Pcounter Support / Knowledge Base / General

Where to locate the Maintenance expire date?

Run Pcontrol, Network view

Find and select the registered server, right click, choose Pcounter, configuration

On the global settings tab, follow the link to registration and Trial period, and here you will see the maintenance expire date (e.g. 10/2004)  

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Support for NIS ?

Pcounter do not support NIS, but we recommend using LDAP as an alternative solution

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Can a print-job be deleted after is have been generated ?

YES, and this can be done either in Print Manager or Pcontrol.

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When do Pcounter log and account a print-job ?

Print-jobs are recorded and charge is made after job is sent to printer

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Is it posible to work with Microsoft SQL

Microsoft MySQL is supported via Pcounter Web Report (PWR).

By beginning 2005 then will a PRO version of PWR be released which can handle SQL without any limitations.

This is done by PWR is taking the Pcounter log into MySQL for further handling.

PWR is a report and analysis tool for Pcounter.  

 

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Set-up for Academic Exams

Special set-up can be requested for Academic exams, such as no student charge for the print-jobs, banner page to ID each print-job to student etc.

The most common set-up is to ensure a seperat or dedicated print-server for the area hosting the exams, and then use below guide for set-up.

Accounting = Log File Only and Choose a banner template

After the exam, set it back to:

Accounting = Account Balances and Log File and Banner = None


Or create a special print queue for the exam.

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How to activate PPopup.dbf

PPopup.dbf is automatically created when you click on the Client Codes tab in Pcounter Administrator.

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role of the file "NetAddrs.INI" in C:\Program Files\PCounter

This file holds the printer IP addresses for Pcontrol

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Import of existing account-balances into Pcounter

- Export the database to a text file
- Convert it to a batch file using Account.exe:

@echo off
d:\path\account balance user1.org 1.00
d:\path\account balance user2.org 5.00
d:\path\account balance user3.org 10.00
etc.

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iPlot support

Pcounter do not have offical support for iPlot, but we do know that Pcounter works perfect with iPlot in the cases we have knowledge to. Only Plot

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Database questions

Pcounter uses Foxpro DBF for storing account balances

Jobs are logged to a CSV text file.  Approximately 128 bytes per job.

CSV does not need indexing, so such tool is not avaible

Repair of database for client code and account balance then use DBFs 

Online backup of database is posible

Customization of reports is not an option in Pcounter, but 3rd party software for this can be purchased. Contact pcounter Europe

Its NOT possible to write to the database rom another application

It IS possible from an other application to read records directly in database

PPopup can varifi user and client codes directly on a LDAP server which is done via the tool popup DEV. > http://www.pcounter-europe.com/download.cfm

It is posible to import client codes

Support for Microsoft SQL is done via Pcounter Web Report (PWR)

 


 

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How to find Pcounter log

In Pcounter Administrator, Click on "Utility", then choose "Open log file". This will open the main Pcounter Log.

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What control "time" in Pcounter

Time comes from the server where Pcounter is running.  The time stamp used in reports is UNC time, and converted to local time on the workstations which run the reports.

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Can project/client code be used when printing from MAC?

Yes, Pcounter WebClient needs to be used when using MAC. Follow below link and read more about it >

http://www.pcounter-europe.com/products_pcounter_webclient.cfm

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Import, when User have no Network ID

Use PrinterPopupUsers database with PPopup.

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How to see if License is "PRO"

In Pcounter Registration, look under Registration status. If PRO version then will it say "Registered [PRO]"

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Unknown User

Pcounter can allow or block "Unknown Users", which is done here >

Open Pcontrol, go to Pcounter> Confugure Pcounter server> Click on the link called "Default printer configuration" at the right side, you find a box corresponding to "Allow Unknown user to print". Check or Uncheck this box depending on the set-up you want

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Ppop-up - customized text problem

Problems getting the customized text to appear >

Stop and start Printer Control and  Data server

If this do not help, then restart the server where Pcounter is installed. 

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Support for RPCR

Pcounter do not support RPCR from Ricoh but only RPCS.

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Support for LDIF ?

Pcounter do not support LDIF for importing user names, only CSV.

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ODBC / SQL interface

Pcounter do not include a ODBC interface so log data can be written automatically into e.g. SQL, but its very simple to create a tool which will scan the Pcounter CSV log and then translate it to ODBC. 

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How to see server component versions

You can see all the server component versions on the Service/Ports tab of the Pcounter server configuration.

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PPopup - Multible queues on same printer

"Enable Popup Window" in the Pcounter printer configuration

Restart the Pcounter Printer Control Service.

The last step is very important is is quit often forgotten

 

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EMF - counting problems

If document is printed in EMF then will there be a chance for some errors in the counting such as amount of copies etc.

