Printer Control Software for Local / Network Printers

1.

Q. Why can't I see the print jobs in PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager?

2.

Q. How can I run PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager as a service regardless of whether someone is logged on?

3.

Q. I don’t get popup or Print Job Agent doesn’t track the direct IP printer and workstation connected printer. How can I fix it?

4.

Q. How can I track the print jobs in a non-print-server environment (Users send the print jobs to the printer directly via the IP address of the printer or the printer that is connected to the workstation locally, instead of to the shared printer on the print server)?

5.

Q. How can I use PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager with SQL server?

6.

Q. How can I import Users / Groups / PINs to PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager?

7.

Q. Can I assign the quota (the number of pages) each user can print each day / month / term? Can the quota be assigned automatically? Can I assign quota based on the group?

8.

Q. All users log in with the same account in my lab. Can I still control the print jobs based on the user?

9.

Q. I get the database logon prompt when I  generate reports. How do I fix it?

10.

Q. The job is printed out before users enter the user name and pin. How do I fix it?

11.

Q. Can the waiting jobs on the different printers be cancelled automatically at a user-defined time?

12.

Q. Can I export parts of or all of the print job records to a file?

13.

Q. Can I set the maximum allowable pages per print job for different printers?

14.

Q. I have enabled "send a popup message," but the users can't receive it. How do I fix this?

15.

Q. The process printcz.exe is taking high CPU usage. How do I fix it?

16.

Q. Can I generate reports in a language other than English?

17.

Q. On which printers can PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager track print jobs?

18.

Q. How can I enter client billing code for batch printing (e.g. AutoCAD printing)?

19.

Q. Can I view or reprint the content of print jobs (waiting jobs / deleted jobs / printed jobs)?

20.

Q. How can I turn off spool file pooling?

21.

Q. How can I bypass specific user (e.g. Managing directors or CEO) recording their printed documents?

22.

Q. How can I install PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager on Windows Cluster Server?

23.

Q. Can I track the print jobs in Citrix / Terminal environment?

24.

Q. The report is blank when I select a report from drop down list or the report can't be created automatically or I get "PERMISSIONDENIED" error. How do I fix it?

25.

Q. How can I customize the reports by myself?

1. Check the date range in Print Job Tracker main screen.

2, Check question 2 about PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager service.

3, If you are using MS Access as the database (Preferences --> Print Jobs), the database may be backed up and reset automatically in  the menu item "Preferences --> Print Jobs  --> Backup / Reset Database", the database with previous records is saved in the backup folder of the application folder (e.g. C:\Program Files\PrinterAdmin Software\PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager\backup) and the current database "printSaver.mdb" in the application folder is reset. To see the previous records, you can use Print Job Report to connect to the previous database in the backup folder, or you can use the menu item "Merge Database" to merge the previous database into "printSaver.mdb" in the application folder, so you can see them in PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager.

4, Check the number of users in Preferences -> Users / Groups and the number of printers in Preferences --> Printers -> List of Monitored Printers, then check how many users and printers your license includes in menu Help -> Registration -> Enter / Upgrade License Code. For example your license is for "50 Users & 5 Printers". If the number of users in Preferences -> Users / Groups is already 50, then the print job for 51th user will not be tracked. Please remove some users in Preferences -> Users / Groups (and restart the PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager service if it is installed), then test it again.

Q. How can I run PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager as a windows service regardless of whether someone is logged on?

How can PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager continue to track print job when the computer that has PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager installed logs off?

You can Install Windows Service by clicking the menu item "Tools-->Install Windows Service", so PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager can still run when you logoff your computer.

The default account to run PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager service is the Local System account that can't access network printers (e.g. \\print_server\ shared_printer). In Control Panel --> Administrative Tools --> Services --> PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager, change the Local System account to the account with which you added all network printers in Printers and Faxes (or Devices and Printers) and has administrator rights on all network printers, then restart the PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager service.

Note: If PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager is installed on Windows Vista / Windows 7 / Windows 2008, exit PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager, go to the installation folder (e.g. C:\Program Files\PrinterAdmin Software\PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager), right click “PJAdmin.exe”, then click “Properties”, select “Compatibility” tab, set "Run this program as an administrator" in Privilege Level and Click "Change settings for all users" button, Set "Run this program as an administrator" in Privilege Level in "Compatibility for all users" tab. Repeat this for "PrintSaver.exe", then restart PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager service.

Q. The popup doesn't appear when user prints. How to fix it?

Print Job Agent doesn’t track the the direct IP printer or workstation connected printer via USB cable. How to fix it?

Solution 1:

If the popup on all client computers doesn't work, the local firewall settings on Windows XP / Windows Vista / Windows 2008 / Windows 7 may block PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager to send the message to the agent.

On the computer that has PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager installed, add "printczm.exe" (e.g. C:\Program Files\PrinterAdmin Software\PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager\printczm.exe) to the exception list of local firewall settings (Control Panel -> Windows Firewall).

