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]

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?