I don't know if you can use Active Directory/Group Policy to inforce printing preferences but if you can:

 

1) Install the printer twice, one "Dell MFP 3115cn - Color" and "Delll MFP 3115cn - BW"

2) Right click on "Dell MFP 3115cn BW" and select Properties; Click "Advanced" tab, Click "Printing Defaults" button.

3) You can now adjust Printing preferences so that it will defaul to B&W.

 

I then set the B&W printer instance as my default printer.  I use this in my home/office so that when I print most anything it comes on in B&W, and only when I specifly want color, I then the select the color printer instance.   Now, in my little setup I can override any settings from the print dialog box clicking "Properties".  However, if Active Direcotry/Group Policy allows you to lock out users from adjusting those properties, then it should work.

 

Hope this is helpful! 

Aternate idea:

 

Since the 3115cn is a Postscript capable printer, you should be able to edit the PPD file for the Postscript driver (it's a plain text file) and limit it to B&W only printing.   It's not trivial but should be possible to figure out with some trial and error.  Sorry for just coming up with possible work-arounds and no real solution.   I can't start messing with my own setup right now to see if it will work.  

 

It will seriously limit other options like paper tray selections, but if all you need to provide users is basic B&W, standard paper size printing then Adobe Generic Postscript drive might work too.  http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/thankyou.jsp?ftpID=1500&fileID=1438

 

 

 

 

 

 

ahgreenberg,

 

Thank-you for the responses.

 

In regards to your first suggestion:

 

I had this same idea and this is what I may have to resort to.  My problem is that with this method I can restrict access to the color instance of the printer but can't do anything to stop people from adding the B&W instance of the printer and then adjusting the settings to print in color.  This is fine, the only problem is that I need to trust my users to be responsible with their use of color :).

 

In regards to your second suggestion:

 

I also had this idea but am quite unfamiliar with PPD files, etc.  I did already look through these files in a text editor but didn't recognize anything that may specify the color capabilities of the printer.  Based on your suggestion I am going to spend some more time researching this option.  I will post back here if I am successful.

 

Thanks!

-Alex

Look at the section starting at line 1215 in the PPD.  I won't have time to experiment with it until the weekend, but if I get something working then, I'll post here then.  

I can't seem to locate the file you are referring to.  On the CD that came with the printer, I am looking at the following file:

 

E:\Drivers\PS\Win_VistaXP2k\x32\English\dl3115cn.pp_

 

When I open this file in my text editor (textpad or notepad) it appears that it is a binary file.

 

The file structure for the driver that is downloadable from the Dell website seems to be similar to the data on the CD.

 

Can you tell me how to locate the .ppd file that you are referring to and how to edit it, or at least read it's contents.

 

Thanks,

-Alex

I have found other .ppd files on my computer which I can open in a text editor.  Looking at these makes me think I may have a good chance at using your suggestion to accomplish what I am trying to do.  The downside is I am so far unable to find the PPD file that corresponds to my 3115cn printer.

 

The driver that I have downloaded from Dells website is R168707.EXE which, when extracted does not seem to contain a PPD file.  I see reference in the dlps3fei.inf file to a file named "DL3115CN.PPD".  I have to assume this corresponds to the "dl3115cn.pp_" file which I can't seem to view properly in a text editor.

 

Does the driver first have to be installed before a plain-text version of the PPD file is available!?

 

Thanks again ahgreenberg!

I think you need to install it to have access to the PPD file in text format.  I my system I found in C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\DL3115CN.PPD  (there was a second copy also located at C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\dellmfp_laser_3115cnca67\dl3115cn.ppd

 

I don't know which file is the one actually used by the driver at print time.

 

(The files on the CD, and installer files in general that end with an underscore, I've found to be compressed files that are uncompressed at install time.)

 

I'll get to play with it shortly and let you know how it goes.

Hi,

 

I had a chance to play with it, and now I have a working PPD file.  It forces B&W printing even when Color printing is selected from the print dialog box.   I installed it using the Adobe Universal Postscript Printer Driver instead of messing with the Dell installer.   The Adobe tool makes it easy to pick your own PPD files at the time the printer is installed and it worked.

 

PM me with your email address and I'll send you the PPD file.

 

Download the Adobe tool: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=pdrv&platform=win

 

When it asks you to select a printer, click browse, and select the PPD file, and install.