Solution 2:

The Windows firewall settings (Start --> Control Panel --> Windows Firewall) on Windows XP / Windows Vista / Windows 2008 / Windows 7 may block agent to connect to server (PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager). When agent is installed and it is run first time, it will be added to the exceptions automatically. If not, please add "pagent.exe" (e.g. C:\Program Files\Print Job Agent\Print Job Agent\pagent.exe) to exception list of local firewall settings (Control Panel -> Windows Firewall). You can also use group policy to add pagent.exe to the exceptions of Firewall settings on multiple computers at one time at Print Management - Add Firewall Exception .

Solution 3:

If the print job agent installed on the client computer doesn't show active in PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager Preferences --> Advanced --> Check Agent Status, go to client computer, find and run C:\Program Files\Print Job Agent\Print Job Agent\serverip.exe. If the IP address of PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager server is not correct, please enter the correct one and click OK button, then check PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager Preferences --> Advanced --> Check Agent Status again.

Solution 4:

The antivirus software firewall settings may block agent to connect to server (PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager). Please add "pagent.exe" (e.g. C:\Program Files\Print Job Agent\Print Job Agent\pagent.exe) to exception list of antivirus firewall settings or add exception for TCP port 14128.

Solution 5:

Please check the number of users in Preferences -> Users / Groups and the number of printers in Preferences --> Printers -> List of Monitored Printers, then check how many users and printers your license includes in menu Help -> Registration -> Enter / Upgrade License Code. For example your license is for "50 Users & 5 Printers". If the number of users in Preferences -> Users / Groups is already 50, then the print job for 51th user will not be tracked and the popup will not show. Please remove some users in Preferences -> Users / Groups (and restart the PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager service if it is installed), then test it again.

Solution 6:

If popup still doesn't appear after you try above solutions and iPrint Job Agent is installed on Windows Vista / Windows 2008 / Windows 7,  please uncheck "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)".

Solution 7:

If popup doesn't appear on all client computers, click PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager menu item "Print Jobs --> Backup / Reset Database" to backup and reset the database. If you can't see the menu item "Print Jobs --> Backup / Reset Database", exit PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager, rename the file C:\Program Files\PrinterAdmin Software\PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager\config\setdb to a different name, then start PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager again.

Solution 8 (For Mac or Linux client only):

If you don't get the popup on Mac client or Linux client, please check if Mac client or Linux client prints to shared printer on the Windows print server.

Print Job Agent must be installed on the workstations. In PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager 6.0 menu item "Preferences --> Advanced," the option “Track workstation direct IP printer and workstation connected printer” must be checked.

Please see MS Access / SQL Server Settings.

Yes, The print quota can be assigned using account balance. For example, if the cost / page is $0.10, and each user can print maximum 30 pages per day, then you can assign balance $3.00 to each user per day. The balance can also be reset automatically by schedule. To reset the balance based on the group, select "Reset balance based on group" in "Preferences --> Policies --> Balance", then click "Edit Group" in "Preferences --> users/Groups" and define the default balance to be assigned for that group. For details, please see Print Quotas.

Option 1:

1. Click "Select Database" to select the sample database "printSaver_Sample.mdb" that is located in the installation folder of Print Job Report  e.g. C:\Program Files\Reporting Tool\Print Job Report.

2. Click "Generate Report" and select a report from the dropdown list. If the report is generated correctly, then select the real database e.g. e.g. C:\Program Files\PrinterAdmin Software\PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager\printSaver.mdb.

Option 2:

If you have MS-Access 2007 installed on your computer, you can use it to open the database file e.g. C:\Program Files\PrinterAdmin Software\PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager\printsaver.mdb, then in Print Job Report, click "Select Database" and "Generate Report" to see if you can see the report.

Option 3:

1, Install Print Job Report on a different computer

2, Share the database folder from the computer where PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager is installed (e.g. C:\Program Files\PrinterAdmin Software\PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager).

3. Map the network share folder from the computer where Print Job Report is installed (e.g. \\PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager Computer Name\Shared Database Folder).

4, Click "Select Database" in Print Job Report and connect to the shared database (e.g. \\PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager Computer Name\Shared Database Folder\printSaver.mdb).

The "Pause the print job on the print server until the print button is clicked on the popup" must be selected in Preferences --> Advanced. If this doesn't work, check "Start printing after the last page is spooled" in the printer properties.

Yes, you can define the time you would like to delete all the waiting jobs in Preferences -> Print Jobs. The default time is 2:00am. The print jobs can also be cancelled automatically based on how much time they were held in the queue.

Yes, you can select multiple rows by holding down the "Ctrl" Key or "Shift" key on your keyboard, and clicking the save button on the toolbar to save. The saved file format can be Excel, HTML and Text.

Click Start -> Printers and Faxes (or Devices and Printers) and check if

•  some printers have the status "access denied" or "can't connect"
•  there are a lot of holding jobs in the printer queues.

