The Desktop Management Task Force has announced the availability of a standard Management Information Format file specification designed to define the manageable attributes of personal computer-based printers. It is intended to enable printer manufacturers to build products that are able to communicate their status to desktop users, and to be managed across the network. The Printer Management Information Format is the fifth that the Task Force has produced in the last year, the other four being for desktop systems, local area network adaptors, software applications, and large mailing operations. Additionally this year, the group is preparing Management Information Format specifications for servers and for modems, and the Task Force says that it has formed working committees to address multimedia and mass storage products.
