PaperCut MF 8.2 (Build 5695)

PaperCut 8.1 (Build 5490)
January 11, 2008
PaperCut MF 8.2 (Build 5777)
April 3, 2008

New features:

  • Add improved support and completed compatibility testing for Windows Server 2008.
  • Implemented intelligent handling of selected printer monitoring error conditions. PaperCut has a fail-open design by default ensuring that printing will continue uninterrupted on events such as an application server or network failure. However this was not ideal for some situations where a fail-closed (deny on failure) may be preferred. The behavior on error can now be configured to suit the site’s need. There are now 3 options to choose from:
    1. On error print all but held jobs – if an error occurs for jobs are held awaiting release from a release queue or client popup they will continue to be held until connection to the application server is re-established. New print jobs will be allowed to print unhindered. (New default behavior).
    2. On error print – under any error condition allow the job to print (Previous default behavior).
    3. On error hold – under any error condition hold the job and continue to hold until the connection with the application server is re-established.

    This new default behavior greatly improves printer monitoring reliability on sites that make use of print hold/release queues or account selection popups.

  • Add a new “server-command” to import/update card/identity numbers and PINs from a file.
  • Added on option to mandate that the user must select a “Charge Rate” in the advanced account selection popup. To take advantage of this feature, the clients must be upgraded.

Enhancements:

  • Greatly improved scalability for sites running hold/release queues with hundreds of print jobs being held at once.
  • In the setup wizard and user/group sync page, allow the group lists to be expanded to show very long group names.
  • The installer now automatically adds firewall exceptions for important PaperCut in-bound ports. This streamlines out-of-the-box setup on firewall enabled Windows systems.
  • Provide a “Select all” option on the “Copy settings from printer to printer” screen. This greatly improved usability when copying settings to hundreds of printers.
  • Display a warning when setting a user to “unauthenticated” to indicate that the client software is required.
  • Do not monitor Citrix printers re-mapped from the client session.
  • Mac: Display the printer’s friendly name when enabling/disabling printers using the Control Printer Monitoring script.
  • When a printer is re-enabled, record the change in the application log.
  • Various documentation improvements including a new section to assist administrators with producing their own handouts to educate users about various aspects of print monitoring/control.
  • Display a browser “favicon” when accessing the application in a web browser.
  • When running the standard release station in “Release Any” mode, do not prompt the user for confirmation if the print job is zero cost.
  • Updated translations for Portuguese, Chinese, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Czech, and Swedish.

Fixes:

  • When retrieving users and group information from Active Directory can be a resource intensive process. This now runs as a low priority task to ensure it does not adversely affect other applications.
  • Fixed a race-condition that may have prevented the printer error monitoring feature from working on some systems.
  • Fixed problem with client authentication popup when the username contained uppercase characters.
  • Clarified some wording on the “Shared Account Invoice Report”.
  • Ensure that card/identity numbers are unique when updated using the “server-command” or web service APIs.
  • Fixed a problem that stopped the “add-new-shared-account” server-command from working correctly.
  • Fixed a problem with multi-domain support for Active Directory if spaces appeared between the configured domains.
  • When disabling multi-domain support for Active Directory also disable the use of multi-domains for authentication.
  • Fixed most frequent crash errors as reported via the “report error” screen.
  • Allow more flexible use of the regular expressions to normalize usernames.
  • Sort the “printer usage summary by user” report by username when using the PostgreSQL database.
  • Net Control: When users were enabled/disabled using the “Bulk User Actions” screen, their “Internet Group” membership was not updated.

Security:

  • Fixed a CSRF security vulnerability in the end-user web pages. This issue is considered a low risk and only affects customers with the end-user transfer feature enabled. Thanks to James from Personal Service Society Incorporated for bringing this to our attention.

Printer compatibility improvements:

  • Add support for the HP LaserJet P1505n (and other P1500 series printers)
  • Improve duplex detection for the Xerox Phaser 7300.
  • Improved duplex, page size, copy count and page-level color detection for some PCL5 printer drivers.
  • Improved duplex detection for the OKI C7300.
  • Improved page count detection for the Konica Minolta bizhub PRO 1050.
  • Fixed page count detection when printing to a HP LaserJet 4700dn from an Apple Mac.

Copier / device integration:

  • Fixed a problem setting card PIN from VCC/CopiCode devices when the card number is in format “[idno]=[checksum]”.
  • Add a small delay between commands sent to VCC/VCA devices which seems to improve the reliability of the devices.
  • Allow the use of alpha-numeric characters when logging into the VCC/VCA devices.
  • Fixed an error that can occur rarely when deleting/stopping VCC/VCA devices.
  • Fixed a problem where VCC devices showed a status of “Inactive” when they were still working correctly.
  • Updated CopiCode-IP firmware to version 1.1.5.
  • When a device is used as a release station, ensure that at least one printer queue is selected.
  • Improved behavior when deleting devices or disabling device integration to ensure we don’t lock the user interface.