Change setting to RAW. 

 

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Disable SNMP comm.

Pcontrol Preferences - Enable SNMP

You can also change the poll time to something longer

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Pcounter Data-server asking for license key

This means the Pcounter Printer Control service is running, which it only shall if Pcounter is installed on a print-server. Uninstall the control service and just run the data service, and Pcounter is ready to function as data-server.

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NET SEND

Users/students to send messages via e.g. WBalance using NET SEND. The only real way to limit/block this is to limit access to NET.EXE on the local machines

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Refresh of SNMP Port

open the port properties/configuration and press the SNMP Test button, this will refresh the configuration for the port with the new parameters

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MAC set-up

We recommend that the Macs print to the Windows server via LPR (using Pcounter LPD server) or Windows printing/Samba. Appletalk/Services for Macintosh is not supported because there is no TCP/IP information that we can work with. Please also see our install guide for MAC

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Default balance

Default balance can be set in 2 ways: - when refreshing user list in PAdmin and "Set Balances to Default" is selected in PAdmin - using "Account.exe Setdefault domainName" from command line (This can be automated)

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Print from Unix workstation

Use the Pcounter LPD server instead of the Windows TCP/IP print server (LPDSVC)

If this do not work then change over and use the Pcounter Web Client in Auto Authendication modeto verify the AD user name and then we change it to mach the AD user name only with IP address attached. 

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RPC server is not available

It means the Pcounter Printer Control service is not running.  If the Pcounter Printer Control service is shut down temporarily during configuration then PPopup may show that error for up to 60 seconds before trying to reconnect to the server.

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How to delete Short-ID

PAdminPcounter Pro ID/PIN viewRight-click in list -> View DatabaseDelete short ID in question

 

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Transfer credit into Pcounter

This can be done by batch via account.exe

e.g.

D:\path\account balance andy 1.00D:\path\account balance roy 1.00Etc.

 

 

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In which order is multible rules processed

Byte size rules are looked at first, as they have no processing, and then page count etc.

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Explanation to codes in Pcounter log

JT / Job Type

 

C / Color

 

Ts / Time Stamp

 

Cp / # of copies

 

D / Duplex

 

Mt=Preprinted = Media Type is Preprinted

 

Cg=X for X color pages

 

JT / Job Type code translation for log

0

=Unknown

 

1

=PostScript

2

=PCL4/PCL5

3

=Text

 

4

=PCLXL

 

      5

=HPGL/HPGL2

6

=Epson ESC/P ou P2

7

=Tiff

 

8

=Canon PostScript

9

=Canon PCL

10

 =Canon PCLXL

11=

Konica WSMC

12

=Epson ESC/PAGE

13

=Ricoh RPCS

14

=Canon Bubblejet

 

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PCOUNT_JOBTYPE_FAX           100
PCOUNT_JOBTYPE_COPY          101
PCOUNT_JOBTYPE_SCAN          102
PCOUNT_JOBTYPE_PRINT         103
PCOUNT_JOBTYPE_DISBURSEMENT  104

Jobtype 103 (print) is only shown if print counting is not coming from Pcounter but e.g. from XAuditron or similar embedded modules.  

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Can Pcounter control/limit whom in an environment who can use different client codes?

YES, set "Associate client codes with network users/groups" in the server Popup configuration, but this is *very* high maintenance.  Every time a new code is added an association in PAdmin needs to be done, and some users will have empty popup lists if they have no associations.

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How to use SAMBA with Pcounter

If the Unix server runs Samba then it's quite possible that Pcounter will work automatically and properly - if Samba runs correctly as a domain controller then PAdmin should see all of the users without additional configuration.

If you have an external domain controller, whether it is Windows or Unix/Linux running Samba, it looks the same to us.  There is no special configuration involved.  Likewise, if Unix/Linux users print to the Pcounter server, then if they are using Samba client then it uses Windows SMB, or they can use LPR instead.


 

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Where can page, cost and balance be located in log-file?

The 3 last fields in the log file  > Pages, Cost, Account Balance

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Do Pcounter workstation (desktop printing) support Win95 ?

Yes, if our Win95 port is used

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Where can we see if e.g. the server and domain name have been changed ?

If the server or domain name is changed, you can check the Application Event Log on the Pcounter server.  It will have "trial period expired - accounting disabled" error messages.

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Is it possible for the user to check his/her own print history?

NO, at the moment there is not an automated way for users to check print
histories.

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How does color pricing work in Pcounter ?

Color pricing is set via a multiplier, which e.g. can be 4. If B/W is set to 0,25 then will the color price be 1,00 (if multiplier is 4)

Pcounter is also counting grey scale as color 

 

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Is color detection automatically activated?

