Department Code printing

[RegentCMC]

Is the m401dw capable of prompting for a department code. Also want to print a report based on page count prints by department? Trying to track print counts by client.

[Dragon-Fur]

@RegentCMC 

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@RegentCMC wrote:

1. Is the m401dw capable of prompting for a department code.
2. Also want to print a report based on page count prints by department? Trying to track print counts by client.

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I am sorry to report that I do not know the answer to the first question.

Disclaimer...

There is likely data generating software for this - your IT department may be able to help.  A good Windows script writer could pound out the programming in a reasonable time frame. 

and / or

There is likely something already on the net - maybe for free. 

and

I am not personally aware of anything that is provided as part of the printer software.  Know that my knowledge of laser printers fits inside a thimble - I am not a natural resource for this information.

Discussion

The second question is "yes, you can generate this data" - although unless your write it (have written for you), the setup is not automatic.  Furthermore, the setup is vulnerable - for example, if the settings are changed (to keep printed jobs) and / or the printer software is reloaded, the whole setup can be wiped out. 

Nonetheless, some extra safe guards could alert you to changes (events) and the setup is not so very complicated to put in place (just lots of clicking and a bit of typing).  

The following mentions the "307" job code - this is the code that includes the number of pages for a given job.

The setup is two parts - set the print queue to save jobs and then set up the event viewer to log the data.

You can also filter the data and / or create a custom view of the event data to make it easier to check the data later.

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

The "reprint" feature can be set ahead of time to "Keep printed documents". 

This method requires that your 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 to default (printed document list not saved).

Track print jobs in 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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Examples (forgive any lack of details - these images were not originally created as teaching tools)

Event_Viewer_Filter_Print_Log_1

Event_Viewer_Filter_Print_Log_2

Reference and Resources – Places to find (more) help and learn about your Printer

Clarification of terms and "what the printer can do" (Specifications)

Printer Homepage – “Things that are your printer”

NOTE:  Content depends on device type and Operating System

HP Drivers / Software / Firmware Updates, How-to Videos, Bulletins/Notices, Lots of How-to Documents, Troubleshooting, Access to the Print and Scan Doctor (Windows), User Guides, Product Information, more

HP LaserJet Pro 400 Printer M401dw

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