The Ultimate Guide to Print Manager Plus 2010 Print Manager Plus 2010 remains a benchmark software solution for organizations seeking total control over their printing infrastructure. Developed by Software Shelf International, this tool allows businesses, schools, and libraries to monitor, quota, and restrict printing. This comprehensive guide details its features, installation, and optimization. Key Features
Print Manager Plus 2010 integrates directly into the Windows print spooler to manage print traffic in real-time.
Print Quota Management: Assign specific page or monetary balances to users or groups.
Advanced Restrictions: Block jobs by file extension, title keywords, page count, or cost.
Detailed Auditing: Track user names, printer destinations, document titles, dates, and exact costs.
Silent Tracking: Monitor print usage quietly without enforcing active restrictions.
Rules Engine: Force double-sided (duplex) printing or grayscale to reduce paper and toner consumption.
Web Portal Interface: Allow users to view balances and release print jobs via a browser. Architecture and System Requirements
The software operates via a lightweight agent model that natively hooks into the Windows Print Spooler API. Supported Operating Systems Windows Server 2003 / 2008 / 2008 R2 Windows XP / Vista / Windows 7 Database Requirements
Microsoft SQL Server 2005, 2008, or Express editions for data storage. Network Requirements
Direct connection to print servers hosting shared network queues. Installation and Core Configuration
Deploying Print Manager Plus 2010 involves three core phases to establish network control. Phase 1: Database Initialization Launch the installer on your primary print server.
Select Full Installation to install both the service and administration console. Point the installer to your SQL Server instance. Click Create New Database to initialize the schema. Phase 2: Active Directory Integration Open the Print Manager Plus Administrator console. Navigate to the Active Directory Options tab.
Sync the software with your domain controller to automatically import users and organizational units (OUs). Phase 3: Printer Cost Definition Select the Printers tab from the left sidebar menu.
Double-click a discovered printer queue to open its properties. Define the Base Cost Per Page for black-and-white prints.
Set premium rates for color pages or large paper sizes (e.g., A3). Best Practices for Cost Savings
Maximize your software investment by implementing three immediate policy restrictions.
Convert to Grayscale: Set a rule that automatically deletes color jobs from emails or web browsers.
Enforce Duplexing: Deny single-sided print jobs that exceed 10 pages in length.
Automate Purging: Configure the print queue to delete unprinted or abandoned held jobs after 4 hours.
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