Having deployed PaperCut print management software in a large University environment, we were faced with the challenge of how to ensure that the client (pc-client-local-cache.exe) launched successfully and consistently at every logon to meet all the use cases. We also had to consider how we were going to specify the different types of command line parameters. So I wrote a script 🙂
Here is the PaperCutClientLaunch.vbs script:
' This script will launch the PaperCut pc-client-local-cache.exe client during
' login for members of the following groups:
' - All-Students
' - All-Affiliate-Students
' - All-Staff
' - All-Affiliate-Staff
' - All-Affiliate-Visitors
' - All-Temporary-Accounts
' - All-IT-Admins
'
' The script will not launch the PaperCut client during login for members of the
' following groups:
' - Domain Admins (unless they are in the All-IT-Admins group)
' - All-Deny-Printing
'
' Use the inclusion and exclusion arrays to manage the launching of the client
' outside of these default groups.
'
' It launches...
' - normally for Students, and will open in the top right hand corner by default
' - minimized to the taskbar for Staff
' - minimized to the taskbar for Visitors
' - minimized to the taskbar for Temporary Accounts
' - minimized to the taskbar for IT Admin Accounts
' - minimized to the taskbar for any user accounts listed in the arrIncludeUsers
' array.
' - minimized to the taskbar for any user groups listed in the arrIncludeUserGroups
' array.
'
' The --minimized option tells the client to start minimized. On windows the
' client will be minimized to the task tray.
'
' The --cache <cache directory> option can be used to specify a location of the
' globally writable cache directory on the system's local hard drive. The cache
' is used to minimize network traffic on future launches. The default location is
' C:\Cache. Standard users will require WRITE and READ access to this directory.
' The User Client configuration options are documented here:
' http://www.papercut.com/products/ng/manual/apdx-tools-user-client.html
'
' The PaperCut documentation suggests that executing the client during the login
' process may actually result in it being terminated before or shortly after login,
' especially if the "Run logon scripts synchronously" group policy setting is
' enabled. So instead we write a value to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER "Run" key that will
' execute the client after login as expected.
'
' Release 1.6
' Written by Dave Rutherford and Jeremy@jhouseconsulting.com on 6th February 2012.
'------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' History Section
'------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Date |Changed By |Comments
'------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'06/02/2012 J Saunders Added functions to test for group membership
'07/02/2012 J Saunders Added function to test running process in current
' session.
'09/02/2012 D Rutherford Changed from running the .exe to writing the .exe
' path to the Run key in HKCU.
'16/02/2012 J Saunders Added an array of users that don't fit into the
' default groups.
' Added a function for checking the array members.
'10/09/2012 J Saunders Enhanced the code so that it flows better.
' Added some "include" and "exclude" arrays to make
' the script far more flexible.
'---------- End History Section -----------------------------------------------
Option Explicit
Dim objShell, objFSO, strCommand, strPath, strEXE, strParameters, objNetwork
Dim strComputerName, strComputerDN, strUser, objSysInfo, strUserDN, strGroupTokens
Dim strGroup, strKey, strValue, arrIncludeUsers, arrIncludeUserGroups
Dim arrExcludeUserGroups, arrExcludeUsers, arrExcludeComputerGroups
Dim arrExcludeComputers, blnDeleteValue, blnDebug, blnLaunchWithoutParameters
Dim blnLaunchWithParameters
'******************* Variables to set *************************
strPath = "\\mydomain.com\data\moe\AppSource\PaperCutClient\client\win\"
strEXE = "pc-client-local-cache.exe"
strCommand = strPath & strEXE
strParameters = " --minimized"
' Value placed in the Run key
strValue = "PaperCutClient"
' This is an array of individual user accounts that don't fit into the default
' group framework, but should still execute the client at login, minimized to
' the taskbar.
arrIncludeUsers = Array("")
' This is an array of user groups that don't fit into the default framework, but
' should still execute the client at login, minimized to the taskbar.
arrIncludeUserGroups = Array("")
' This is an array of user groups that should not launch the PaperCut client
' when the user logs in.
arrExcludeUserGroups = Array("")
' This is an array of users that should not launch the PaperCut client when
' they log in.
arrExcludeUsers = Array("")
' This is an array of computers groups that should not launch the PaperCut client
' when any users log in.
arrExcludeComputerGroups = Array("")
' This is an array of computers that should not launch the PaperCut client when
' any users log in.
