Toner inventory Database

[webman]

Hi @eclass

 

The project is still "alive", but I haven't made any changes to it for a long time as I am busy with others at the moment (mainly Classroombookings). Is there anything specific you need from PrintMaster?

[eclass]

@webman thanks for replying back, my only "minimal issue" is when I click to install (lets say 3 color ink cartridges) on one printer, I'd wish for maybe a check box option where I select all 3 cartridges needed then "install"

 

the way its setup now is you have to select cartridges individually to install them and the page refreshes its self back to the top of the list instead holding its location..

 

other then that right now script works flawless! thanks

[webman]

my only "minimal issue" is when I click to install (lets say 3 color ink cartridges) on one printer, I'd wish for maybe a check box option where I select all 3 cartridges needed then "install"

 

That's interesting, I never thought of that use case during planning or developing. It might be fairly easy to add - I'll see if I have some time to look at that soon

 

the way its setup now is you have to select cartridges individually to install them and the page refreshes its self back to the top of the list instead holding its location..

 

Yes, that's annoying. Solution: have less printers so the list fits on the page

 

 

Joking aside, I'm pleased you find the script useful

[eclass]

@webman lol, yes! we have over 60 printers! keeping up on ink & toner is crazy here!

 

Thanks!

[fiza]

@webman - Just installed Printmaster - AWESOME.

We currently have a spreadsheet so this is a big step up for us.

Thanks for all the hard work on it.

[webman]

Hi guys! Exciting update about PrintMaster for you (particularly @eclass).

 

Some new features that will help you install consumables to printers quicker and easier:

 

• Select multiple consumables to install to a printer at one time
  
• Search printer list on dashboard
  

 

 

Download Version 1.1.0.

 

Upgrade instructions: Replace existing installation with the contents from the zip file; but make sure you keep your inc/config.php and inc/init.php files. A CSS file has also been updated, so make sure you do a hard refresh in your browser to get it out of your cache.

 

 

Hope those changes help you out. Let me know if you have any issues

 

 

@fiza: Thanks! Glad you find it useful

[fiza]

Hi guys! Exciting update about PrintMaster for you (particularly @eclass).

 

Some new features that will help you install consumables to printers quicker and easier:

 

• Select multiple consumables to install to a printer at one time
  
• Search printer list on dashboard
  

 

 

Download Version 1.1.0.

 

Upgrade instructions: Replace existing installation with the contents from the zip file; but make sure you keep your inc/config.php and inc/init.php files. A CSS file has also been updated, so make sure you do a hard refresh in your browser to get it out of your cache.

 

 

Hope those changes help you out. Let me know if you have any issues

 

 

@fiza: Thanks! Glad you find it useful

 

Excellent upgrade - Thank you.

[fiza]

@webman - Have got it all set up exactly how I want. Works really well.

One noob question - How can I put security on so that only certain users can gain access to the website? I have set the website/database up with XAMPP but haven't the foggiest on how to secure the website. I don't want students finding and fiddling with it.

[webman]

Hi fiza

 

There are a couple of options you can use. If you or someone you know is good with PHP development, you could implement something basic yourself using the fAuthorization class that's part of the bundled libraries.

 

Alternatively, you can use the Apache web server's built-in authentication methods - this seems to be a nice guide:

how to use htpasswd to create protected directories XAMPP / apache.

[fiza]

Hi fiza

 

Alternatively, you can use the Apache web server's built-in authentication methods - this seems to be a nice guide:

how to use htpasswd to create protected directories XAMPP / apache.

 

Fantastic - Thanks

[fiza]

@webman - would it be possible to add in "purchase date" for the printers section? That way I have the serial numbers and when the printer was purchased.

[FragglePete]

Would love to see a 'purchase cost' for the toner. We charge back each faculty the toner costs so have to produce a report each month to the finance manager of who had what, when and how much it costs.

 

Pete

[fiza]

Would love to see a 'purchase cost' for the toner. We charge back each faculty the toner costs so have to produce a report each month to the finance manager of who had what, when and how much it costs.

 

Pete

 

Ditto - That would be awesome

[webman]

@webman - would it be possible to add in "purchase date" for the printers section? That way I have the serial numbers and when the printer was purchased.

 

Hi. Yes! This would be quite an easy change to add. I will look at adding this soon.

 

 

Would love to see a 'purchase cost' for the toner. We charge back each faculty the toner costs so have to produce a report each month to the finance manager of who had what, when and how much it costs.

 

Ditto - That would be awesome

 

An EduGeek member local to me has actually made a change to PrintMaster based around cost-per-toner for the way their school works, and they have kindly provided me with the copy of project with all the changed files. However, I have yet to go through the changes and integrate them into PrintMaster in such a way that it will be useful to many users. There are several things to consider.

 

Based on my own past experience, my main concern is the potential fluctuation in cost of consumables. For example, you take delivery of 2 toners in March at £36 each, and 2 more in September at £42 each. There needs to be a way of specifying which cost toners you use when installing to a printer. This also affects quantity.

