How to use Pcounter for Windows

Common Configurations and Options

Revised March 26, 2007
The Goal
The Goal of this document is to provide step by step configuration instructions for Pcounter in
some of its most common configurations.

Common Challenges
The most challenging thing about configuring Pcounter is to identify how you would like to use the
product. In general the Administrator installing Pcounter should ask themselves a few questions.

1) Do all users login to the PC’s with a Domain account, or are the computers pre-
logged in? If they are pre-logged in as a default user, pay close attention to
Anonymous mode printing options.
2) Will it be necessary to assign a price per page (ever) to each print job or will a
simple quota of pages be sufficient?
3) Do all users print to a Windows server shared printer currently? They should
NOT be printing direct IP to the printers.

Because of Pcounter’s flexibility it is impossible to cover all configuration options in this manual
However, the most common configurations and options are listed below.

How to use this manual

This manual has six sections Pcounter Components, Basic Pcounter Installation, Configuration
Options, Special User Options, Optional Add-On components and Macintosh Support.

Pcounter Components (Overview) Gives a brief overview of the program components of Pcounter
and what there functions are.

Basic Pcounter installation START HERE: Gives step by step instruction on how to install
Pcounter and make it log basic printing information. If your goal is simply to collect data about
the volume of printing this would be all you need.

Configurations Options: Lists 8 configuration options, 6 for educational use, and 2 for business
use. These configuration options are some of the most common configurations used by our
customers. Each configuration option has a brief description of the work flow of the user, as well
as a list of what customer types “typically” use each configuration. It is recommended to read
each configuration and decide which best fits your needs **NOTE See below.

Special User Options: This section explains the use of the printer Popup users. Printer Popup
users can be very useful in situations where there is no Domain control, or all users do no have
Domain/Workgroup accounts.

Optional Add-On components: This section covers some additional products that AND
Technologies offers to compliment the Pcounter server. There is a brief description of what each
of the components do and a list of any changes that would have to be made.

Macintosh Support: This section gives information on where Macintosh installation help can be
downloaded from our web site, if you are using an all PC environment this section will not be
needed.

**NOTE-- If you are using an environment where users do not log in to the computers as
themselves then please pay close attention to the sections labeled “anonymous mode”. These
sections are specifically designed for scenarios where the computers are pre-logged in as a
default user.
Pcounter Components

If you have not downloaded Pcounter for Windows yet you can do so here.
http://www.pcounter.com/download.html
After running the setup of Pcounter a program group will be created called Pcounter for NT.
There are several Icons in that program group. Below is a list of the most commonly used
components, and what there functions are.

Pcontrol -- This utility configures all function of Pcounter. Any changes involving how Pcounter
handles itself are configured here.

Pcounter Administrator— This utility is used by administrators to run reports, add Printer Popup
users, set user balances, enter client codes and associate client codes to users.

PPopup -- The PPopup.exe runs in the task bar of the workstation computers in order to present
the user with a popup. Only use Ppopup.exe when users are going to be required to answer a
popup before the job prints.

Wbalance -- This simple utility runs on the task bar of the user’s workstation and shows the user
their real time balance in Pcounter.

Plot Manager -- This is used in commercial sites that use AutoCAD or any other CAD program.
Instead of spooling every job to the plotter directly, the plot manager can batch several saved
plots schedule and assign client codes to them, printing can happen when no one is in the office.

2
START HERE
Basic Pcounter Installation (Windows)
In order to install Pcounter you must be logged in to the server as Administrator or local
equivalent. You can either be in front of the server or in a remote session. Download Pcounter
from http://www.pcounter.com/download.html and extract and run setup.exe. Once the setup has
completed go to the Pcounter for NT program group in Windows.

a) Open Pcontrol, browse the Microsoft network on the left side of Pcontrol and
select the Windows computer that is your server right click on that computer and
choose Pcounter configuration. NOTE** You may get a windows asking you to
allow Pcounter to modify the registry, please say ok to this and follow the 5
stepped windows presented, it is necessary for Pcounter to function properly.

b) Go to the Data Server tab and create the Pcounter shared directory by clicking
on the Create Share button, specify where it should be created or accept the
default value and click OK.

c) Go to the Global Settings tab and select the server to get user information from.
Point Pcounter to the nearest PDC if there is one or if your server is a fully
trusted member server of the Domain leave it pointed to itself.