arrExcludeComputers = Array("")
blnDebug = False
'**************************************************************
If isProcessRunning(strEXE) Then
wscript.quit(0)
ENd If
Set objShell = CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
If objFSO.FileExists(strCommand) Then
' Get current user and computer information
set objNetwork = createobject("wscript.network")
strComputerName = objNetwork.ComputerName
strUser = objNetwork.Username
Set objSysInfo = CreateObject("ADSystemInfo")
strUserDN = objSysInfo.UserName
strComputerDN = objSysInfo.ComputerName
' Get tokens of member groups
strGroupTokens = GetTokenGroups(strUserDN)
strKey = "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run"
'************** Process the default groups ********************
If TokenListFindSid(strGroupTokens, GetSidByID("Domain Admins")) Then
blnDeleteValue = True
blnLaunchWithoutParameters = False
blnLaunchWithParameters = False
End If
If TokenListFindSid(strGroupTokens, GetSidByID("All-Students")) OR _
TokenListFindSid(strGroupTokens, GetSidByID("All-Affiliate-Students")) Then
blnDeleteValue = False
blnLaunchWithoutParameters = True
blnLaunchWithParameters = False
End If
If TokenListFindSid(strGroupTokens, GetSidByID("All-Affiliate-Visitors")) OR _
TokenListFindSid(strGroupTokens, GetSidByID("All-Temporary-Accounts")) Then
blnDeleteValue = False
blnLaunchWithoutParameters = False
blnLaunchWithParameters = True
End If
If TokenListFindSid(strGroupTokens, GetSidByID("All-Staff")) OR _
TokenListFindSid(strGroupTokens, GetSidByID("All-Affiliate-Staff")) Then
blnDeleteValue = False
blnLaunchWithoutParameters = False
blnLaunchWithParameters = True
End If
If TokenListFindSid(strGroupTokens, GetSidByID("All-Kiosk-Accounts")) Then
blnDeleteValue = True
blnLaunchWithoutParameters = False
blnLaunchWithParameters = False
End If
If TokenListFindSid(strGroupTokens, GetSidByID("All-Deny-Printing")) Then
blnDeleteValue = True
blnLaunchWithoutParameters = False
blnLaunchWithParameters = False
End If
If TokenListFindSid(strGroupTokens, GetSidByID("All-IT-Admins")) Then
blnDeleteValue = False
blnLaunchWithoutParameters = False
blnLaunchWithParameters = True
End If
'************* Process the inclusion arrays *******************
If IsArray(arrIncludeUserGroups) Then
If Trim(arrIncludeUserGroups(0)) <> "" Then
For Each strGroup in arrIncludeUserGroups
If TokenListFindSid(strGroupTokens, GetSidByID(strGroup)) Then
blnDeleteValue = False
blnLaunchWithoutParameters = False
blnLaunchWithParameters = True
End If
Next
End If
End If
If IsArray(arrIncludeUsers) Then
If InArray(strUser,arrIncludeUsers) Then
blnDeleteValue = False
blnLaunchWithoutParameters = False
blnLaunchWithParameters = True
End If
End If
'************* Process the exclusion arrays *******************
If IsArray(arrExcludeUserGroups) Then
If Trim(arrExcludeUserGroups(0)) <> "" Then
For Each strGroup in arrExcludeUserGroups
If TokenListFindSid(strGroupTokens, GetSidByID(strGroup)) Then
blnDeleteValue = True
blnLaunchWithoutParameters = False
blnLaunchWithParameters = False
End If
Next
End If
End If
If IsArray(arrExcludeUsers) Then
If InArray(strUser,arrExcludeUsers) Then
blnDeleteValue = True
blnLaunchWithoutParameters = False
blnLaunchWithParameters = False
End If
End If
If IsArray(arrExcludeComputerGroups) Then
If Trim(arrExcludeComputerGroups(0)) <> "" Then
For Each strGroup in arrExcludeComputerGroups
If IsMemberOf(strComputerDN, GetDNByID(Trim(strGroup))) Then
blnDeleteValue = True
blnLaunchWithoutParameters = False
blnLaunchWithParameters = False
End If
Next
End If
End If
If IsArray(arrExcludeComputers) Then
If InArray(strComputerName,arrExcludeComputers) Then
blnDeleteValue = True
blnLaunchWithoutParameters = False
blnLaunchWithParameters = False
End If
End If
'*********** Set or delete the registry value *****************
If blnLaunchWithoutParameters Then
'Write the exe path to the HKCU\...\Run key
objShell.RegWrite strKey & "\" & strValue, chr(34) & strCommand & chr(34)
'objShell.Run chr(34) & strCommand & chr(34),0,False
If blnDebug Then
wscript.echo chr(34) & strCommand & chr(34)
End If
End If
If blnLaunchWithParameters Then
'Write the exe path to the HKCU\...\Run key
objShell.RegWrite strKey & "\" & strValue, chr(34) & strCommand & chr(34) & strParameters
'objShell.Run chr(34) & strCommand & chr(34) & strParameters,0,False
If blnDebug Then
wscript.echo chr(34) & strCommand & chr(34) & strParameters
End If
End If
If blnDeleteValue Then
If RegValueExists(strKey & "\" & strValue) Then
objShell.RegDelete strKey & "\" & strValue
If blnDebug Then
wscript.echo "Deleting the " & strValue & " value."
