CLIENT PRINT SERVICE INSTALLATION, CONFIGURATION AND MAINTENANCE VERSION 1.4

Transcription

1 CLIENT PRINT SERVICE INSTALLATION, CONFIGURATION AND MAINTENANCE

2 INTRODUCTION EVOLVI WEB PRINTING OVERVIEW Evolvi Web Printing enables the printing of bookings directly from the Evolvi web site. Evolvi Web Site Client Print Service Printers Evolvi Web Printing Overview The Client Print Service application (CPS) is an essential component of Evolvi Web Printing and enables Evolvi to access your PC's CCST and laser printers for the printing of tickets and delivery notes. Unlike the existing (legacy) ticketing application, bookings are not selected for printing using the CPS. The CPS simply allows access to your PC s printers. The ticketing process is now integrated within the Evolvi web site (the existing ticketing application will soon be retired). All bookings, including ToD and kiosk, are selected for printing using the web site. Uncollected ToD and kiosk bookings are now selected for printing from the bookings manager web page rather than the menu in the existing ticketing application. The CPS can be installed on a standard desktop PC complete with keyboard and mouse. It is intended for private environments such as company offices. The CPS is a ClickOnce application and will automatically update when a new version is available for download. The CPS can be downloaded from the Evolvi downloads page once Web Printing has been enabled for an organisation.

3 EVOLVI WEB SITE Once Web Printing has been enabled for an organisation, the Evolvi web site will allow ticketors from that organisation to select bookings for printing from the following web pages: 1. Tickets to Issue web page (this is similar to the screen in the existing ticketing application) 2. Booking confirmation web page (this includes ToD and kiosk booking) 3. Bookings manager web page (this includes ToD and kiosk bookings) Tickets to Issue Booking Confirmation Print Booking Bookings Manager Methods for Selecting Bookings to Print

4 WHY USE EVOLVI WEB PRINTING? Evolvi Web Printing has the following advantages over the existing ticketing application: 1. Fully integrated within the Evolvi web site 2. New features: a. more efficient auto-printing (with automatic over-night closure of settlement batches) b. graphical representation of coupons 3. Improved client software: a. smaller footprint b. compatible with Vista and Windows 7 c. automatic updates 4. Faster turn-around of new features 5. Printers can be shared by multiple ticketors READERSHIP This document is intended for users familiar with installing and configuring Windows applications. LIMITATIONS The CPS only runs on Windows Operating Systems that support the Microsoft.Net Framework 2.0. SUPPORT For assistance, please contact the Evolvi Support Team on or info@evolvi.co.uk.

5 PREREQUISITES HARDWARE Ticket Printers A single Newbury Data CCST ticket printer is supported. Delivery Note Printers A single laser delivery note printer is supported. PC Ports - One 9 pin serial port (or one USB port if using a USB to 9 pin serial adaptor) is required for the CCST ticket printer. USB to 9 pin serial adapter SOFTWARE Windows Operating System Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7. All OS must have current service packs installed..net Framework 2.0 This can be downloaded from the Microsoft web site. USB Drivers If using USB to 9 pin serial adaptors then install the USB drivers before the CPS is installed. OTHER Internet Connection Preferably ISDN/ADSL or better. Proxy Server Settings - Although administrator permissions are not required to install the CPS, please check with your IT support to see if specific proxy server settings are required.

6 INSTALLATION STEPS To install the CPS perform the following steps: 1. Windows Log in Log in to the PC as the Windows user who is going to be running the CPS. 2. Download Log in to the Evolvi web site and click on the Client Print Service installer link on the downloads page. 3. Installation Follow the instructions provided by the installer. Administrator permissions are not necessary to install the CPS. Client Print Service Installer link

7 CONFIGURATION STARTING The CPS should start automatically after installation, but if you need to start the CPS manually, click on Programs / Evolvi Rail Systems / Client Print Service from the Windows Start menu. Manually starting the CPS from the Windows Start menu When running, the CPS icon will be displayed in the system tray on your Windows taskbar. CPS running in the System Tray on the Windows Taskbar If the CPS icon fails to appear then reboot your PC. The CPS should then automatically start when you log in to Windows. CPS Control Panel The CPS control panel is used to configure the CPS and to configure and maintain its printers. You can open the CPS control panel, either by double clicking the CPS icon in the system tray or by right clicking the same icon and selecting Open Control Panel. CPS Control Panel The control panel provides access to the File, Settings, Maintenance and Help menus - selecting a menu item will reveal the relevant sub-menus. Clicking the close 'X' icon in the title bar will minimise the control panel to the system tray (the CPS will continue to run).