3
 d) Go to the Services/Ports tab and click Install and then the Start button on the
Printer Control Service and the Data Server Service. Click install on the port
monitors.

e) Go to the Printers tab and select the printer you want to monitor. Click on the port
wizard button. Click Next and then name the port and verify settings such as IP
address etc. Depending on the Microsoft port that was used Pcounter will select
the best Pcounter port for you (default settings are usually fine). Continue
clicking next until port setup is complete.

f) Repeat step E for each printer you would like to control.

g) Go to the Services/Ports tab and stop and then start the Printer Control Service.
h) Click apply, and OK to close the configuration window.

Pcounter will now log all jobs that are printed through the printers with accounting enabled
(arrows next to them). If logging and data collection is the only desired actions, then Pcounter
configuration is complete, if not proceed to Configuration Options section of this manual.

4
Configuration Options
There are six options listed below. The first four are designed for educational use, the last two
are designed for business use, choose the option that would best suit your needs. Under each
option is a brief Description of how the work flow would go for the user. There is also a Where
Used section that has a brief listing of what types of schools and businesses would use the type
of configuration described. Make sure you have completed the Basic Pcounter
Configuration Section before configuring these options.

Open Pcontrol and find your server object, right click and select Pcounter ÆConfiguration. This
will present a five tabbed windows that you see in the configuration options below.

Education Option #1 Simple page tracking and quotas. (Anonymous Mode)

Description:
This option assumes all workstations are pre-logged in as a default user. Pcounter will
present a Popup for the user so that the user can authenticate to their Domain account or Printer
Popup user account. The user name is authenticated, and the balance verified to be sufficient for
the job. The job will be debited versus their Pcounter account balance once the job has printed,
or is gone from the windows print queue.

Where Used:
1) K-12 school labs where all computers are pre-logged in as a default user.

Global Settings Tab:

1) Change Numerical Format to Pages

2) Set the Delete held jobs after to some number of
minutes that you would want the system to delete
the job if the user has not answered the popup.
Most sites set this between 15-30 minutes

Printers Tab

1) Select a printer that has an arrow next to it and

then select Configure.
2) Once the next window appears refer to the next
section Printer configuration Follow steps 1-7 in
that section. Repeat this procedure on all arrowed
printers.
3) Once all printers have been configured proceed
to the Popup Tab section.

5
Printer configuration

1) Change accounting to Account

Balances and Log File
2) Select the Action if below low
balance limit to either Delete job or
Pause job. Paused jobs must be
release by an administrator.
3) Change Count jobs in advance
for display to Faster performance
4) Check the Box next to Enable
popup window
5) Go to the prices tab and select
set all prices select 1 for the price
and click ok
6) Set the Color Multiplier to 1.00
or higher. A setting of 2.00 will
charge the user for 2 pages for
each color page printed.
7) Click ok to accept changes ** A
warning will be presented asking you to restart the printer control service, simply answer yes.

Special Consideration
If Pcounter Station will be used add the following configuration change.

1) On the printer configuration tab check the box that says “keep jobs paused after
popup”.

Popup Tab

1) Change the Window Type to ID and

Password
2) Change Information Message type to All
printers
3) Click on Edit information message and
type in what you would like the user to see
when the popup is displayed.
4) Set Password authentication to
PrinterPopupUsers** and domain
passwords.

**If your users do not have Domain accounts

then they must be added to the Printer Popup
User database. Please see section titles
Special User Options Pcounter
Administrator (Maintaining Printer Popup
Users) later in this manual.

Post Configuration:

Click on the Services/Ports Tab and stop, and then start the Pcounter Printer Control
service.
Copy ppopup.exe on to the client workstations and have it load in the startup group, this .exe can
be found in C:\Program files\Pcounter for NT\NT\ on the Pcounter server. The users will NOT get
a popup without Ppopup.exe running in the task bar.

