Pcounter Applications
Pcounter –
printing strategy
The central
Pcounter, Intro
Pcounter is a print tracking and accounting software that enables organisations to assign costs to projects, departments, students, client account codes or simply monitor the usage on network printers.
This applicaton integrates accounting, load balancing and queue management into a single cross-platform interface which works with both Microsoft Windows and Novell NetWare networks simultaneously.
Running on the one or multiple print servers, Pcounter tracks all printing activity and provides various functionalities to calculate, reallocate and visualize printing expenses.
n “Pcounter embedded” creates a seamless interface
between the Pcounter server application and bizhub MFPs. Due to Konica Minolta’s own OpenAPI tech- nology copy activity is tracked just as easily as print activity, making Pcounter the complete accounting solution for any environment. A flawless workflow for both the administrator and the MFP user.
n Pcounter Web Cashier PWC serves as an add- on for easy and flexible monitoring and cash collection.
n Pcounter Web Reports PWR is an additional module offering a range of features for control ling and graphical overview.
printing strategy
It is very useful to integrate user authentication into interfaces the users are familiar with. The integration of the Pcounter authentication menu into the device panel is an important step forward to advanced usability and fast and streamlined user logins.
Pcounter embedded for Konica Minolta is a module for the Pcounter server application that enables the central control of MFP displays for authentication and account data exchange. It embeds Secure Print and Accounting features into the display of Konica Minolta bEST OpenAPI capable devices. Serving as a direct link between the devices and the Pcounter server software it is also a straightforward alternative to external accounting interfaces such as authentication terminals. Using bEST OpenAPI technology, authentication data is directly verified with the central database, central client codes are provided and print jobs can be securely released on any supported device – real Follow-me-printing.
Features:
n Automatic server authentication via the bizhub
device panel
n Integrated real-time copy and print accounting n Immediate user credit updating according to
central Pcounter server application cost policy
n Different authentication modes (user name/user
name + password/ID number/ ID number + PIN) as well as Follow-Me and Secure Printing
n Verified individual output limits, user access rights
and client code selection for each print and copy session
n Convenient management of all Pcounter embedded
devices, licenses and software maintenance due to additional console inside the Pcounter application
Benefits:
n Central control and registration of all embedded
Pcounter devices via the Pcounter interface
n Quick adaptation and user convenience due to
integration into well known bizhub device
n Complete up-to-date cost efficiency control of all
copy and print activities
n Secure printouts for confidential output of crucial
documents
n Additional costs for external hardware terminals
becoming oblivious
Pcounter embedded
the integrated solution
User quota/rights management
n Fast and easy assignment of print and copy credit with real time enforcement to stop when limits are reached
Easy charging back of costs
n Convenient client billing via “pop up” windows for charging back costs easily
Rule-based printing and load-balancing
n Automatic re-routing, deletion and balancing of print jobs to keep the output infrastructure as productive as possible
User notifications
n Highly flexible user notification of pre-calculated output costs and in case of re-routed print jobs
Device support
n Supporting all PCL and PS network printers n Optional support of local printers (serial, USB, parallel)
n Pcounter embedded in the panels of the sup ported bizhub devices
Additional features
n LDAP integration
n Supporting Windows server clusters
n Optional web-based cash collection manage ment PWC and graphical web report PWR
Features:
Fast installation and integration
n Server software readily installed in 30 minutes n Instant import of all network printers due to simple server software
n All network print jobs can easily be tracked from all workstations (Windows, Mac, Unix/Linux) n Support of both Windows Active directory and Novell Netware servers
Print accounting and monitoring
n Real-time tracking of all print activities in the network and creation of comprehensive print history without any additional clients needed
Copy-, scan- and fax-accounting
n With external PayCon terminals or exclusively developed “Pcounter embedded” in the panel of the supported bizhub devices
Cost tracking and recovery
n Intelligent price tables for all different output and assigned cost budgets to any user or user group
Follow-Me Printing & Secure Printing
n Utmost print flexibility and document security due to Follow-Me printing and Secure Printing with both PayCon and Pcounter embedded
Reporting
n Flexible creation of detailed overviews and reports on users, user groups and evolving costs per day, week or month
The Pcounter software suite’s large variety of features makes it the ideal solution for budgeting and cost recov-ery across all sectors within any organisational structure.
