printers remotely from many computers via remote desktop.

Is there a .plist file somewhere which has installed printers in it? if so where?
Or do I have to delete each Printer manually?

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Mar 10, 2009 8:35 PM

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5 replies

Mar 11, 2009 12:15 AM in response to JohnPaull

You can delete the printer queues by opening Print & Fax, control clicking (or right clicking) on the printers list and selecting Reset printing system.

As for a plist, there is a file located in ./Library/Printers called InstalledPrinters, which does contain a list of the printer queues displayed. Not sure what will happen if you trash this, or at least move it to another location. (not a position to try it at the moment...)

Note also that there is another file called printers.conf, which resides in ./etc/cups, that also lists all the printer queues. The admin user has no rights to this file but it may also be worth noting if the above is no help to you...

PaHu

Mar 11, 2009 8:22 AM in response to JohnPaull

Along with the other suggestions, it may be helpful to note that the "printer list" is composed of two things - the /etc/cups/printers.conf file and the "copied and relocated PPDs" for the printers, the /etc/cups/ppd folder.
If you have a "preferred configuration" set up on one computer (and presuming it is in the same subnet, because printers.conf contains network info too), you can copy these two items to all computers to propagate the exact setup. Presets are saved in .plists.

How can I delete all printers with Remote Desktop or terminal ?

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