6
Education Option #2 Account Balance tracking with Deposits (Anonymous
Mode)
Description:
This option assumes all workstations are pre-logged in as a default user. Pcounter will
present a Popup for the user so that the user can authenticate to their Domain account or Printer
Popup User account. The user name is authenticated, and the balance (in Currency) is verified
to be sufficient for the job. The job will be debited versus their Pcounter account balance once
the job has printed, or is gone from the windows print queue. This option is very similar to Option
#1, the primary difference is that account balances are tracked in dollars instead of pages. This
gives the advantage of adding a TBS9500 deposit station to the network to handle the user’s
deposits. Further information on the TBS9500 is listed in the Optional add-on Components
section later in this manual.

Where Used:
1) K-12 school labs where all computers are pre-logged in as a default user.
2) Universities and colleges where lab machines are pre-logged, and want a “hands off”
pay for print model.

Global Settings Tab:

1) Change Numerical Format to Currency

2) Set the Delete held jobs after to some number
of minutes that you would want the system to
delete the job if the user has not answered the
popup. Most sites set this between 15-30
minutes

Printers Tab

1) Select a printer that has an arrow next to it

and then select Configure.
2) Once the next window appears refer to the
next section Printer configuration Follow steps
1-7 in that section. Repeat this procedure on all
arrowed printers.
3) Once all printers have been configured
proceed to the Popup Tab section.

7
Printer configuration

1) Change accounting to Account Balances

and Log File
2) Select the Action if below low balance limit
to either Delete job or Pause job. Paused
jobs must be release by an administrator.
3) Change Count jobs in advance for display
to Faster performance
4) Check the Box next to Enable popup
window
5) Go to the prices tab and select set all
prices, input the desired cost per page and
click ok
6) Set the Color Multiplier to 1.00 or higher.
A setting of 2.00 will charge the user for 2X
the regular price for each color page printed.
7) Click ok to accept changes ** A warning will be presented asking you to restart the printer
control service, simply answer yes.

Special Consideration
If Pcounter Station will be used add the following configuration change.

1) On the printer configuration tab check the box that says “keep jobs paused after
popup”.

Popup Tab

1) Change the Window Type to ID

and Password
2) Change Information Message
type to All printers
3) Click on Edit information
message and type in what you
would like the user to see when the
popup is displayed.
4) Set Password authentication to
PrinterPopupUsers** and domain
passwords.

**If your users do not have Domain

accounts then they must be added
to the Printer Popup database.
Please see section titles Special
user options Pcounter
Administrator (Maintaining Printer
Popup Users) later in this manual.

Post Configuration:

Click on the Services/Ports Tab and stop, and then start the Pcounter Printer Control
service.

8
Copy ppopup.exe on to the client workstations and have it load in the startup group, this .exe can
be found in C:\Program files\Pcounter for NT\NT\ on the Pcounter server. The users will NOT get
a popup without Ppopup.exe running in the task bar.

Education Option #3 Quotas/Balance tracking W/O Popup Confirmation

(Authenticated Printing)
Description:
Each student logs into the computer with their own Domain login credentials.
When the student prints Pcounter calculates either the number pages or currency needed for the
job and compares it against their Pcounter balance. The job will be debited versus their Pcounter
account balance once the job has printed, or is gone from the windows print queue. Once their
Pcounter balance has reached Zero the student can not print. This configuration also has the
ability to connect a TBS 9500 deposit station to it so students can add their own currency to the
system (Currency Only).

Where Used:
1) K-12 school labs where each student is given a quota to use.
2) Higher education school where students will be asked to pay for each print. A
TBS9500 is recommended to allow students to deposit money into their account.

Global Settings Tab:

1) Change Numerical Format to Currency or

Pages (Currency must be used if you want to use
the TBS9500)

Printers Tab

1) Select a printer that has an arrow next to it and

then select Configure.
2) Once the next window appears refer to the next
section Printer configuration Follow steps 1-6 in
that section. Repeat this procedure on all arrowed
printers.
3) Once all printers have been configured proceed
to the Post Configuration section.

