HP UPD - Driver Configuration Support Guide

Creating cfm files
After download, the HP Driver Configuration Utility compressed package can be expanded into a local
or network directory. No formal installation process is required. Double-click the HPBCFGAP.EXE file
in the destination directory to launch the HP DCU.
NOTE: The HP DCU is included with the HP Printer Administrator's Resource Kit (PARK). To
download the PARK, go to the HP website,
www.hp.com/go/upd. Select the Documentation tab, and
then select Universal Print Driver Tools> HP Printer Administrator's Resources Kit.
In order to use the HP Driver Configuration Utility, the driver(s) to be configured must be in their
standard .INF-file driver packages that are obtained from either the HP Web site or from the product
in-box CD-ROM. The driver(s) must be stored where the user has write accessibility. The driver must
also support driver preconfiguration. The standard driver INF package contains an hpcpu*.cf* file that
is read by the HP Driver Configuration Utility using Open from the File menu. If the tool is used to
browse to a driver directory and there is no .cf*, the driver cannot be preconfigured.
Configuration file hpcpu*.cf*: Print Administrators can create multiple custom configurations of the
complete print driver INF package by altering the hpcpu*.cf* file with the HP DCU. (You cannot
change the default filename.) For example, the administrator can copy the driver package to two
separate directories. Each directory contains a custom *.cf* created by the HP DCU (for example, \
\fileserver\upd_duplex_enabled and \\fileserver\upd_ColorOptions). When a preconfigured driver is
installed from the driver source package, the modified hpcpu*.cf* is read and the settings applied as
the defaults for the installed driver. Because the configuration file shipped with the drivers is part of
the *.INF file package (referenced in the .INF file as a dependent file of the driver), modifying this file
invalidates the digital signature of the Microsoft WHQL certified driver package. The hpcpu115.cfg file
in UPD 5.3 and latest versions can be saved with the custom name using extension *.cfm. For
example – hpcpu*.cfg file with custom Duplex settings can be saved with custom name as
“duplex.cfm” in any directory. This file can be used by using the UPD install switch /gcfm. For
example: c:\UPD53\install /gcfm”c:\upd\cfmfiles\duplex.cfm”
The following does not apply to Windows XP, Server 2003, or Server 2008. Starting with Windows
Vista and newer Microsoft operating systems, driver store and driver package awareness was added
to the operating system changing the behavior of preconfigured driver installations using the
hpcpu*.cf* method of installation. Assume the following steps.
1. Modify the hpcpu*.cf* file in the driver package using the HP DCU. Set Orientation to
Landscape.
2. Install the preconfigured driver. The installed queue will have a default orientation of Landscape.
3. Modify the hpcpu*.cf* used in Step 1 using the HP DCU. Change the Orientation from
Landscape to Portrait.
4. Install this second preconfigured driver using Add Printer Wizard,
Have Disk... and select
Replace the current driver or Use the driver that is currently installed. The installed queue will
have a default orientation of Landscape.
There are two logically separate operations in driver installation for Vista and later: Driver staging and
device installation. During Steps 1 and 2, the installation performs the driver staging and device
installation. During Steps 3 and 4, the driver setup bypasses the driver staging because the INF file is
the same. It is recognized as signed and considered the same driver already installed in the system's
driver store. This results in the second installation not using the preconfigured hpcpu*.cf* file from
Step 3. To make Steps 3 and 4 force new driver staging, remove the device, driver, and the package
installed in Steps 1 and 2. An additional option is to use the *.cfm method for driver preconfiguration.
6 Chapter 2 HP Driver Configuration Utility ENWW