End If
End If
End If
'**************************************************************
Set objNetwork = Nothing
Set objSysInfo = Nothing
Else
If blnDebug Then
wscript.echo "The program does not exist"
End If
End If
Set objShell = Nothing
Set objFSO = Nothing
wscript.quit(0)
' Function to check if a process is running in the current session
Function isProcessRunning(byval strProcessName)
Dim strComputer, objWMIService, colProcesses, objProcess
Dim ProcessId, colLogonSessions, LogonSession, strLogonID
strComputer = "."
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
& "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" _
& strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
Set colProcesses = objWMIService.ExecQuery( _
"Select * from Win32_Process " _
& "Where Name = '" & strProcessName & "'")
For Each objProcess in colProcesses
ProcessId = objProcess.ProcessId
Set colLogonSessions = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
("Associators of {Win32_Process='" _
& ProcessId & "'} Where" _
& " Resultclass = Win32_LogonSession" _
& " Assocclass = Win32_SessionProcess", "WQL", 48)
isProcessRunning = false
For Each LogonSession in colLogonSessions
strLogonID = LogonSession.LogonId
isProcessRunning = true
Next
Next
Set objWMIService = Nothing
Set colProcesses = Nothing
Set colLogonSessions = Nothing
End Function
Function InArray(item,myarray)
Dim i
For i=0 To UBound(myarray) Step 1
If strcomp(item,myarray(i),1) = 0 Then
InArray=True
Exit Function
End If
Next
InArray=False
End Function
Function RegValueExists(sRegValue)
' Returns True or False based of the existence of a registry value.
Dim oShell, RegReadReturn
Set oShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
RegValueExists = True ' init value
On Error Resume Next
RegReadReturn = oShell.RegRead(sRegValue)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then
RegValueExists = False
End if
On Error Goto 0
Set oShell = Nothing
End Function
' =====================================
' Token query routines
' =====================================
' Is DN a member of security group?
' Usage: <bool> = IsMemberOf(<DN of object>, <DN of group>)
Function IsMemberOf(dnObject, dnGroup)
IsMemberOf = TokenListFindSid(GetTokenGroups(dnObject), GetSidByDN(dnGroup))
End Function
' Gets tokenGroups attribute from the provided DN
' Usage: <Array of tokens> = GetTokenGroups(<DN of object>)
Function GetTokenGroups(dnObject)
Dim adsObject
' Setup query of tokenGroup SIDs from dnObject
Set adsObject = GetObject(LdapUri(dnObject))
adsObject.GetInfoEx Array("tokenGroups"), 0
GetTokenGroups = adsObject.GetEx("tokenGroups")
End Function
' Checks if the SID of a DN is found in an array of tokens.