9
Printer configuration

1) Change accounting to Account Balances

and Log File
2) Select the Action if below low balance limit
to either Delete job or Pause job. Paused
jobs must be release by an administrator.
3) Change Count jobs in advance for display
to Faster performance
4) Go to the prices tab and select set all
prices, input the desired cost per page and
click ok
5) Set the Color Multiplier to 1.00 or higher.
A setting of 2.00 will charge the user for 2X
the regular price for each color page printed.
6) Click ok to accept changes

Special Consideration
If Pcounter Station will be used add the following configuration change.

1) On the printer configuration tab check the box that says “Enable popup window
(jobs are paused)”.

Post Configuration: Click on the Services/Ports Tab and stop and then start the Pcounter
Printer Control service.

Education Option #4 Quotas/Balance tracking with Popup Confirmation

(Authenticated Printing)
Description:
Each student logs into the computer with their own Domain login credentials. This
option is very similar to option #3; the only difference is the user will get a confirmation Popup.
The user has the option to confirm or Cancel the job before it is sent to the printer and charged to
their Pcounter account. The Popup can display information such as number of pages, balance
before printing, and total cost of the job. The job will be debited versus their Pcounter account
balance once the job has printed, or is gone from the windows print queue. Once their Pcounter
balance has reached Zero the student can not print. This configuration also has the ability to
connect a TBS 9500 deposit station to it so students can add there own currency to the system
(Currency Only).

Where Used:
3) K-12 school labs where each student is given a quota to use.
1) Higher education school where students will be asked to pay for each print. A
TBS9500 is recommended to allow students to deposit money into their account.

Global Settings Tab:

1) Change Numerical Format to Currency or Pages

2) Set the Delete held jobs after to some number of
minutes that you would want the system to delete the job
if the user has not answered the popup. Most sites set
this between 15-30 minutes

10
Printers Tab
1) Select a printer that has an arrow next to it and then
select Configure.
2) Once the next window appears refer to the next
section Printer configuration Follow steps 1-7 in that
section. Repeat this procedure on all arrowed printers.
3) Once all printers have been configured proceed to
the Popup Tab section.

Printer configuration
1) Change accounting to Account Balances and
Log File
2) Select the Action if below low balance limit to
either Delete job or Pause job. Paused jobs must
be release by an administrator.
3) Change Count jobs in advance for display to
Faster performance
4) Check the Box next to Enable popup window
5) Go to the prices tab and select set all prices,
input the desired cost per page and click ok
6) Set the Color Multiplier to 1.00 or higher. A
setting of 2.00 will charge the user for 2X the
regular price for each color page printed.
7) Click ok to accept changes ** A warning will be presented asking you to restart the printer
control service, simply answer yes.

Special Consideration
If Pcounter Station will be used add the following configuration change.

1) On the printer configuration tab check the box that says “keep jobs paused after
popup”.

Popup Tab

1) Change the Window Type to Confirmation

2) Change Information Message type to All printers
3) Click on Edit information message and type the
following. %U your print job is for a total of %P
pages and will cost $%C . Your account balance
before the job is $%B

Post Configuration:
11
Click on the Services/Ports Tab and stop, and then start the Pcounter Printer Control
service.
Copy ppopup.exe on to the client workstations and have it load in the startup group, this .exe can
be found in C:\Program files\Pcounter for NT\NT\ on the Pcounter server. The users will NOT get
a popup without Ppopup.exe running in the task bar.

Education Option #5 Anonymous simple print release with Pcounter Station

(with or without vending)
Description:
This option is designed specifically for use with Pcounter Station. If a Pcounter Station
release station is not being used, this configuration should not be used. This configuration is a
simple non secure print release format. Users print from workstations that are usually logged in
with a default user. The user then goes to a Pcounter Station release station to release the jobs
to the printer. A charge to an external device can be added if required.

Where Used:
1) K-12 school labs where all computers are pre-logged in as a default user.
2) Universities and colleges where lab machines are pre-logged in and need to charge
to an external card charging system such as a magnetic or smart card reader.
3) Universities and colleges where lab machines are pre-logged in and need to charge
to an external card charging system such as a Blackboard, CBORD or CardSmith.

Global Settings Tab:

1) Change Numerical Format to Currency

2) Set the Delete held jobs after to some number
of minutes that you would want the system to
delete the job if the user has not released job at
the Pcounter Station release station. Most sites
set this between 30-120 minutes

Printers Tab

1) Select a printer that has an arrow next to it

and then select Configure.
2) Once the next window appears refer to the
next section Printer configuration Follow steps
1-6 in that section. Repeat this procedure on all
arrowed printers.
3) Once all printers have been configured
proceed to the Post Configuration section.

