User Web Pages

The User Web Pages are accessed either via the Details... link on the User Client window, or via the browser URL http://[server_name]:9191/user .

The User Web Pages provide a range of services for users, including:

The services available provide a range of functionality that empowers users to make the most of PaperCut NG without requiring intervention from administrators. The user web pages allows users to do what they need for themselves, and quickly get back to what they were doing.

Many services can be switched on or off as required. This is useful for situations where a particular service is not suitable for exposing to the users. For example, some organizations may like to disable the ability for users to transfer funds.

Each service is discussed in the following sections.

Summary

This page provides a summary of the information most important for a user, including their current balance, a summary of their printing usage, and a graph of their balance history.

A user's summary information

Figure 5.18. A user's summary information

Environmental Impact

One of the primary aims of PaperCut NG is to reduce printing levels by changing a user's printing behavior. Implementing monitoring, quotas and charging are a good way of drawing a user's attention to their habits. The topic of the environment, global warming, and waste management is currently an area of debate and interest to many. Highlighting the environmental aspects of their activities is another good way of modifying a user's behavior.

The Environmental Impact section appears on the Summary page and provides the user with feedback on the environmental impact or footprint associated with their activities. Information presented includes an indication on how their printing equates to trees, CO2 emissions and energy.

For more information about how these values are calculated, see the section called “Environmental Impact”. If desired, this option can be disabled via the Options section.

Draw a user's attention to their environmental impact

Figure 5.19. Draw a user's attention to their environmental impact

Shared Accounts

Shared accounts page lists the balances of the shared accounts that a user can access.

A list of available shared accounts

Figure 5.20. A list of available shared accounts

More information about shared accounts can be found in Chapter 8, Shared Accounts.

Rates

The rates page lets users know the printing costs associated with each printer. Displaying costs to users is a good way for them to see and understand the costs involved without having to spend time distributing the information to them.

Armed with this information, users can seek the most cost effective way to manage their printing. With discounts for grayscale and duplex printing clearly visible, ink and paper usage will be reduced by the users own accord.

Printing costs as seen by the user

Figure 5.21. Printing costs as seen by the user

Use Card

From here users can use a TopUp/Pre-Paid Card. When a valid card number is entered, the value of the card is transferred to the user's balance. More information about cards is available in Chapter 14, TopUp/Pre-Paid Cards.

Using a TopUp/Pre-Paid Card

Figure 5.22. Using a TopUp/Pre-Paid Card

Add Credit

The Add Credit page is used to transfer funds into a user's account from an external source. This option is available when using the payment gateway module for integration with an external system.

Transfers

This page allows users to transfer credit to other users. Transferring balance can be useful in situations such as:

  • A student transferring credit to a fellow student for printing something for them

  • A teacher transferring credit to a student for extra printing

  • Teachers trading printing credit between each other

Transferring funds to another user

Figure 5.23. Transferring funds to another user

Transaction History

The transaction history page displays a user's balance history in detail. Here a user can see how, when any why their balance was affected. If there is ever doubt about why a user's balance is at the current amount, or what they have been spending their credit on, the transaction history page has the answer.

A user's recent balance transactions

Figure 5.24. A user's recent balance transactions

Recent Print Jobs

This page displays the user's printing history. It allows a user to see the cost of their print jobs, or to find a particular print job. The filter criteria allows for many different views of printing, and can be used to easily drill-down to find the information required.

A user's recent printing

Figure 5.25. A user's recent printing

Jobs Pending Release

This page allows users to view and interact with jobs held in a hold/release queue. From here, jobs that have been held in a managed queue can be released (printed) by the user. This allows for them to confirm the cost and details of the job before printing, and/or confirm their identity before the job is released.

The user's view of jobs pending release

Figure 5.26. The user's view of jobs pending release

More information about hold/release queues is covered in Chapter 11, Hold/Release Queues & Print Release Stations.

Web Print

Web Print is a printing solution ideal for laptops and other non-domain connected systems. This page allows users to upload documents for printing, rather than requiring the print queues to be installed on their system.

The user will be guided through a wizard where they can select a printer, choose options such as number of copies, and select a document to upload. The document will then be queued for printing and the user can track its status from this page.

Web Print jobs in progress

Figure 5.27. Web Print jobs in progress

More information about Web Print can be found in the section called “Web Print (Driver-less printing via a web browser)”.