Print management, any suggestions?

[Big_Ted]

I do have a copy of PaperCut but it's about 10 years old and not supported any more, I can't even upgrade it. I've also spoken to couple of people that supply paper copiers and they recomend PCounter over PaperCut, but looking closer they are very similar. Thanks.

If it's 10 years old then you are missing out on a lot of features check out:

PaperCut KB | PaperCut's Upgrade Policy

[Big_Ted]

Another vote for PaperCut. Great company with an amazing product. We use it extensively here - have it installed on all the copiers and tied into fingerprint readers/biostore for print release.

 

It should be pointed out PaperCut do not supply the Biometric hardware or do too much with it (no standards yet)

But there are a few sites in the UK running Biometrics with Biostore with PaperCut used at the back end for accounting. By all reports works well. This support will only get better over time (and hopefully bring the cost down)

The hardest challenge is getting the reader working on all the MFD's as they all work in different ways.

[Big_Ted]

That's good - i know when i spoke before with the companies they said it was in the next release. is it the same that you print to a central queue? then it pulls to the printer/copier in question?

 

Might need a visit at some point to see it if you wouldn't mind?

 

T

Ello - it wouldnt matter how you authenticate at the machine but yes printing to a main queue (virtual queue) and then using find-me printing isnt an issue.

[Marshall_IT]

We use PaperCut and Toshiba machines from Arena, I find both very good.

[Out_of_Sync]

We also use papercut, also just added secondary print server. It works very well.

[happierlarry]

We use PaperCut and Toshiba machines from Arena, I find both very good.

 

Thanks for your reply. You are the first one that uses Arena, what do you think of them?

 

I’ve got Papercut now! Will install in a next week or so and run monitoring for a couple of terms then will call them to see what can they offer.

[Big_Ted]

Thanks for your reply. You are the first one that uses Arena, what do you think of them?

 

I’ve got Papercut now! Will install in a next week or so and run monitoring for a couple of terms then will call them to see what can they offer.

 

If you are looking to take use this with copiers (as i expect Marshall_IT) does then you should know you will need PaperCut MF but you can easily move from NG to MF if you go the route.

[Marshall_IT]

Thanks for your reply. You are the first one that uses Arena, what do you think of them?

 

I’ve got Papercut now! Will install in a next week or so and run monitoring for a couple of terms then will call them to see what can they offer.

 

Yes we use PaperCut MF.

 

Arena:

I did not deal with drawing up the contracts or the purchasing, however, I've dealt with the whole installation and support and everything has been positive so far.

 

There is only one issue with the integration of PaperCut MF with the Toshiba MFDs when using Joint account and it not stopping people from photocopying when joint account balance is £0.

However I'm told there should be a patch in Jan that will fix this.

[Big_Ted]

Yes we use PaperCut MF.

 

Arena:

I did not deal with drawing up the contracts or the purchasing, however, I've dealt with the whole installation and support and everything has been positive so far.

 

There is only one issue with the integration of PaperCut MF with the Toshiba MFDs when using Joint account and it not stopping people from photocopying when joint account balance is £0.

However I'm told there should be a patch in Jan that will fix this.

 

We call this "zero stop" the MFD needs to know when a user runs out of money so it can stop (restricted) users taking any further copies. So if you have £10 credit and a copy job is £1 starting an 11 page copy run should result in you only getting 10 pages and then further access to the copying features will be disabled. This is all controlled by the MFD but as you mention Toshiba have been working on new firmware that supports this.

[david_tulip]

Again PaperCut in schools is strong and priced well (opposed to say equitrac) obviously the NG version is free, but the MF version mentioned prices competitively and is very intuitive and functional - unlike some older or indeed (in my opinion) "lesser" products.

[Tall_Paul]

Another Papercut user here. It's been excellent for us.

[jon_d]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but those of you using biometric print release on papercut - what are you using to manage the biometrics? BioStore etc?

 

We already have a biometric database through our NRS cashless system, but it doesn't appear to play well with others. Pcounter say they can integrate, but their software seems very clunky compared to papercut.

 

Yep - finger prints are taken via our cashless catering system and also used for our library system. First time you log into a copier you have to do it manually so it can tie your cashless catering credentials to your fingerprint, but after that its nice and quick

 

Can I ask which cashless/library system you are using?

 

Seems logical that things like print/cashless/library/door entry/registration would all tie into one system - but after talking to several vendors the reality is a little disappointing.

[6Foot2]

Cashless canteen system here: EasyTrace.

[glennda]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but those of you using biometric print release on papercut - what are you using to manage the biometrics? BioStore etc?

 

We already have a biometric database through our NRS cashless system, but it doesn't appear to play well with others. Pcounter say they can integrate, but their software seems very clunky compared to papercut.

 

Can I ask which cashless/library system you are using?

 

Seems logical that things like print/cashless/library/door entry/registration would all tie into one system - but after talking to several vendors the reality is a little disappointing.

 

We are biostore so the tie in is that - have you spoken with ITS about papercut intregration with NRS.