12
Printer configuration

1) Change accounting to Log File only

2) Check the Box next to Enable popup
window
3) Verify that Count jobs in advance for
display is set to Faster performance
4) Go to the prices tab and select set all
prices, input the desired cost per page and
click ok
5) Set the Color Multiplier to 1.00 or higher.
A setting of 2.00 will charge the user for 2X
the regular price for each color page printed.
6) Click ok to accept changes ** A warning
will be presented asking you to restart the
printer control service, simply answer yes.

Post Configuration:

Click on the Services/Ports Tab and stop, and then start the Pcounter Printer Control.
Install and configure Pcounter Station on the computer that will be used for print release. An
Installation guide for Pcounter Station can be found here.
http://www.pcounter.com/support/pcounter-station-installation.pdf

Education Option #6 Secure Simple print release with Pcounter Station (with or
without vending)
Description:
This option is designed specifically for use with Pcounter Station. If a Pcounter Station
release station is not being used, this configuration should not be used. This configuration is a
simple secure print release format. Users print from workstations that are usually logged in with
a default user, Pcounter presents a popup to ask the user for an ID and an optional password.
These ID and password are completely “made up” by the user. The user then goes to a Pcounter
Station release station and types in the same ID and optional password to release the job(s) to
the printer. A charge to an external device can be added if required.

Where Used:
1) K-12 school labs where all computers are pre-logged in as a default user.
2) Universities and colleges where lab machines are pre-logged in and need to charge
to an external card charging system such as a magnetic or smart card reader.
3) Universities and colleges where lab machines are pre-logged in and need to charge
to an external card charging system such as a Blackboard, CBORD or CardSmith.

Global Settings Tab:

1) Change Numerical Format to Currency or

Pages
2) Set the Delete held jobs after to some number of
minutes that you would want the system to delete
the job if the user has not answered the popup.
Most sites set this between 15-30 minutes

13
Printers Tab
1) Select a printer that has an arrow next to it and then
select Configure.
2) Once the next window appears refer to the next
section Printer configuration Follow steps 1-6 in that
section. Repeat this procedure on all arrowed printers.
3) Once all printers have been configured proceed to
the Popup Tab section.

Printer configuration
1) Change accounting to Log File only
2) Check the Box next to Enable popup window
3) Verify Count jobs in advance for display is set to
Faster performance
4) Go to the prices tab and select set all prices,
input the desired cost per page and click ok
5) Set the Color Multiplier to 1.00 or higher. A
setting of 2.00 will charge the user for 2X the
regular price for each color page printed.
6) Click ok to accept changes ** A warning will be
presented asking you to restart the printer control
service, simply answer yes.

Popup Tab

1) Change the Window Type to ID and Password

2) Change Information Message type to All printers
3) Change the Password authentication to one of the
following
a) Job ID – No Job Password
users make up ID and do not use password
b) Job ID – Job password required
users make up ID and make up a password
b) Job ID – Job password option
users make up ID and optionally use password

Post Configuration:

Click on the Services/Ports Tab and stop, and then start the Pcounter Printer Control
service.
Copy ppopup.exe on to the client workstations and have it load in the startup group, this .exe can
be found in C:\Program files\Pcounter for NT\NT\ on the Pcounter server. The users will NOT get
a popup without Ppopup.exe running in the task bar. Install and configure Pcounter Station on

14
the computer that will be used for print release. An Installation guide for Pcounter Station can be
found here. http://www.pcounter.com/support/pcounter-station-installation.pdf

Business Option #1 Customer Billing Code Logging (Authenticated and

Anonymous mode)
Description:
This option works the same whether the users are logged in to the network as them self
or logged in as a default user. Pcounter will present a Popup so that the user can manually type
in or select a client code from a list. Because the goal is to track customer billing codes and not
users no authentication is necessary. If tracking users is required then all users must
authenticate to their workstation with their own Domain login.