Pcounter, Features
of capabilities
Message
to user Rejected Job
Pcounter Print Server Balance Check Rules Released Print Balance
Notification User Account Information
Secured Print and/or Copy Accounting
Server Logging Database
Network Printer/MFP Paused/Deleted Jobs
Workflow
Benefits:
n Fast and easy installation for instant use
n Complete and effortless integration into any printer
and copier system
n Efficient print accounting and monitoring
n Central control over evolving print costs make own
calculations and separate checking of all individual printer counters unnecessary
n Cost tracking and recovery due to central copy
output control
n Enabling redeployment of print fleet according to
accurate information about the actual performance of any output device
n Efficient user output limit management
n Addressing the “green” issue faced by all companies
by reducing waste
n Seamless authentication path from any individual user
or user group to the Pcounter interface via Pcounter embedded
Pcounter, Benefits
Pcounter Web Report
As a web-based interface to the Pcounter solution, where all tracking and accounting data is stored, the Pcounter Web Report serves as a quick and easy reporting system for Pcounter customers in need of an additional graphic overview with a reliable record of any important information.
Transforming relevant information into precise and easy-to-read graphics, the comprehensive and user-friendly Pcounter Web Report is the perfect tool to generate and analyse any complex statistic. With its graphic surface, versatile reporting modules and comprehensive choice of displays, the Pcounter Web Report helps reducing the costs of document production in times of tight budgets and increasing print and copy traffic.
Features:
n Easy access to all print information as an add-on to
the Pcounter
n Accessible from any workstation via a web browser n Instant overview of all transactions on a single
screen
n Comprehensive choice of displays providing a look
at statistics from every angle
n Instant graphic views with a simple mouse-click on
the “View Graph” key
n Detailed analysis and online comparison on printer
usage or user activity (including e.g. daily traffic and colour to b/w output ratio)
n Choice of cost analysis data (for users, time range
or separate devices)
Benefits:
n Presenting instant reports on all copy and print
activities
n Providing detailed data, lists and views of any
transaction
n Enhanced overview for quick accounting
informa-tion
n Instant user-friendly cost analyses n Accessible from anywhere in the network
the graphical interface
Features:
n Full compatibility with the Pcounter user management n Providing easy access and administration of deposits
and withdrawals on any users account
n Intuitive browser based GUI ensuring straightforward
operation
n Cashier interface for external account management n Detailed overview of account transactions and history n Utmost security for all allowed users
n Creation of new Pcounter user accounts
Pcounter Web Cashier
Pcounter Web Cashier is an add-on software module for the Pcounter document accounting solution providing flexible account management for the Pcounter server from an easy-to-use web interface.
Offering the comprehensive functionality of a cashier and finance software on a single web browser, Pcounter Web Cashier facilitates cash collection and cash management for organisations with large user groups and the resulting extensive print and copy traffic.
Being fully compatible with Pcounter, Web Cashier guarantees intuitive usage: all required operation steps remain easy and straightforward, no matter how high the numbers of Pcounter users and their accounts.
Benefits:
n Easy control and transparency of all transactions
from anywhere in the network
n Easy-to-use and accessible for non-technical staff
(e.g. counter staff in libraries or universities)
n Especially useful in cash operation environments
and educational organisations where the account management is not done personally by the administrator
the finance module
Pcounter Web Cashier –
n To convince yourself of the strengths and benefits of
Pcounter accounting software you can download a free trial version from konicaminolta.eu.
n If you like to see “Pcounter Web Report” and
“Pcounter Web Cashier” work in your environment, feel free to also download these valuable software enhancements.
n Providing their full featureset for 60 days these trial
versions will prove their numerous advantages and give you confidence to make a step into a profitable and efficient printing policy!
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Technical specifications
Minimum system requirements:
Server
Win Server 2003 and 2008 32bit and 64bit OS supported Cluster support (active/passive) Novell Netware 6.5 or higher CPU and memory sufficient to run the operating systems efficiently
Client
Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 32bit and 64bit OS supported CPU and memory sufficient to run the operating systems efficiently Supports accounting of print jobs from any network workstation including MAC and Unix clients
Browser
Mozilla Firefox Google Chrome Opera
Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 or higher (required for PWR)
Technical data
Supported on all Microsoft Windows/ Active Directory servers Supported on all Novell Netware and NDPS servers
Supports LDAP
Supports accounting for any PCL, Postscript, HPGL, Epson ESC/P, ESC/P2, ESC/PAGE, Ricoh RPCS or, Canon BubbleJet and Image Runner printers
Konica Minolta
Business Solutions Europe GmbH Europaallee 17
30855 Langenhagen • Germany Tel.: +49 (0) 511 74 04-0 Fax: +49 (0) 511 74 10 50 www.konicaminolta.eu
Your Konica Minolta Business Solutions Partner:
n The support and availability of the listed specifications and functionalities varies depending on operating systems, applications, network protocols as well as network and system configurations.
n Some of the product illustrations contain optional accessories.
n Specifications and accessories are based on the information available at the time of printing and are subject to change without notice. n Konica Minolta does not warrant that the specifications mentioned will be error-free.
n Microsoft, Windows and the Windows logo are trademarks, or registered trademarks, of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. n All other brand and product names may be registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders and are hereby acknowledged.