' Usage: <bool> = TokenListFindSid(<Array of tokens>, <Object SID Byte()>)
Function TokenListFindSid(arrTokens, objectSid)
Dim nSidSize, vSidHex, e
TokenListFindSid = False
If TypeName(objectSid) = "Byte()" Then
' Scan token array for object SID
nSidSize = UBound(objectSid)
vSidHex = ByteArrToHexString(objectSid)
For Each e in arrTokens
If UBound(e) = nSidSize Then
If ByteArrToHexString(e) = vSidHex Then
TokenListFindSid = True
Exit For
End If
End If
Next
End If
End Function
' Encode Byte() to hex string
Function ByteArrToHexString(bytes)
Dim i
ByteArrToHexString = ""
For i = 1 to Lenb(bytes)
ByteArrToHexString = ByteArrToHexString & Right("0" & Hex(Ascb(Midb(bytes, i, 1))), 2)
Next
End Function
' Format a DN into a valid LDAP URI
Function LdapUri(DN)
LdapUri = "LDAP://" & Replace(DN, "/", "\/")
End Function
' =====================================
' Query helper routines
' =====================================
' Get object's SID by DN
' Usage: <SID Byte()> = GetSidByDN(<DN>)
Function GetSidByDN(objectDN)
On Error Resume Next
GetSidByDN = GetObject(LdapUri(objectDN)).Get("objectSid")
On Error GoTo 0
End Function
' Get object's SID by ID
' Usage: <SID Byte()> = GetSidByID(<Object ID>)
Function GetSidByID(ID)
Dim rs
Set rs = QueryLDAP(GetRootDN, "(sAMAccountName=" & ID & ")", "objectSid", "subtree")
If Not rs.EOF Then GetSidByID = rs("objectSid")
rs.Close
Set rs = Nothing
End Function
' Get DN by sAMAccountName
' Usage: <DN> = GetDNByID(<User or Group ID>)
Function GetDNByID(ID)
Dim rs
Set rs = QueryLDAP(GetRootDN, "(sAMAccountName=" & ID & ")", "distinguishedName", "subtree")
If Not rs.EOF Then GetDNByID = rs("distinguishedName")
rs.Close
Set rs = Nothing
End Function
' Get sAMAccountName by object's SID
' Usage: <sAMAccountName> = GetIDBySid(<SID Byte()>)
Function GetIDBySid(objectSid)
If TypeName(objectSid) = "Byte()" Then
GetIDBySid = GetObject("LDAP://<SID=" & ByteArrToHexString(objectSid) & ">").Get("sAMAccountName")
End If
End Function
' =====================================
' LDAP routines
' =====================================
' Get Root DN of logged in domain (e.g. DC=yourdomain,DC=com)
' Usage: <DN> = GetRootDN
Function GetRootDN
GetRootDN = GetObject("LDAP://RootDSE").Get("defaultNamingContext")
End Function
' Get/create singleton LDAP ADODB connection object
' Usage: <Connection object ref> = LDAPConnection
' or: LDAPConnection.<property or method>
Dim l_LDAPConnection
Function LDAPConnection
If IsEmpty(l_LDAPConnection) Then
Set l_LDAPConnection = CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
l_LDAPConnection.Provider = "ADSDSOObject"
l_LDAPConnection.Open "ADs Provider"
End If
Set LDAPConnection = l_LDAPConnection
End Function
' Close the LDAPConnection singleton object
' Usage: CloseLDAPConnection
Sub CloseLDAPConnection
If IsObject(l_LDAPConnection) Then
If l_LDAPConnection.State = 1 Then l_LDAPConnection.Close
End If
l_LDAPConnection = Empty
End Sub
' Query LDAP helper, return RecordSet
' Usage: <RecordSet object ref> = QueryLDAP(<DN>, <LDAP Filter>, <Attributes CSV>, <Scope>
' Scope can be: "subtree", "onelevel", or "base"
' Be sure to close the RecordSet object when done with it
Function QueryLDAP(DN, Filter, AttributeList, Scope)
Set QueryLDAP = LDAPConnection.Execute("<" & LdapUri(DN) & ">;" & Filter & ";" & AttributeList & ";" & Scope)
End Function
Enjoy!
Jeremy Saunders
Technical Architect | DevOps Evangelist | Software Developer | Microsoft, NVIDIA, Citrix and Desktop Virtualisation (VDI) Specialist/Expert | Rapper | Improvisor | Comedian | Property Investor | Kayaking enthusiast at J House Consulting
Jeremy Saunders is the Problem Terminator. He is a highly respected IT Professional with over 35 years’ experience in the industry. Using his exceptional design and problem solving skills with precise methodologies applied at both technical and business levels he is always focused on achieving the best business outcomes. He worked as an independent consultant until September 2017, when he took up a full time role at BHP, one of the largest and most innovative global mining companies. With a diverse skill set, high ethical standards, and attention to detail, coupled with a friendly nature and great sense of humour, Jeremy aligns to industry and vendor best practices, which puts him amongst the leaders of his field. He is intensely passionate about solving technology problems for his organisation, their customers and the tech community, to improve the user experience, reliability and operational support. Views and IP shared on this site belong to Jeremy.