Prevent jobs being released from a Standard Release Station when a printer is in error

To block the release of jobs from a Standard 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. when a printer is in error:

• Update the Release Station configuration file
• Copy the block release on printer setting to each Standard Release Station
• (Optional) Change the default printer errors that will hold released print jobs

Step 1: Update the Release Station configuration file

1. On the Application ServerAn Application Server is the primary server program responsible for providing the PaperCut user interface, storing data, and providing services to users. PaperCut uses the Application Server to manage user and account information, manage printers, calculate print costs, provide a web browser interface to administrators and end users, and much more., open the following file in a text editor:

   /<install folder>/release/config.properties
   

2. Locate the following text:

   ##block-release-on-printer-error

   ##

   ##When enabled, the print job will not be released if the printer is in error. A message will be displayed in the

   ##interface stating that the job has not been released, and what action is required to fix the printer error.

   ##Options: Y/N

   ##Default: N

   ##

   block-release-on-printer-error=N

3. Change the value for block-release-on-printer-error to Y; then save the file.

Step 2: Copy the block release on printer setting to each Standard Release Station

1. Copy the following block of text from the config.properties file.

   ##block-release-on-printer-error

   ##

   ##When enabled, the print job will not be released if the printer is in error. A message will be displayed in the

   ##interface stating that the job has not been released, and what action is required to fix the printer error.

   ##Options: Y/N

   ##Default: N

   ##

   block-release-on-printer-error=Y

2. Paste the text into the config.properties file on each Standard Release Station; then save the file.
3. Restart the Release Station.

Step 3: (Optional) Change the default printer errors that will hold released print jobs

PaperCut MF gives you the flexibility to roll out the prevention of job release to printers in error in a manner that suits your unique requirements. For example, if there is always a supply of paper next to the printers, you might not want to block the release of jobs when a printer is out of paper.

By default, the following reported printer errors will block the release of jobs:

• PAPER_JAM

• PAPER_OUT

• PAPER_PROBLEM

• OUTPUT_BIN_FULL

• NOT_AVAILABLE

• OUT_OF_MEMORY

• OFFLINE

• DOOR_OPEN

• USER_INTERVENTION

We recommend using the default list of errors, but if you need to exclude any of these errors or add any additional errors, follow the steps below.

1. Click the Options tab.

   The General page is displayed.

2. In the Actions menu, click Config editor (advanced).

   

   The Config EditorThe Config Editor stores information used by PaperCut to configure advanced options and functions. This information is stored in config keys, which are editable by an administrator. page is displayed.

3. In Quick find, enter release-station.block-release-on-printer-error.error-list. The default value is DEFAULT, which includes all of the errors listed above. You can customize this list by either adding extra error types, or removing some of the default error types.by copying the list and then removing individual errors.

4. In Value:

   1. Paste the following full list of error types:

      PAPER_JAM, PAPER_OUT, PAPER_PROBLEM, OUTPUT_BIN_FULL, NOT_AVAILABLE, OUT_OF_MEMORY, OFFLINE, DOOR_OPEN, USER_INTERVENTION, ERROR, UNKNOWN,NO_TONER

   2. Delete any error types you do not want to use.

5. Click Update.

To reset the printer errors to the default list

1. Click the Options tab.

   The General page is displayed.

2. In the Actions menu, click Config editor (advanced).

   

   The Config Editor page is displayed.

3. In Quick find, enter release-station.block-release-on-printer-error.error-list.

4. In Value, enter DEFAULT.

5. Click Update.

6. Release a test print job to a printer in error to check if there were no copy and paste mistakes.