Printer_KeepAlive

# file named = Printer_KeepAlive.ps1

<#
i have a printer that glitches if it aint used at least once a week.

this script prints the current date & time to the designated printer at a randomized
    location on the page. that means i can read what's been printed and be somewhat
    confident that it's working properly.

the reason for the random location is that i have two paper trays for different uses.
    one is loaded new sheets and is used for new print jobs. the other is loaded with
    used - but mostly blank - sheets and is used for these keep-alive prints. randomizing
    the print location lets me re-use the sheets more often. the 2nd tray is the one i
    leave in place. [*grin*]

i have task scheduler run it every monday morning at 6am.
#>

# if you don't know the name[s] of your printer[s], run the following line in a PS console window.
#Get-WmiObject win32_printer | Select-Object name,default
#
# that will show you the installed printers and which is set as the default.
# pick the printer you want and put it's name in the "$PrinterName" variable below.

# if you are confident that your default printer won't get changed,
#   swap the "#" between the start of these two lines.
#$PrinterName = ""
$PrinterName = "Samsung ML-2855 Series PCL6"

$DateStamp = (Get-Date -format F).ToString()

# these numbers work for my printer and are somewhat conservative.
#    you can pro'ly make them somewhat larger IF you test the new numbers carefully.
$CharsPerLine = 70
$LinesPerPage = 60
$MaxSpacesOver = $CharsPerLine - $DateStamp.Length

$SpaceChar = " "
$LineFeedChar = "`n"

$SpacesOver = $SpaceChar * (Get-Random (0..$MaxSpacesOver))
$LinesDown = $LineFeedChar * (Get-Random (0..$LinesPerPage))
$WhatToPrint = (-join ($LinesDown, $SpacesOver, $DateStamp))

# printing with a blank printer name _works_, but it makes me nervous.
#     that's why this test exists.
if ($PrinterName -eq "")
    {
    Out-Printer -InputObject $WhatToPrint
    }
    else
    {
    Out-Printer -name $PrinterName -InputObject $WhatToPrint
    }