 

Papercut uses Live register which then talks to biostore

[Big_Ted]

We are biostore so the tie in is that - have you spoken with ITS about papercut intregration with NRS.

 

Papercut uses Live register which then talks to biostore

 

Hi, That is half correct.

 

Live register have a device that works with papercut. This can talk to their own software back end or Biostore.

Biostore have their own hardware that hooks in to papercut.

[glennda]

Hi, That is half correct.

 

Live register have a device that works with papercut. This can talk to their own software back end or Biostore.

Biostore have their own hardware that hooks in to papercut.

 

Ah - this is not what I was told! We are just about to place our Order!

[Big_Ted]

Ah - this is not what I was told! We are just about to place our Order!

 

The info i gave you should not stop you ordering anything. You said "Papercut uses Live register which then talks to biostore" thats not 100% correct but thats just me being picky.

 

Live register have hardware that talks to a device that papercut embedded is installed on and it all works fine and multiple sites around the UK use this system. You can use their own software or Biostore to do the auth lookup it depends what you run.

[glennda]

It's not stopping me it's just what I was told - it's all being done through ricoh under our mfd lease

[Big_Ted]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but those of you using biometric print release on papercut - what are you using to manage the biometrics? BioStore etc?

 

We already have a biometric database through our NRS cashless system, but it doesn't appear to play well with others. Pcounter say they can integrate, but their software seems very clunky compared to papercut.

 

 

 

Can I ask which cashless/library system you are using?

 

Seems logical that things like print/cashless/library/door entry/registration would all tie into one system - but after talking to several vendors the reality is a little disappointing.

 

FYI NRS have hardware that works with PaperCut on the Toshiba platform.

[david_1152]

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions, makes interesting reading. One question, if any of you guys running anything other than PCounter, can it cope with more than two digits after the decimal point?

 

So, in our reprographic department we can print for less then a penny, say 0.005 or half a penny a print. As can a lot of other printers here at school. BUT, with PCounter I cannot reflect that price, or in truth I have to move the point up one, so it reports each print is 5p. Really not very satisfactory - and confusing to staff.

 

So I dont think papercut does this, but ive heard 'Print Manager Plus' does, has any one used this? Or can anyone shed any light on this? Thanks.

 

 

D

[Steve21]

So, in our reprographic department we can print for less then a penny, say 0.005 or half a penny a print. As can a lot of other printers here at school. BUT, with PCounter I cannot reflect that price, or in truth I have to move the point up one, so it reports each print is 5p. Really not very satisfactory - and confusing to staff.

 

It's in a later release to go down even more decimal places, but out of curiosity any reason why you don't just set the duplex multiplier to a decimal?

 

e.g. 1p per page, duplex multipler 0.5 = 0.005p (Obviously will only work for 2+ pages, but an option if you already use pcounter? Or you still looking to buy?)

 

Steve

[Marshall_IT]

PaperCut MF definitely does £0.000

 

We use % discount for duplexing and this means we have to have a fraction of a pence.

 

Print Manager Plus is not very good IMHO, we had trouble with it not adding a new balance each month and the difference in features between PaperCut MF and PMP is huge.

 

Also, does the 0.005 include paper costs or do you not charge that as part of the printing and thus charge it separate?

[david_1152]

Steve, are you sure? The reason I ask is because Altman themselves say this isnt possible (I'm told my my supplier), and they only suggested the work around I pointed out. Now it could very easily be I've totally misunderstood or they are misinformed, they do say however, it will work in a beta out possibly at Christmas.

 

I'm sure you're right - could you elaborate on you're solution a little for me? Do you know which version of Pcounter this works on? It might be that we have the wrong one.

 

Thanks so much for you're input.

 

 

D

[david_1152]

PaperCut MF definitely does £0.000

 

We use % discount for duplexing and this means we have to have a fraction of a pence.

 

Print Manager Plus is not very good IMHO, we had trouble with it not adding a new balance each month and the difference in features between PaperCut MF and PMP is huge.

 

Also, does the 0.005 include paper costs or do you not charge that as part of the printing and thus charge it separate?

 

 

 

No, we charge the department separately for paper, as they use it out side of printing. Thanks for the info on Print Manager Plus, looks like with the new information from Steve, we might be sticking with PCounter.

 

Thanks very much for the info, and hope it will be useful to others with my problem.

 

D

[Steve21]

Steve, are you sure? The reason I ask is because Altman themselves say this isnt possible (I'm told my my supplier), and they only suggested the work around I pointed out. Now it could very easily be I've totally misunderstood or they are misinformed, they do say however, it will work in a beta out possibly at Christmas.

 

I'm sure you're right - could you elaborate on you're solution a little for me? Do you know which version of Pcounter this works on? It might be that we have the wrong one.

 

Thanks so much for you're input.

 

 

D

 

I'll double check when I get a minute later, sure it used to work like that. Our prices gone up slightly so don't use it anymore, but will try to check when I got a minute.

 

Steve