Available in PaperCut MF only.

Configure the ability to change attributes of print jobs at the device

In most cases, by default, PaperCut MF allows users to change the following attributes of print jobs at the device:

  • Copies

  • Duplex mode (from 1-sided to 2-sided)

  • Color mode (from color to grayscale)

  • Account

NOTE
  • When upgrading from PaperCut MF 18.1.4 or earlier, if Advanced Print Scripting is detected, then the default is NOT to allow users to change the attributes of print jobs at the device. This ensures that users do not contravene existing print policies implemented via scripting. For example, if a print policyPrint policies allow you to remind users via popup to print duplex, route large jobs to dedicated high-volume printers, discourage users from printing emails, discourage printing web pages in color, and print policies can be implemented in PaperCut using advanced scripting. limits the amount of copies or pages of a document, then allowing a user to change the copies at the device will contravene that policy. Also, if your print scripts apply discounts, then if a user changes their print job attributes, the revised calculated cost will not apply the discount. However, it is recommended that you change the default settings and allow users to change the attributes of print jobs at the device if your Advanced Print Scripting:

    • does not affect the attributes that can be changed

    • converts a print job to grayscale or 2-sided (users cannot contravene this change at the device anyway).

  • Users who are able to release delegated print jobs originally printed by other users (Users Details page > Advanced Options area, Allow this user to release jobs printed by others (Delegated print release)) are not allowed to change the attributes of such jobs at the device.

  • Printers with Filters and Restrictions limit and control a user's ability to change the attributes of print jobs on such printers. If changes made to the attributes of print jobs contradict the printer's Filters and Restrictions, then the device displays an error, preventing the job from being released. The print job is released only when its attributes comply with the printer's Filters and Restrictions. For example, if the maximum copies allowed on a printer is set to 10, and a user changes the number of copies of a print job on that printer to 20, then an error is displayed when the job is released, and the job is not released until the number of copies is less than 10. For more information, see Convert or block print jobs - conversion and restriction filters.

To allow or prevent users from changing the attributes of print jobs at the device:

  1. Click the Options tab. The General page is displayed.

  2. In the Actions menu, click Config editor (advanced).

    The Config EditorThe Config Editor stores information used by PaperCut to configure advanced options and functions. This information is stored in config keys, which are editable by an administrator. page is displayed.

  3. Edit one or more of the following config keys:

    • Color mode—change from color to grayscale.

      Config name Description
      ext-device.change-print-job-settings.grayscale.enabled

      Allow users to change a print job from color to grayscale. Users cannot change from grayscale to color if grayscale was the original setting. They can, however, change from color to grayscale, then back to color.

      Values:

      • Y: users can change the Color Mode from color to grayscale

      • N: users cannot change the Color mode

        NOTE

        This setting hides the Print as grayscale (from color to grayscale) checkbox on the PaperCut MF Print Release screen on the device.

      • DEFAULT:

        • If upgrading from PaperCut MF 18.1.4 or earlier and Advanced Print Scripting is detected, then Defaultis N.

        • In all other instances, Defaultis Y.

    • Duplex mode—change from 1-sided to 2-sided.

      Config name Description
      ext-device.change-print-job-settings.duplex.enabled

      Allow users to change a print job from 1-sided to 2-sided. Users cannot change from 2-sided to 1-sided if 2-sided was the original setting. They can, however, change from 1-sided to 2-sided, then back to 1-sided.

      Values:

      • Y: users can change from 1-sided to 2-sided

      • N: users cannot change from 1-sided to 2-sided

        NOTE

        This setting hides the Print as 2-sided (from 1-sided to 2-sided) checkbox on the PaperCut MF Print Release screen on the device.

      • DEFAULT:

        • If upgrading from PaperCut MF 18.1.4 or earlier and Advanced Print Scripting is detected, then Defaultis N.

        • In all other instances, Defaultis Y.

    • Copies

      —change the number of copies.
      Config nameDescription
      ext-device.change-print-job-settings.copies.enabled

      Allow users to change the number of copies of a print job.

      Values:

      • Y: users can change the number of copies

      • N: users cannot change the number of copies

      • DEFAULT:

        • If upgrading from PaperCut MF 18.1.4 or below and Advanced Print Scripting is detected, the Defaultis N.

        • In all other instances, Defaultis Y.

    • Account—change the account to which the job is charged.

      Config name Description
      ext-device.change-print-job-settings.account.enabled

      Allow users to change the account to which the print job will be charged. This is applicable only:

      Values:

      • Y: users can change the account

        IMPORTANT

        This setting is overriden, preventing users from changing the account, if the account field is hidden (ext-device.show-print-job-account is set to N).

        NOTE

        If the device's print queue is configured to override user settings and charge to a specific account (Printer Details page> Advanced Configuration area > Override user- level settings is set to Do not show account popups and allocate jobs to), then users are unable to change the account to which the print job will be charged. This ensures that users do not contravene existing print policies implemented via such print queue overrides.

      • N: users cannot change the account

      • IMPORTANT

        This setting also prevents users from being able to allocate accounts to print jobs without accounts at the device.

      • DEFAULT:

        • If upgrading from PaperCut MF 18.1.4 or below and Advanced Print Scripting is detected, the Defaultis N.

        • In all other instances, Defaultis Y.

Using Site Servers

If you use a Site ServerSite Servers take over the role of a Primary Application Server in the event of network outages. Key roles taken over include authentication, copy and print tracking and Find-Me printing. Site Servers ensure continuous availability of printing resources to support key business functions over unreliable network links or during unplanned network disruptions., then by default PaperCut MF does not allow users to change the attributes of print jobs during an Application ServerAn Application Server is the primary server program responsible for providing the PaperCut user interface, storing data, and providing services to users. PaperCut uses the Application Server to manage user and account information, manage printers, calculate print costs, provide a web browser interface to administrators and end users, and much more. outage. This is because changes made during an outage are applied only if the jobs are also released during the outage. However, these changes are not applied, if they are released after the outage.

TIP
  • If you experience frequent outages, where the Application Server switches between offline and online modes intermittently, then avoid changing the default settings. This is to minimize user confusion when changes are not applied.

  • However, if your Site Server is in offline mode for a longer duration, perhaps a planned scenario, then change the default settings to allow users to change print job settings at the device.

To allow or prevent users from changing the attributes of print jobs at the device during an Application Server outage:

  1. Click the Options tab. The General page is displayed.

  2. In the Actions menu, click Config editor (advanced).

    The Config Editor page is displayed.

  3. Edit the following config keyA config key stores information about a specific advanced setting in PaperCut. Config keys are editable by an administrator in the Config Editor.:

    Config name Description
    system.site.offline-change-print-job-settings.enabled

    If using Site Servers, allow users to change the attributes of print jobs during Application Server outages (where the Site Server is online but the Application Server is offline).

    Values:

    • Y: users can change attributes during an outage

    • N: users cannot change attributes during an outage

    • DEFAULT: N