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Operating Parameters

To access this screen:

1. Open OCS Manager.

2. Select the “Utilities Menu” button.

3. Select the “Operating Parameters” button.

Many of the core settings for the operation of OCS are set through this screen and the subsequent screens accessed through the various buttons. 

From the main screen, four support programs can be enabled or disabled:

• Printshop and WO Proc – This needs to be enabled if this module has been purchased.  The Printshop module allows users to send files or documents to a central location, along with a description of the print job characteristics (e.g. number of copies, color of paper, etc.) to generate a work order.  At the central print location, staff will print the jobs and do any associated tasks (e.g. binding, stapling, etc.).

• Web Manager – Currently OCS is developing a series of web pages and background functionality to replicate many of the features of OCS Manager.  This program is not currently implemented.

• Credit Card – The credit card module allows users to add value to accounts and charge the dollar amount to a credit card.  This module requires the purchase of additional software.

• Web Monitor – This module allows users to query their account information via the Internet, and allows for some of the information (e.g. PIN) to be changed.

Additionally, there are three other settings which can be set directly from the initial screen:

• Socket Timeout Factor – If a socket connection cannot be established within the stated time, the program trying to establish the connection will cease trying and report back with a connection error.  Note: The default value of 5 seconds should rarely be changed.

• OCSENG Service Startup Delay – OCSENG is the primary server-based service engine.  When the server first starts, many other programs are often competing for system resources.  By having a brief delay, a smooth start to OCS is far more likely.

• Emailing Engine – Automatic and user-prompted emailing has been incorporated into some of the OCS programs (e.g. users can email themselves their PIN if it is forgotten).  If this feature will be used, this engine needs to be configured and enabled.  Part of the configuration is having access to a MAPI-enabled email server.

Accounts

This screen allows the account filter to be set (for details, see Account Filters and Authorization), synchronization and backup to be configured (for details, see How do I set up the integrated backup solution?), a daily loading of account balances to be configured, and a number of other specific settings to be enabled, disabled or set. 

• Auto Refresh Account Balances – This button brings up a screen allowing for a debit balance, credit balance or free balance to be applied on a daily basis at a specific time of day (e.g. 1:00am).

• Import Settings – These settings are applied each time an import is run (for details on how to import user data, see ).

  • Free Balance When Adding – Each new user can be given a specific dollar amount as a free balance on import.

  • Free Balance When Already On File – A separate value can be allocated to users who are already on file.  This will overwrite the existing free balance, but not affect the debit or credit balance.

  • Update Fields if Account is on file – If this feature is enabled, the user’s information will be updated when a new import is performed.  Note: Depending on the account filter, the identifying unique fields (i.e. some combination of name, account, and PIN) will not be changed.

  • Pre-Import Actions – If selected, the stated option will be performed prior to importing the new database.  If “Delete All Users” is selected, the database will be cleared, including any existing debit or credit balances – which will not be reapplied should the user be included in the new database.

  General Accounts Settings:

  • Minimum Account Length – If this field contains a number, all new accounts will need to be at least that number of characters in length.

  • Remove Blanks from User Names – If this option is enabled, all new accounts will remove all blank spaces from the Name field (e.g. “John Doe” will be added as “JohnDoe”).

  • Stuffit Account Prefix – If all account numbers being used have the same leading digits (e.g. all accounts look like “701890xxxxx”, where the ‘x’s are the varying digits), any user prompts requiring the account number to be entered can be pre-filled with these leading digits.

  • Default DR/CR – This sets the default for debit or credit flags when accounts are added.  A debit account requires a balance to pay for items, and the balance drops with each payment.  A credit account starts with a zero balance and accumulates a balance as items are paid for.

  • Default Free Balance – As with the import, users can be given a free balance when an account is created.  This free balance is separate from the debit or credit balance maintained by the user.

• Button Control For One-Time-Use Numbers – Allows one-time-use numbers to be loaded into the accounts database with a set balance.

• Maximum Number of Accounts – Various programs use this value for allocating memory when performing tasks dealing with the account database.  If server memory is limited, this value should be set as close to the actual number of accounts as reasonably possible.

Printing Options

This screen allows for certain performance characteristics to be set when dealing with users’ print jobs. 

User Print Job Files:

• Job Retain Time – This value determines how long a print job will reside within the OCS system and is accessible via the release stations. To change the value, enter in a new number of minutes and select the “Update” button to save the value.

• Daily Deletion – Print jobs can also be deleted on a daily basis (e.g. at the closing time of the site).  To change this value, enter a time in military format (e.g. 7:30pm = 1930) and select the “Update” button to save the value.

• Log Deleted Jobs – Although the print jobs will still be deleted, a record of the pertinent information (e.g. number of pages, description, etc.) will be stored in a log file, if this feature is enabled.

• Obtain Server Prices Based on Virtual Printer – If this feature is enabled, when a print job is sent from the client to a local printer, the prices will be pulled from an associated server based printer. 

• Print a Job Separation Page – If this feature is enabled, each print job will be prefaced with a single page showing some of the user’s non-secure information.  The banner page is not included in the chargeable page count.

LAN Devices

OCS is compatible with a four different LAN devices.  For more information on adding and configuring these units, see the device-specific documentation.