Where Used:
1) Any schools that wish to prompt faculty or staff for departmental billing codes
2) Law Offices, Architectural Offices, Engineering offices.

Global Settings Tab

1) Change Numerical Format to Currency

2) Set the Delete held jobs after to some
number of minutes that you would want the
system to delete the job if the user has not
answered the popup. Most sites set this
between 15-30 minutes

Printers Tab

1) Select a printer that has an arrow next to it

and then select Configure.
2) Once the next window appears refer to the
next section Printer configuration Follow
steps 1-5 in that section. Repeat this
procedure on all arrowed printers.
3) Once all printers have been configured
proceed to the Popup Tab section.

15
Printer configuration

1) Change accounting to Log file only

2) Check the Box next to Enable popup
window
3) Go to the prices tab and select set all
prices input the desired price per page and
click ok
4) Set the Color Multiplier to 1.00 or
higher. A setting of 2.00 will charge the
user for 2X the regular price for each color
page printed.
5) Click ok to accept changes Click ok to
accept changes ** A warning will be
presented asking you to restart the printer
control service, simply answer yes.

Popup Tab

1) Change the Window Type to Client

Code list if you are using single codes.
Choose Matter Numbers if you are using
Sub codes.
2) Change Information Message type to All
printers
3) Click on Edit information message and
type in what you would like the user to see
when the popup is displayed.
4) Choose the list options desired. Please
see description of each list option below.
5) Once all options are selected go to the
Post Configuration step

LIST OPTIONS

Client Code only from list –Allows the user to select or type in any codes which have been imputed by the
Admin using Pcounter Administrator. If this option is not checked a user can type any code they would like for
tracking, that code will NOT be added to the database.
Subcode only from list—Allows the user to select or type in any sub code which have been imputed by the
Admin using Pcounter Administrator. If this option is not checked a user can type any sub code they would like
for tracking, that code will NOT be added to the database.
Associate Client Codes with Network users and group names—This option will only allow client codes and
sub codes to be show to those users who the admin has assigned the codes. Codes are assigned using
Pcounter Administrator. IMPORTANT be careful using this option, by Default no association are made and the
lists would come up blank.
Remember previous selection—This allows popup to remember the last client code selected.
Allow non-chargeable jobs—Allows users to select a check box on the popup flagging the jobs as non
chargeable.
Allow Auto-response—This will allow the user to select a time period where PPopup will automatically
respond with the current code and sub code.

Post Configuration:
16
Click on the Services/Ports Tab and stop, and then start the Pcounter Printer Control
service.
Copy ppopup.exe on to the client workstations and have it load in the startup group, this .exe can
be found in C:\Program files\Pcounter for NT\NT\ on the Pcounter server. The users will NOT get
a popup without Ppopup.exe running in the task bar.

Business Option #2 Office Code Associated printing (Authenticated and

Anonymous mode)
Description:
This option is a little different from the others listed here, but it comes up enough to list.
The directions below are slightly different that the other directions, this is because of the unique
nature of this setup. This setup is designed for small office that wants to track prints from there
users with a code number. The users are generally using a code number for the copier already;
this will simply associate those same codes to the print jobs for reporting.

Where Used:
1) Real-estate offices or any small office that uses Copy Codes to identify users in the
office for billing.

There are two types of users in the office to consider, those who log into a Domain from the
workstation as their own login, and those users who share a computer that is logged in as a
default user. Below are the instructions for how to configure each of those two. The end result
will be the same.

Domain logged in user—These users login into the Domain from their own computer. Since no
other person shares this machine all we have to do is assign their code to their user account in
Pcounter Administrator. For direction on how to do this please refer to the Special User Options
(Assigning Auto Client Codes) section later in this Manual.

Shared computer—the people who use these computers do NOT log into the domain as
themselves. These users will have to answer a popup and log into the Domain or Printer Popup
users account when they print. To configure popup for this option please follow the direction
below, then move onto the Special User Options (Assigning Auto Client Codes) section later in
this Manual.