8 The CPS can be exited (stopped) either by using the File / Exit menu item on the CPS control panel or by right clicking on the CPS icon in the system tray and selecting Exit. On first use you will need to use the CPS control panel to perform the following steps: 1. Register your CPS with the Evolvi server. 2. Configure your printer settings. You can then close the control panel using the X icon in the title bar. After first use the CPS will automatically start when the Windows user logs in to the PC. CONTEXT MENU Right click on the Client Print Service icon in the system tray to reveal the context menu. The context menu has the following items: 1. Open Control Panel - opens the control panel (see above). 2. Enable Auto Update - enables/disables auto update. WARNING: disabling auto update will prevent the Client Print Service from automatically updating itself when critical fixes become available. 3. Enable Auto Start - enables/disables auto start. WARNING: disabling auto start will stop the Client Print Service from automatically starting when you log on to Windows. 4. Exit - exits (stops) the Client Print Service. WARNING: exiting the Client Print Service will stop ticketing on this PC.

9 REGISTRATION Register your CPS with the Evolvi server by clicking the Settings / Registration menu item and completing the following fields in the Registration dialog: 1. Agency - this is the prefix you use when you login to the Evolvi web site, e.g. xyztravel for xyztravel.evolvi.co.uk (Railooto users please leave the agency field blank). 2. Username, Password - this is your Evolvi username, e.g. jsmith@xyztravel.co.uk, and password. 3. Description - a short description to identify your CPS. Click Ok to register your CPS. Registration dialog If you experience network errors when registering then please check with your in-house technical support team to see whether specific proxy server settings are required. Sharing your CPS Although a CCST printer can only be connected to a single PC, your CPS can be shared by a second Evolvi Web Printing user. To share your CPS, the second user should also enter their username and password using the registration dialog on your CPS (Note: do not change either the agency or the description). When printing, the second user will be able to select your CPS via the Print Service drop-down list on the Evolvi web site. Evolvi will ensure that your CPS is locked when issuing/non-issuing a booking. Users will need to be in close proximity to the CCST printer during both the non-issue process (as coupons need to be inserted into the CCST printer for over-printing) and the printing of railcards (as special coupons are required).

10 The CPS can be used in various scenarios. For example: 1. Ticketor uses their own PC for both the Evolvi web site and the CPS 2. Ticketor uses their own PC for the Evolvi web site and a colleague s PC for the CPS a. Tickets will need to be collected from the CCST printer connected to the colleague s PC. b. If the CCST printer is not reachable from the ticketor's own PC, the ticketor will need to use their colleague s PC for non-issues. 3. Ticketor uses their own PC for the Evolvi web site and a shared PC for the CPS a. Tickets will need to be collected from the CCST printer connected to the shared PC. b. If the CCST printer is not reachable from the ticketor's own PC, the ticketor will need to use the shared PC for non-issues. c. It is recommended that the CPS is installed for a single Windows user on the shared PC and that this user is always logged in during working hours (the PC can be locked). All ticketors wishing to print using the shared PC will need to register on this single CPS. 4. Multiple ticketors share a PC for both the Evolvi web site and the CPS and a single Windows login is used a. It is recommended that the CPS is installed for just the single Windows user and that this user is always logged in during working hours (the PC can be locked). All ticketors wishing to print using the shared PC will need to register on this CPS. 5. Multiple ticketors share a PC for both the Evolvi web site and the CPS and a separate Windows login is used for each ticketor a. It is recommended that the CPS is installed for each Windows user. Each ticketor should register on their own CPS only. Windows User vs Ticketor (Evolvi User) 1. You use your Windows user to log in to a PC. 2. You use your Evolvi user to both log in to the Evolvi web site and to register on a CPS.

