I would like a report of previous print jobs

[LoBot01]

Is there a way to pull a report for print jobs over the past  few months? I had a friend staying with ne and he said he didn't use my printer, but when i got home I was nearly out of ink and later found printed papers of his scattered around the house. I know this sounds petty, but I just need to know!

Thanks so much! 

[Dragon-Fur]

@LoBot01 

Sounds like a trust issue.

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What to do?

There is no "printer side" solution.

The problem, if there is one, is that the printer itself can only report on "forever" stats - assuming the data is available, the printer keeps track, but the report is not broken into this or that time frame.

If the printer is on the network, use the Embedded Web Server (EWS) to view / configure the printer.

Example

Open your favorite browser > type / enter Printer IP address into URL / Address bar

Tab Tools > Reports > Usage Report

It's a great report - just not something you can use to find out who is doing what and when...

What else?

Windows can be made to do this, though there are important caveats:

• First, the setup has to be done ahead of time.  
• Next, Reloading the software forces the setup back to default (no data kept).
• Next, It's a lot of overhead - at least initially - and any automation is something you'll have to add for yourself.

FYI only - Optional

Manual Procedure... Windows

Print Queue Management - Set up "Save a print job to reprint later"

The "reprint" feature must be set ahead of time to "Keep printed documents".  (The feature is not switched on by default.)

This method requires that the user base (those people submitting print jobs) do not sabotage the print queue by removing entries -- this is a matter determined by Policy in your home office / workplace.  (In other words, you must have a modicum of control over what people are doing).

Save jobs to be reprinted later

For those reading, the following applies to recent versions of Windows and a printer for which the Full Feature Software has been installed.

Control Panel > icon view > Devices and Printers >

Right-Click on your Printer > Printer Properties>

(If necessary) Change Properties > Tab Advanced >

Select Keep printed documents > Apply > OK

When jobs are saved in the queue, they can be printed again later.

Control Panel > icon view > Devices and Printers >

Double-Click on your Printer

Double-Click on See What's Printing

If necessary, select the printer (for example HP Officejet 8740 Network)

Once the queue is open, 

* Single-Left-Click on a job that you want to reprint to highlight that entry

Right-Click on the highlighted job > Restart

*The job will print using the current paper / preferences as set for that printer.  If you need to adjust the paper or job parameters, double-click on the job to be printed to open the Properties (available options).  After adjusting the settings, click OK to exit the Properties menu.

IMPORTANT

Removing / Reinstalling the printer software resets this option back to default (printed document list is not saved).

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System Information (works with "Keep printed documents")

NOTE: Job information stored in System Information may not show number of pages

Control Panel > icon view > Administrative Tools > System Information

Under section Software Environment

Print Jobs

NOTE:  Click on Time Submitted (in ribbon on top) to sort by date / time

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Track print jobs in Event Viewer

A more complete log of events can be enabled in the Event Viewer.

How you track down the print job action depends on how your software reports an incident in the Event Viewer, whether you have remote access to the computer(s) in your work group, and your skill level in garnering the information you seek (manual look-and-see or write a script to gather the reports).

Enable the job log

Windows key + X > Event Viewer

Event Viewer > Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > 

Scroll down > PrintService > Right-Click Operational > Enable Log

Check the log for activity

Open the Event Viewer on the computer (from which the job was submitted

Open Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows >

scroll down, down > PrintService > Operational 

Save the Data into a File or Event Log

Option – Filter the log – Save the Data

After opening the Operational folder,

Under Actions menu on the right side of the window,

Click Filter Current Log

Select When in “Logged” (for example, “Any time”
Select “Event Level” (for example, Information)

Click on down arrow in “Event Sources” > Select PrintService

Under “Includes / Excludes Event IDs…” enter “307” 

• NOTE:  Please check – Printing a Document may have a different Event ID on your system)

Click OK to filter the log using your selected parameters

Click (under Actions), Save Filtered Log File As… and save your data

And / OR

Click (under Actions), Save Filter to Custom View,

Enter a name for your custom filter view and Save it.

Option – Various Methods - Find Jobs and Save the Data

Sort the columns by "Task Category" > scroll down to items named "Printing a document"

Click on each job to see the details on that job (name of system and UserID)

Click the mouse on the first entry in the collection of “Printing a document” events,

Scroll to the end of the “Printing a document” events entries,

Click and hold down the Shift key,

Click on the last entry you want in the “saved group”

Method - Save and View Document

Under Actions (or tab Action) > Click Copy >

Open a blank document (for example, Office Word) >

Insert the table or text data into the open document >

Save file as desired

Open document in the appropriate format (Word, NotePad for .txt)  to view the log data

Method – Save and View Event Log Entries

Under Actions (or tab Action) > Click Save Selected Events >

Optional > Decide and click language display options >

Select a Folder in which you want to save the file and enter a Filename

Open Event Viewer > Open Saved Logs > Click on log to view

OR

Open File Explorer > Navigate to the folder in which you saved the .evtx log file

Double-Click on that filename to open the log in the Event Viewer

Check the log for documents / print jobs removed from the queue

Sample - For what purpose might the data be used?

Sort the columns by "Task Category" > scroll down to items named "Deleting a document"

Click on each job to see the details on that job (name of system and UserID)

How to - Event Log Notification

How to Create Your Own Windows Event Log Notification System

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[LoBot01]

Haha! It is, i came back to a lot of things broken and damaged so.. now I'm holding a grudge.

Anyway, before I go through all of the instructions provided, will this also track mobile print jobs that he printed from his computer/phone?

Thank you SO much, @dragon-fur! 

[Dragon-Fur]

@LoBot01 

You are welcome.

My grandmother was the very best at holding a grudge - she turned grudge holding into an art form.  Smiling.

OK - No, the setup I described in the previous post is just for Windows on the local machine.

Test what EWS does with a mobile job - I think the printer can actually track that in the Usage report.  It is, after all, a "printer happening" so the Usage report will likely grab it.  Check the report > send a mobile job > open EWS and look at the report > Check for changes.  Worth a try.

Usage Report is cumulative data  - Print a report (or save a snip of the image) - lay in wait, keep track of what YOU are printing - and then check the Usage report again later.

Snip – available since Vista!  Check out the “delay” feature in Windows 10

Snipping Tool in Windows 10 / 8 / 7: Tips & Tricks to capture screenshots

From Microsoft

Use Snipping Tool to capture screenshots

You could just change the wireless password, I guess...

That would solve one problem - and open a new can of worms.

Speaking of "things to do"...

If you go poking around in EWS, you might eventually find the security password setup.

My advice:  It works.  Don't touch it - Don't use it.  Find another way to wreak revenge.

Why?  If the printer locks up - it should not do so, but it CAN do so - the only way to remove the lock is to preform a deep reset on the printer.  Not difficult, but it is NOT something we non-HP people can offer.

Thank you for participating in the HP Community.

The Community is a separate wing of the HP website - We are not a business group of HP..

Our Community is comprised of volunteers - people who own and use HP devices.

Click Thumbs Up to say Thank You.

Question Resolved / Answered, Click "Accept as Solution" .