A password for printer use?

Yucca · 4 Jan 2009 at 16:25

Hi all,

Firstly if this is in the wrong section dons feel free to move it. I wasnt sure where to put it and it is quite a random question!

I need some sort of way of controlling the printing at work. I need 1) to be able to stop people printing documents (word, excel etc) without my permission and 2) when they do print them they print eco fast or draft rather than normal or best.

Is there any kind of software that will allow me to do this? Perhaps some software that pops up every time you press print requesting a password?

Helium_Junkie · 4 Jan 2009 at 16:27

As soon as you give them the password they can print all the like, you'd have to change it too often.
I don't know about software solutions to this, sorry!

Burnsy2023 · 4 Jan 2009 at 16:31

Windows, OSX or linux?

gumbald · 4 Jan 2009 at 16:31

Set the default settings on their machines to be eco? What setup do you have, the printer just running off your machine?

Yucca · 4 Jan 2009 at 16:32

I wouldnt give them the password, id put it in for them myself every time, im always here.

Its for Windows Vista.

The printer is linked directly to the pc.

asim18 · 4 Jan 2009 at 16:34

http://www.papercut.com/

We have this at college.

Steve2000 · 4 Jan 2009 at 16:35

Use something like pcounter to apply a printing credit system to their accounts, and only give them credits when you want them to use the printer.

Jock Dodds · 4 Jan 2009 at 16:37

Usergroups and GPOs

paradigm · 4 Jan 2009 at 17:02

Jock Dodds said:
Usergroups and GPOs

This.

We have a few printers at work that are specifically used for printing cheques, and if someone prints over one then a) it loses us money on pre-printed cheques, and b) ruins the batch if no-one notices/owns up (as the numbers will be wrong).

Before I arrived they just had to keep reminding people not to use that printer, now, I've set it so only one specific workstation and user can print to it.

Sone · 4 Jan 2009 at 17:05

doesent the OP need more flexability though, people need to print but just with his permission

paradigm · 4 Jan 2009 at 17:07

Sone said:
doesent the OP need more flexability though, people need to print but just with his permission

That's simple though, he adds them to the "printing" group if and when they need to print.

Sone · 4 Jan 2009 at 17:21

yes but to become a member of the group the user would have to log off and on. He could do it on the printer but it just seems a very flawed solution imho