Does anyone know of: Software where staff have to authorise student printing?

[Kitkatninja]

Hi All,

 

Was wondering if anyone has any knowledge of any sort of print management software where if a student prints, it has to be authorised by a staff member first?

 

Thanks

 

-Ken

[6Foot2]

PaperCut will do this.

 

Link: PaperCut - Print management software used by 50k organizations to control and quota printing

 

We don't use this function but as I understand it you will need to nominate a station to serve as the print job unlock computer for the teacher to use. Perhaps someone who does use this part of PaperCut could explain in more detail?

[elsiegee40]

Print Manager plus can do this too. It's up to you whether to use the feature.

[dgsmith]

DaveP is on the right track.

 

We use papercut but you don't need to "nominate" a station - you can configure papercut (or rather, the individual printers) to require authorisation, then there is is an area accessible by anyone (password protected) on any station (so each teacher's workstation or laptop), and they just filter for the printer in their room to show the list of jobs waiting for approval.

 

Some more info about it here.

 

the manager-mode web-based release station provides functionality equivalent to the standard release station running in "Manager mode". However, the web-based release station may be more convenient because it can be run from anywhere using a web browser. It allows release managers and PaperCut administrators to manage held jobs and release or cancel jobs printed by any user.

 

I have been on at papercut to change the system to make it so the printer has to be selected/filtered first rather than showing a list of "ALL" printers/jobs waiting release, as sometimes our staff forget to filter and authorise prints from other rooms. If this was resolved it'd be excellent, but we still use it despite this and it's generally fine.

Edited May 5, 2012 by dgsmith

[synaesthesia]

Aye, Papercut I think is the best bet - feel free to pop round to ours if you'd like to give it a test (it's not a feature we use (yet!)) but easily set up!

[Chris_]

As others have said, Papercut has this functionality. Classroom management software such as Impero and RM Tutor often has this feature also.

[MicrodigitUK]

We use the PaperCut with shared accounts and

don’t give anyone credit on their personal accounts.

We use the shared accounts as department accounts, similar to how most schools do on their photocopiers. Each department has a pin code and they enter that code in the popup window to release there prints.

Also for students/pupils printing each department has a second student pin code. The only difference being that the student codes change twice a day. (Done with a simple script and scheduled task) This is to stop students memorizing pin codes.

Codes are published in staff section of intranet/VLE, so only staff give out the code when they want students to print.

[meastaugh1]

 

I have been on at papercut to change the system to make it so the printer has to be selected/filtered first rather than showing a list of "ALL" printers/jobs waiting release, as sometimes our staff forget to filter and authorise prints from other rooms. If this was resolved it'd be excellent, but we still use it despite this and it's generally fine.

 

If I've understood you correctly, it is possible to do this (from v8 at least). Setting the show-jobs-from-queues value in a properties file, will allow you to define the print queues to be displayed. You can create multiple properties files with corresponding shortcuts, or associate them with particular computer names: http://www.papercut.com/products/ng/manual/rs-conf.html

[dgsmith]

If I've understood you correctly, it is possible to do this (from v8 at least). Setting the show-jobs-from-queues value in a properties file, will allow you to define the print queues to be displayed. You can create multiple properties files with corresponding shortcuts, or associate them with particular computer names: Release Station Configuration

 

Is this in reference to the physical release station or the web-based release manager gui? We use the latter, where you can login to http://serverip:9191/release (the teachers that is, when they are given rights) and release print jobs from their own classroom workstation.

 

My understanding is that there is just 1 url for this and the filter option is only available once logged in with the list of jobs in front of you.

 

I think that support article relates to the actual release station, where a physical workstation is set up by a printer for the sole purpose of acting as just a means to confirm print jobs (which isn't what we use). Correct me if wrong though!

[meastaugh1]

Is this in reference to the physical release station or the web-based release manager gui?

I was thinking of the physical release station. I suspect you're right about the web release.

[broc]

We use Pcounter, some of our printers operate in 'Super Pause' mode which means that work gets queued on the printer until an authorised user 'releases' it. We delegate control to the subject dept staff. Edited May 22, 2012 by broc

[Chris_NetSupport]

Printer Management is one of the features that comes as standard with NetSupport School classroom management software. So you get this plus student monitoring, internet monitoring, instant assessment tools etc.

 

Print Management features:

 

Prevent Students printing in the classroom.

Limit printer usage by number of pages.

Require Teacher authorisation prior to printing.

Prevent Printers being added, deleted or modified.

Control access and usage for each individual Printer.

Displays real-time Print indicator identifying which Student is Printing.

[Danp]

We use Pcounter, some of our printers operate in 'Super Pause' mode which means that work gets queued on the printer until an authorised user 'releases' it. We delegate control to the subject dept staff.

 

Same here, although the users are restricted by their credits