Printer queue control

[cjohnsonuk]

I want to install something simple at my local primary where a friend teaches (not my school) to help them reduce the amount of printing the children do as its getting very expensive.

Printers are likely to be locally attached shared locally rather than centrally from a server.

2options came to me

1 ) password protect the q so it wont print without a password
2 ) icons on the teacher desktop to pause, unpause and clear the queue so they can still print but it just gets binned

we use papercut here but costs are prohibitive and its a bit ott.

Any suggestions?

probably has 2k3server

will know more after my first visit

CJ

[contink]

I have another possible solution if you're interested... but I don't want to be randomly PM'ing.

[SYNACK]

I have another possible solution if you're interested... but I don't want to be randomly PM'ing.

I'm interested, as well as the network printers at one of my schools there are also colour inkjets in every room which cost a stupid amount every term to keep running. It would be nice to be able to implement some sanity. I would be happy to receive a PM with any suggestions.

Thanks.

[eean]

amount of printing the children do as its getting very expensive.

Despite what teachers say (and I am one, so I know) generally the Children aren't the problem! If the teacher wants to cut down on printing, they can... it's really very simple: "If you press print without asking, you will sit in the naughty corner".
Cheaper printing has made my life as a budget holder a lot less stressful!

[contink]

Just to note I've seen the "interested" posts and will respond forthwith... To make life easier and to help me keep records of what, who, etc... could you PM an email address, then I can keep track of everything.

Cheers

Martin


Nb: yes I'm advocating a possible solution of continuous ink supply systems but within a very specific remit.

[SOSAGES]

you could go with papercut or something like it (pcounter, pharos, print limit pro etc) but i will use papercut for this example.

dunno how many users you have but its 160 or so pounds for 100 users i think. The main problem here is teaching the children that printing isnt free.

You could install papercut and use the "top up card" option to issue children printing credit (obvioulsy it would be free but it would make them think they have a few pounds to play around with) teach them how to put the money into the account they have in papercut and then explain each print costs 10p and maybe do some lessons around it eg how many prints can i get for £4 (i have no idea the age of these children)
you can then go on and teach them about the environment using the papercut Environmental Impact option. for example you could tell them they have used:
Trees 0.024% of a tree since Mar 19, 2008
Carbon 163 grams of carbon dioxide since Mar 19, 2008
Energy Equivalent to running a 60W bulb for 5.4 hours

so basically look at it as teaching them how to handle money - how to use an account - that printing isnt free - and the impact on wasting prints.

just a suggestion sounds fun to me!