11 PRINTER SETTINGS Configure your printer settings by clicking the Settings / Printers menu item and completing the following fields in the Printer Settings dialog: 1. CCST Ticket Printer Port - this is the serial (COM) port that your CCST printer is connected to. Enter a port and then click the Print Test Ticket button. 2. Laser Printer - this is a list of printers accessible to your PC. Select a suitable laser printer from the drop-down list. Click Ok when you have configured the settings for your printers. Printer Settings dialog

12 PROXY SERVER SETTINGS Note: This is a technical section covering proxy server settings. Unless you are experiencing network errors when either registering or running your CPS, you can skip this section. Configure your proxy server settings by clicking the Settings / Proxy Server menu item and completing the following fields in the Proxy Server Settings dialog: 1. Bypass Proxy - check this to ignore all proxy server settings, including those setup via Internet Explorer. 2. Address - enter the address of your proxy server. When specified this overrides the address setup in Internet Explorer. 3. Username, Password and Domain enter the user credentials for use with the proxy server. Only specify these if a user other than the logged in user is required. Click Ok when you have configured the settings for your proxy server. Proxy Server Settings dialog

13 MAINTENANCE CLEANING AND PECTABS Note: This section covers periodic maintenance of your CCST printer. You can skip this section when using the CPS for the first time. Access the Cleaning and Pectabs dialog by first stopping the CPS listener and then clicking on the Maintenance / Cleaning and Pectabs menu item. This dialog provides printer statistics and access to the following maintenance operations: 1. Print Test Ticket this will print a test ticket using the serial (COM) port that your printer is connected to. 2. Eject Front, Eject Back this will eject a retained ticket from your printer. 3. Run Cleaning Cycle this will run the cleaning cycle (a special cleaning coupon will be required). 4. Clear Pectabs this will clear all pectabs (formatting templates) installed on your printer. The pectabs will be re-loaded from the server when the CPS listener is re-started. Cleaning and Pectabs dialog

14 ALIGNMENT AND CONTRAST Note: This section covers periodic maintenance of your CCST printer. You can skip this section when using the CPS for the first time. Access the Alignment and Contrast dialog by first stopping the CPS listener and then clicking on the Maintenance / Alignment and Contrast menu item. This dialog provides access to the following maintenance operations: 1. Print Test Ticket this will print a test ticket using the serial (COM) port that your printer is connected to. 2. Alignment use these buttons to align the print image with the ticket stock. One click on any button moves the image 1mm in the direction chosen. 3. Contrast use this to vary the amount of ink deposited on a ticket. Alignment and Contrast dialog

15 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) GENERAL Q. Can Newbury Data CCST printers be shared/networked? A. See Registration section for details. Q. Can the CPS be run on a PC that sleeps/hibernates? A. Yes, but you will need to wake the PC before printing a booking. PROXY SERVER AND FIREWALL SETTINGS Q. I have configured the proxy server settings within Internet Explorer (IE). Do I need to configure the proxy server settings within the CPS too? A. No, not unless you wish to bypass the proxy server, use a different proxy server or override the credentials of the logged in user. By default, the CPS will use the proxy server settings configured within IE. Q. When should I bypass the proxy server? A. Some firewall/proxy server combinations will reject HTTP(S) requests from the CPS. In these cases it is recommended that you bypass the proxy server and add a firewall rule that allows HTTPS traffic from the PC running the CPS to *.evolvi.co.uk and Q. Does the CPS support Proxy Auto Configuration (PAC) files? A. No Q. Does the CPS support multiple proxy servers? A. No CLICKONCE Q. What is ClickOnce? A. ClickOnce enables the user to install and run a Windows application by clicking a link in a web page. The core principle of ClickOnce is to bring the ease of deployment of web applications to the Windows user. In addition, ClickOnce aims to solve three other problems with conventional deployment models; the difficulty in updating a deployed application, the impact of an application to the user's computer, and the need for administrator permissions to install applications. ClickOnce-deployed applications are considered 'low impact', in that they are installed per-user, not permachine. Q. Does the CPS support per-machine installations? A. No ClickOnce is, by its nature, per-user only. Q. When does the CPS check for updates? A. When it starts up and once a day (at 3am) if running. Q. How do I uninstall the CPS? A. Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs > Client Print Service > Change/Remove > Remove.

16 Q. How do I download and install the CPS if I do not have permission to download.exe files? A. An administrator will need to download the setup.exe file to a local drive, network drive, USB stick, CD, etc. You will then be able to run the file to install the CPS.