User web interface

The User web interfaceThe User web interface provide a range of services for users, including a summary of usage and balance history, a list of the shared accounts that the user can use for printing, the current costs for printing usage, ability to add balance by using a TopUp/Pre-Paid Card or an external payment system (when using the payment gateway module), transfer funds to other users, view a history of balance transactions, view a list of the user's recent printing, and view print jobs pending release (when using a Release Station). is accessed either via the Details link on the User ClientThe User Client tool is an add-on that resides on a user's desktop. It allows users to view their current account balance via a popup window, provides users with the opportunity to confirm what they are about to print, allows users to select shared accounts via a popup, if administrators have granted access to this feature, and displays system messages, such as the "low credit" warning message or print policy popups. window, or via the browser URL http://[server_name]:9191/user .

The User Web Pages provide a range of services for users, including:

• Summary: A summary of usage and balance history.

• Shared Accounts: Lists the shared accounts that the user can use for printing.

• Rates: The current costs for printing usage.

• Use Card: Add balance by using a TopUp/Pre-Paid Card.

• Add Credit: Add balance from an external payment system (when using the payment gatewayA Payment Gateway is an additional PaperCut component that allows users to transfer funds from an external source into their personal PaperCut account. Funds can be transferred from a wide variety of online payment sources, such as PayPal, Authorize.Net, RBS WorldPay or CyberSource, and many more. Alternatively, education organizations can use the payment gateway module to allow students to transfer small amounts of credit into their print account. module).

• Transfers: Transfer funds to other users.

• Transaction History: A history of balance transactions.

• Recent Print Jobs: A list of the user's recent printing.

• Jobs Pending Release: Print jobs pending release (when using a Release StationPrint Release Stations place a print job on hold and allow users to release it when required. Often a Release Station is a dedicated PC terminal located next to the printers, however, Release Stations can take other forms such as a web browser based interface. Some common examples where Release Stations can be used include secure printing, approved printing, and authentication. In a secure printing environment jobs are only printed when the user arrives at the print area and confirms his or her identity. This ensures the user is there to collect the job and other users can't "accidentally" collect the document. In some organizations it may be appropriate to hold jobs until they are approved by selected individuals. A good example would be a teacher approving printing on an expensive color printer. Hold/Release queues can be used as a form of authentication in an unauthenticated environment. Users must authenticate prior to releasing their jobs allowing PaperCut NG to confirm their identity.).

The services available provide a range of functionality that empowers users to make the most of PaperCut MF without requiring intervention from administrators. The user web pages allows users to do what they need for themselves, and quickly get back to what they were doing.

You can switch many of the services on or off as required. This is useful for situations where a particular service is not suitable for exposing to the users. For example, you can disable the ability for users to transfer funds.

Each service is discussed in the following sections.