 

Is it a case of just saying "This consumable will always cost a fixed amount of £X" and be done with it? Within this fixed cost you "absorb" or hide any differences you may encounter?

 

Then there is the reporting side. When you install a toner, you're simply recording which consumable went into which printer, and when (currently). When costs are involved, that's fine - because we just record the price at the time of installation. But then what do you do with that information? Send someone an email with the details? Or is it just a case of being able to look at a given printer, and view the consumable installation history, including costs, for a given time period?

 

The currency would also have to be configurable, as I know there are international users of this project now

 

 

Any feedback and suggestions on how best to tackle the cost feature, to make it useful to as many of you as possible, would be appreciated

[FragglePete]

An EduGeek member local to me has actually made a change to PrintMaster based around cost-per-toner for the way their school works, and they have kindly provided me with the copy of project with all the changed files. However, I have yet to go through the changes and integrate them into PrintMaster in such a way that it will be useful to many users. There are several things to consider.

 

Based on my own past experience, my main concern is the potential fluctuation in cost of consumables. For example, you take delivery of 2 toners in March at £36 each, and 2 more in September at £42 each. There needs to be a way of specifying which cost toners you use when installing to a printer. This also affects quantity.

 

Is it a case of just saying "This consumable will always cost a fixed amount of £X" and be done with it? Within this fixed cost you "absorb" or hide any differences you may encounter?

 

Then there is the reporting side. When you install a toner, you're simply recording which consumable went into which printer, and when (currently). When costs are involved, that's fine - because we just record the price at the time of installation. But then what do you do with that information? Send someone an email with the details? Or is it just a case of being able to look at a given printer, and view the consumable installation history, including costs, for a given time period?

 

The currency would also have to be configurable, as I know there are international users of this project now

 

 

Any feedback and suggestions on how best to tackle the cost feature, to make it useful to as many of you as possible, would be appreciated

 

Agreed - its an issue which does affect us. We currently 'round up' prices for cartridges, and when new stock comes in, I usually price the older stuff as the new. The reason being it covers me when I have stock that is left on the shelf after a printer has decided to die - not ideal I know, but as I said, it covers my budget.

 

A junior tech did develop an in-house version of a similar thing here, but he's since moved on and we're discovering so many bugs in it now that I want to move on to something else; its a shame as it showed so much promise but he left before he could really finish it.

 

Pete

[webman]

Thanks Pete, that's good to know.

 

My current train of thought then, is:

 

• Each consumable will have a price attached to it, which you can change by just going to the Edit link for a consumable.
  
• When you record a new delivery for a consumable, the price will be displayed, but you will have the opportunity to change it at this time.
  
• When you install a consumable to a printer, its current price at that time will be stored with the "log" entry for that installation.
  

 

Right track?

[FragglePete]

Thanks Pete, that's good to know.

 

My current train of thought then, is:

 

• Each consumable will have a price attached to it, which you can change by just going to the Edit link for a consumable.
  
• When you record a new delivery for a consumable, the price will be displayed, but you will have the opportunity to change it at this time.
  
• When you install a consumable to a printer, its current price at that time will be stored with the "log" entry for that installation.
  

 

Right track?

 

Gets my vote!

 

Pete

[fiza]

My current train of thought then, is:

 

• Each consumable will have a price attached to it, which you can change by just going to the Edit link for a consumable.
  
• When you record a new delivery for a consumable, the price will be displayed, but you will have the opportunity to change it at this time.
  
• When you install a consumable to a printer, its current price at that time will be stored with the "log" entry for that installation.
  

 

Right track?

 

That sounds spot on for us too.

[webman]

Hello again.

 

PrintMaster is now at version 1.2.0, which now includes the discussed cost feature.

 

• Download 1.2.0
  
• Upgrade instructions
  
• Demo
  

 

Please read the upgrade instructions, paying attention to the step that involves running /upgrade.php - this is important, and makes the necessary database changes. You will also need to add the currency value mentioned to the inc/config.php file.

[fiza]

@webman Thank you Thank you Thank you......

[fiza]

Hi. Yes! This would be quite an easy change to add. I will look at adding this soon.

 

 

 

 

No purchase cost for printers this time around ?

but still a fantastic upgrade.

[webman]

No purchase cost for printers this time around ?

but still a fantastic upgrade.

 

D'oh!

 

Soon

[fiza]

D'oh!

 

Soon

 

I look forward to the next upgrade.

[nicholab]

Great product could it:

Show the total value of all stock

Pick up SMTP from the printers so that low toner could be picked up

Produce toner order for suppliler

Send monthly e-mails to finace with departmental charge backs

[plexer]

Great product could it:

Show the total value of all stock

Pick up SMTP from the printers so that low toner could be picked up

Produce toner order for suppliler

Send monthly e-mails to finace with departmental charge backs

 

Install new toners itself and make the tea?

 

Only joking.

 

Ben