You can easily translate reports into your language by translating some strings in Print Job Report -> Settings.

A.

PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager supports all brands of printers. It can track the print jobs not only the Laser printers, but also Plotters, DeskJet printers and InkJet printers. If you want to track the print jobs on your DeskJet or InkJet printers, please include the string "DeskJet" or "Ink" in your DeskJet or InkJet printer name for the best results.

PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager 6.0 can track and control printing for the following type of printers:

1. The printers on the print servers (e.g. \\print_server\printer).

2. The printers connected to the workstations locally via LPT, USB or other ports.

3. The printers connected to the network directly via IP address without using a print servers.

Select "enable batch print mode" in Preferences --> Advanced.

For details, please see View the Content of Print Jobs.

If you install PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager on Windows 2000, the spool file pooling is turned off by default.

If you install PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager on Windows XP / Windows Vista / Windows 7, 

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Locate the following registry subkey, where <printername> is the name of your printer:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Print\Printers\<printername>
3. In the right pane, right-click SpoolDirectory, and then click Modify.

4. In the Value data box, copy the value from DefaultSpoolDirectory located in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Print\Printers)

5. Repeat step 2 to step 4 for the other printers.
6. Quit Registry Editor.
7. Restart the Print Spooler service. (Control Panel --> Administrative Tools --> Service)
8. Restart PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager.

If you install PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager on Windows 2003 / Windows 2008,    

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Locate the following registry subkey:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print
3. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
4. In the New Value #1 box, type DisableServerFilePooling, and then press ENTER.
5. Right-click DisableServerFilePooling, and then click Modify.
6. In the Value data box, type 1 to turn off spool file pooling, and then click OK.
7. Quit Registry Editor.
8. Restart the Print Spooler service. (Control Panel --> Administrative Tools --> Service)

9. Restart PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager.

You can include the user name (Windows login name) with "|" in the file 'euser' located in the installation folder e.g. C:\Program Files\PrinterAdmin Software\PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager\config, then move this file to c:\czdata. The format is per user name per line, for example:

tom|

gary|

mary|

If you want the print job sent from an user to be tracked, but user will not receive the popup to enter user name / password or client billing code, you can place user name with "|" to the a file named huser and save the file to both c:\czdata and C:\Program Files\PrinterAdmin Software\PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager\config.

..

Please configure PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager in the group as a "generic service" or "generic application".

1, On both nodes, Install Windows Service in Tools --> Install Windows Service".

2, Restart both nodes.

3, After restart, go to Administrative Tools --> Service to stop PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager service, and set startup to Manual. On logon, please use the account that you used to install PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager software and has admin permission on all printers. Repeat this on the second node.

4, Leave the service stop, and let the cluster start it.

If you install PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager on two nodes, two licenses will be needed.

Yes.

1. If Print Job Agent is installed on a Citrix /Terminal server, the file "terminal" must be deleted from the installation folder of Print Job Agent on the Citrix / Terminal server.  This file is created automatically when you run the agent the first time. After the file is deleted, you must restart the agent.

2. In PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager menu item "Preference --> Advanced," the option “Agent is installed on Citrix / Terminal server” must be checked and the option “Track only the printers in the list of Monitored Printers under Printers tab” must be unchecked.

If you can't see the report, please click "refresh" button on Print Job Report. If you still can't see the report, please check if you select the right database or date range. For Windows Vista / Windows 7/ Windows 2008, the database may be located in the following folder: C:\ Users \ <your_account> \ AppData \ Local \VirtualStore \ Program Files \ PrinterAdmin Software\PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager.

If the report is still blank or the report can't be created automatically or you get "PERMISSIONDENIED" error, go to the installation folder (e.g. C:\Program Files\Reporting Tool\Print Job Report 4.0), right click “Print Job Report.exe”, then click “Properties”, select “Compatibility” tab, select “Run this program as an administrator” in Privilege Level and click OK button to save. Then try again.

A.

If you would like to customize the reports, you can use crystal report tool at the link:

http://www.sap.com/solutions/sapbusinessobjects/sme/freetrials/index.epx to do it. All 100 report templates are located in C:\Program Files\Reporting Tool\Print Job Report\report\*.rpt. If you select "Access" as database in PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager Preferences -> Print Jobs, only the #.rpt needs to be updated. If you select "SQL server" as database, only the s#.rpt needs to be updated.

For example: if you select "SQL Server" as database in PrinterAdmin Print Job Manager Preferences -> Print Jobs and would like to change the report "Printed Jobs / Cost Top 5 by User" to "Printed Jobs / Cost Top 20 by User"

1. Backup C:\Program Files\Reporting Tool\Print Job Report\report\s3.rpt

2. Open C:\Program Files\Reporting Tool\Print Job Report\report\s3.rpt using Crystal Report, then select "Group Sort Expert" and change 5 to 20.

3. Save the updated report.

4. In Print Job Report, select the report from the dropdown list.