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Manage Server Printers

From the OCS manager clicking the Manage Server Printer button takes you to the Server Printer Configuration screen.  From here you are allowed, as the administrator, to add printers for the OCS server program and set the page costs. These costs are used:

·        By the accounting portion of this software

·        With the print release station

·        When print jobs are submitted from clients not using the OCS client resident program 

Note:   Print costs set up on the client station will override those set on the server when one is using the (original) or local printer option only.

            

OCS server services runs an individual processing instance for each server based printer .   When printers are added or deleted the server program(s) must be advised.  This is accomplished by: 

            -  when removing a printer from the OCS list, highlight the printer

                and press the Stop Server Proc button, then remove the printer.

             -  when adding a printer to the OCS list, add the printer, add the prices

                and then press the Start Server Proc button.       

From this point on it is assumed that any printers you plan to use with the software, and their respective drivers, have already been correctly installed on the computer.   Any network printers to be used must be directed to their UNC name \\server_name\printer_name).  For example, if an HP LaserJet 5Si named LASER6 connected to the server named SERV1, Windows must have the port \\SERV1\LASER6 selected.

 The server printer management module screen is shown below.  This module can be run from any workstation that can connect to the server.  A separate process is used for each virtual printer added here.  Each process can be stopped and started on its own or one can cycle (stop and restart) the spooler printing services on the server.

 

Edit Print Costs: 

When you highlight a printer and double click on it you pull up the screen below, which allows you the set prices for all page types or individual page types.

 If the server printer is a plotter, you can specify the cost rate to apply to such.

 

Entering Page Costs for All Types (Recommended)

Each printer may have multiple price lines based on page types. In most situations, do the following to set prices for all page types: 

1. Select the Printer, from the list of added printers

2. Double click.

3. Where it states “Defaults Prices” enter prices for color and B/W

4. Click the “Replicate Costs For All Types” button to add the cost to all defined page types

5. Press the “Exit button” when all changes have been added

Note: Page count costs entered at the client workstation will override the values entered for the server queues. Print jobs submitted from non-Popup capable sources, will use the prices entered here.

Changing a Price Line:

1. Select the printer you wish to change

2. Press the “Edit Print Costs” button or double click on the desired printer

3. Select the price line you wish to change

4. Enter modified prices as required

5. Press the “Save Costs” or “Replicate Costs for this Type” button

 Rebuild File

Clicking this button will remove all entries by creating a new QUEUES.DAT file.  This file contains printer configuration data.

 Add Server Printers: 

 By clicking the Add Server Printers button, the above window will appear listing all available SHARED LOCAL printer queues on the left. The selection on the left will determine which SHARED LOCAL printer queue OCS will monitor. Selecting from the list of actual printers on the right (Primary Destination Printer), and clicking OK, will create a logical relationship between the actual printer and monitored printer queue. Therefore, all OCS print jobs sent to the monitored printer queue will be released to the actual printer when proper authentication has occurred. 

The Optional Secondary Destination Printer can be specified if you wish.  If the primary destination printer is taken out of service for some reason, you can press the button in the first screen Change Primary/Secondary and have all jobs directed to the Secondary printer until the Primary is returned to service.

Removing a Printer

 Select the printer to be removed from the list, press the Stop Server Proc Button and then click the REMOVE PRINT button. The printer and all associated price lines will be removed.