The current version of the Black Ice printer drivers has twelve ‘tabs’ on the user interface:
Device Settings (cannot be hidden)
File Formats
Filename Generation
Start Application
Watermark
Embed Annotation
Profile Manger
Bates Numbering
Redirect Printing
Barcode
OCR
Text Output
The following features also can be hidden:
FTP upload
Email sending
SharePoint upload
HTTP Upload
Database upload
Tooltips
Since all of the printer settings can be read or changed programmatically, it is possible for developers to hide one or more of the unnecessary tabs. The tabs can be hidden through the API or through the INI file. The API Function call is EnableTab() and Method is EnableTab(). To get the state of a tab, use the IsTabEnabled function.
Even if the tabs are not shown for the end user, the developer can change the printer settings on the hidden tab, programmatically, through API.
The tabs can be hidden through the INI file used by the printer driver. In order to hide a tab, set the value associated to the tab to 0. If the value is not zero or the value is not specified in the INI file, the tab will be shown. The following example will display only the Device Settings (this is the only tab that cannot be hidden) the Filename Generation tab, and the FTP Upload settings.
[UI Tabs Settings]
Display File Format Tab=0
Display Filename Generation Tab=1
Display Start Application Tab=0
Display Watermark Tab=0
Display Annotation Tab=0
Display Profile Manager Tab=0
Display Bates Tab=0
Display Redirect Printing Tab=0
Display Barcode Tab=0
Display OCR Tab=0
Display Text Output Tab=0
Display FTP=1
Display Email=0
Display SharePoint=0
Display HTTP=0
Display Database=0
Display Tooltips=0
Display N-Up=0
There are several advantages to hiding tabs. For example, this way the developer can be sure that the user can generate only the file formats supported by his application, which could save hours of frustration for both the user and the developer’s technical support department.
Show Hidden Tabs.
NOTE: if you use the API functions, it will override the settings of the INI file until you reinstall the driver or delete the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Black Ice Software LLC\<Name of the Black Ice Printer>\UI Tabs Settings
UI Tabs can be switched on through editing the driver’s INI files. Search for [UI Tabs Settings] in the INI files and edit that section as needed. After the files are edited click “Restore defaults” in “Printing Preferences/Device Settings” to reload the settings.
The Printer Driver INI file locations
The INI file for each Black Ice printer driver is located by default in the "\Program Files\Black Ice Software LLC\Black Ice Color Printer Driver\Distribution" folder. (for the color driver for example) The “Distribution” folder is installed with the Printer Driver.
The INI file name are:
BuCiniNT.ini - for the Color driver
BuAiniNT.ini - for the ColorPlus driver
BuEIniNT.ini - for the EMF (metafile) driver
BuMIniNT.ini - for the TIFF (monochrome) driver
BuPIniNT.ini - for the PDF driver
BuCIniTS.ini - for the Color Terminal Server driver
BuAIniTS.ini - for the ColorPlus Terminal Server driver
BuEIniTS.ini - for the EMF Terminal Server driver
BuMIniTS.ini - for the TIFF Terminal Server driver
BuPIniTS.ini - for the PDF Terminal Server driver
The Printer Driver INI file locations after installation
32-bit:
[Windows directory]\System32\spool\drivers\W32X86\BuXIniYY.ini
and
[Windows directory]\System32\spool\drivers\W32X86\3\BuXIniYY.ini
64-bit:
[Windows directory]\System32\spool\drivers\x64\BuXIniYY.ini
and
[Windows directory]\System32\spool\drivers\x64\3\BuXIniYY.ini
Naming convention for Printer Driver files:
|
Printer |
X |
OS |
YY |
|
Color |
C |
Desktop |
NT |
|
ColorPlus |
A |
Server |
TS |
|
EMF |
E |
Evaluation Desktop |
ND |
|
Monochrome |
M |
Evaluation Server |
TD |
|
|
P |
Example:
Driver file name of ColorPlus Desktop:
BuAIniNT.dll
For example: In case of ColorPlus OEM Evaluation: BuAiniND.ini for Desktop, and BuAiniTD.ini for Server. The NT is replaced with ND, and the TS is replaced with TD.