Global Settings Tab:

1) Change Numerical Format to Currency

2) Set the Delete held jobs after to some number of
minutes that you would want the system to delete the job
if the user has not answered the popup. Most sites set
this between 15-30 minutes

17
Printers Tab

1) Select a printer that has an arrow next to it and

then select Configure.
2) Once the next window appears refer to the next
section Printer configuration Follow steps 1-7 in
that section. Repeat this procedure on all arrowed
printers.
3) Once all printers have been configured proceed
to the Popup Tab section.

Printer configuration
1) Change accounting to Account Balances
and Log File
2) Select the Action if below low balance limit
to either Delete job or Pause job. Paused
jobs must be release by an administrator.
3) Change Count jobs in advance for display
to Faster performance
4) Check the Box next to Enable popup
window
5) Go to the prices tab and select set all
prices, input the desired cost per page and
click ok
6) Set the Color Multiplier to 1.00 or higher.
A setting of 2.00 will charge the user for 2X
the regular price for each color page printed.
7) Click ok to accept changes Click ok to accept changes ** A warning will be presented asking
you to restart the printer control service, simply answer yes.

Popup Tab

1) Change the Window Type to ID and Password

2) Change Information Message type to All
printers
3) Click on Edit information message and type in
what you would like the user to see when the
popup is displayed.
4) Set Password authentication to
PrinterPopupUsers** and domain passwords.

**If your users do not have Domain accounts then

they must be added to the Printer Popup
database. Please see section titles Special user
options Pcounter Administrator (Maintaining
Printer Popup Users) later in this manual.

Post Configuration:

Click on the Services/Ports Tab and stop, and then start the Pcounter Printer Control
service.

18
Copy ppopup.exe on to the client workstations and have it load in the startup group, this .exe can
be found in C:\Program files\Pcounter for NT\NT\ on the Pcounter server. The users will NOT get
a popup without Ppopup.exe running in the task bar.

Once you have done all those steps continue on to the Special User Options section later in this
manual.

Special User Options

Pcounter Administrator (Maintaining Printer Popup Users)

If users do not have Domain accounts, such as in Education Option 1 and 2, as well as
Business Option 2, Printer popup users can be used to identify them for print jobs. These users
will have a login name and password, and are treated the same as a domain users for the
purpose of Pcounter.

To add users, open Pcounter Administrator and select PrinterPopupUsers Æ Show users, Hit the
Insert key on your keyboard to being adding users. Once the insert key is hit the screen should
look just like below as the users are added.

You will notice that the Active Directory users are no longer shown, only the Printer popup user.
To switch back to the Active Directory user select Utility—Select Domain/Server, browse for your
server and select it.

Pcounter Administrator (Assigning Auto Client Codes)

Pcounter Administrator has many functions, one of which is to assign Auto Client codes. The
Auto client code will automatically assign that code to every job the user prints.
1) Open Pcounter Administrator and navigate to the User Account tab, find a user that
needs a code Auto Assigned to them.
2) Right Click on that user and select Set Auto client code Æ from Entry form.
3) Once prompted enter the desired code.
4) Repeat steps 1-3 for each user.

19
Pcounter will now automatically assign the Auto Client Code number to the assigned user’s jobs.
Reports can be run by client code to give the required billing information.

Optional Add-on Components

Pcounter Station (Release Station)
Pcounter Station is a Kiosk style print release station software that runs on a PC that you provide.
After the users supply Pcounter with the information in the educational configurations previously
mentioned, the jobs are paused before going to the printer. The user must then walk up and log
into Pcounter Station and release their print job. An Installation guide for Pcounter Station can be
found here. http://www.pcounter.com/support/pcounter-station-installation.pdf

TBS9500 (Deposit Station)

The TBS9500 is a coin and bill acceptor that can be used to add money to users Pcounter
accounts. The unit is sold in both US and Canadian models. The TBS9500 includes a free
license of Pcounter station. More information about the TBS9500 can be found here.
http://www.pcounter.com/tbs9500.html To install the TBS9500 please see the Pcounter Station
installation manual here. http://www.pcounter.com/support/pcounter-station-installation.pdf

Macintosh Support
For complete instructions on how to configure Pcounter for Windows with Macintosh computers,
please download our MAC support documentation here.
http://www.pcounter.com/support/Mac-Windows-install.pdf This document covers in detail how to
handle Macintosh printing through the Pcounter for Windows system.

20