If color multiplier is set to 0, then will color detection be disables by Pcounter.

This applies from version 2.11c and 5.21c.

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Support for IBM Informix

2 options >

1) Write a DLL for Pcounter, which then will ensure the needed communication between the Pcounter and Informix database.

 2) export the users to PrinterPopupUsers.

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Pcounter in mixed environment

Pcounter can not be set-up in a mixed environment because the NT and Netware data-server cannot interact. But the log formats are the same and can be combined, or you can specify multiple log file sources in PAdmin Preferences

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How to delete client codes (WIN)

In Windows Explorer, go to "Pcounter share", chose "Select All", and "the Delete key" function.

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What is a site license ?

A Pcounter Site license is an unlimited license agreement which e.g. can cover a company, university or department of a university. Site license pricing is agreed on a case by case level.

Customer pays an agreed price for the site license, where after customer can get as many server licenses as needed or a general license via Novell NDS tree or Windows Active Directory 

Its a demand that maintenance is purchased and keept updated when using Site license

 

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How is site license set-up?

In most cases by license files for Active Directory domain trees or Novell NDS trees which cover all servers in the tree.

Alternatively can a site license also be given as multiple licenses and hereby one pr server.

 

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Do Pcounter support duplex when printing?

It's optional.

Duplex handling = ignore (2 sides = 2 pages) or divide page count in half.

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Can pop-up language be changed ?

The pop-up language is not configurable - the language is detected from the workstation settings. 

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What measurement is used for plotters?

Square meter.  Look on the prices tab of the Pcounter printer configuration on the upper right. 

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Do Pcounter have support for OPEN LDAP

Yes, from Pcounter version 2.11 and forward

Authenticates users from an LDAP server from PPopup and Web Client. LDAP users may have account balances in the PrinterPopupUsers database. Pcounter Administrator can be used as an LDAP browser for user administration. User accounts which already exist on an LDAP server do not need to be created or duplicated in Pcounter. Requires Pcounter 2.10f or later.

The needed software for LDAP support can be located in the download area and is free of charge.

 

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Can Pcounter be installed on a workstation (WIN)

Yes, but with the limitations built into Windows, which is a 10 client connection limit hard-coded by Microsoft. 

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Which Files to back-up if reconstruction after crash?

NT: The Pcounter share and Pcounter\data

NW: The log location, \sys\system\pcounter\configs, the PPopup.DBF location, and account balances are stored in NDS

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Is it possible to print if the Data-server is down ?

It depends of the set-up of Pcounter, e.g.

If Accounting = User Account Balances and Log File and Action if below low balance limit = Delete or Pause job, then no printing is allowed if the data server is down.

In this set-up Pcounter will need to verify user credit before printing, which can?t be done because the data is placed on the data-server.
 
Same issue if client billing is used, client code can?t be verified when Data-server is down for the same reason as above.  

If the set-up is tracking of print pr user (e.g. a corporate) or administrator have allowed user to print below credit (below zero), then will it be possible to continue to print even if the Data-server is down. When the Data-server returns to normal mode, then will it get the data from the print-servers and the system will be back to normal.
 
Print-servers can be changed to ?allow user to print below credit? after data-server went down, and hereby can it be used as a work-around. This will only be relevant of data-server and print-server is different servers.

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Is it possible to change default setting on all printers from the print-server?

Default setting can be changed via Pcontrol and follow guide >

Pcontrol
Configure Pcounter Server
Printers Tab
Select Printer
Reset Default Configuration

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Can Pcounter be installed on cluster nodes?

YES, Pcounter have support for cluster nodes.

For Windows Pcounter only support cluster node on the data-server and not on the print-servers.  

For Netware Pcounter support cluster on both data-server and printservers


 

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Ports and protocols for communication between servers

Pcounter is using SMB, Win2000 and later uses 139 and 145, and ealier versions 137-139

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Can Pcounter communicate with 3rd part systems?

Yes, export to CSV and then import into the application. 

Automation of this feature have not been made yet

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Can Pcounter be set-up so only some users have access to printers ?

You can setup network access permissions for users on the object.  Printer, file, etc  

This has nothing to do with Pcounter, but needs to be done in the network set-up.

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Do Pcounter have support for USB attached desktop printers?

Yes, in Pcounter NT, you can use the Pcounter OtherPrinter port to count jobs on printers which are not supported by our protocols, such as USB, Appletalk, etc.

ONLY for WIN/NT.

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Do Pcounter have an automatic page separator

NO, it is too difficult to attempt for all of the printer languages we support, and to modify the print stream in that manner is not a stabile solution.

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If you have a question not answered in this FAQ, please email support@pcounter-europe.com.