macOS Direct Print v2.0

The macOS Print Scout component of Pharos Cloud has been updated to support Direct Print v2.0. The Print Scout installs the Pharos Secure Release desktop app , which is a desktop application used to manage direct printers (e.g. add or remove direct printers).

Limitations

  • The IPP finishing options set on the web console are not applied on macOS Print Scouts. So, all the print queues installed on a macOS Scout will have the same finishing option default. Therefore, creating multiple queues for the same printer is not ideal.
  • Queue synchronization is not automatically triggered on a macOS Scout during user logon, unlike the behavior on a Windows Scout where queue synchronization events occur at user logon. This inconsistency between Windows and Mac Scouts results in certain actions not taking place on the Mac Scout. For instance, if an IT admin adds a new IPP auto-install queue on the web client, the new queue will be added to the Windows Scout during the user's next logon. However, it will not be automatically installed on the Mac Scout when the user logs on. Auto-installation will occur on the Mac Scout if the Print Scout Spooler Service is restarted or during the scheduled daily settings update.

macOS Direct Print User Experience

1. The user receives an invitation to use Direct Print.

2. The user launches the Pharos Secure Release desktop app by clicking the Pharos Secure Release desktop app on the menu bar.

3. First-time users will be asked to log in with their company username and password. When successfully authenticated, users will see the Authenticated successfully message on their browser.

Depending on how print queues are configured, users can either print right away, manually select a location, or manually add a printer.

Auto-install Printers

Auto-install printers (i.e., auto-install print queues) are automatically installed on user workstations based on a user’s location. This allows users to print immediately as soon as they connect to a network. When the user moves to a different location, the printers from the previous location are removed and printers from the new location are added.

Note: Auto-install printers require configuration of network information on the Pharos Print Analytics web console.

Auto-install Printers (Manual selection of workstation location)

Users can manually choose their location from the Pharos Secure Release desktop app. This is used when network information is not configured for any given location.

Manual-install Printers

Users can manually add the nearest printers themselves using the Pharos Secure Release desktop app. Allowing users to manually install printers is particularly important for organizations with special printers that they do not want to be readily available to users. For example, administrators may choose to not automatically install color printers because they want to discourage color printing. But they want to provide users with the ability to add the printer themselves if they need to print in color.

To manually install printers:

1. The user launches the Pharos Secure Release desktop app, and the user selects Direct Print.

2. The user clicks the Add button to manually add a printer.

3. The user chooses a location from the location tree. A list of printers associated with the selected location is displayed.

4. The user selects a printer from the list of printers available for the selected location.

5. The user clicks the Add button to add the printer to the printer list.

 

Users can also search for the printer by typing any of the following information Queue Name, IP address, or hostname.

Note: While Auto-Install printers are automatically removed when a user changes location, manual-install printers are retained. Users will need to manually delete them if they are no longer needed.

6. Once printers are set up, users print as they normally would.

Setting Workstation Location

Users can manually choose their location from the Pharos Secure Release desktop app. This is used when network information is not available. When a user manually selects a location, auto-install printers will be automatically installed for the selected location.

To manually set a location:

1. Launch the Pharos Secure Release desktop app.

2. Click the menu on the upper-right-hand side as shown in the image below and then select Workstation Location.

By default, the workstation location is set to Auto-Detect, which means that the location is determined based on the workstation’s network information.

3. Select Manually set.

4. Select the desired location and then click Select.

Setting a default printer

The Set Default option will set the direct printer as the preferred printer when printing. This option appears when you have more than one printer on the My Printers list.

Direct Printing to macOS

  1. Open the document you want to print.
  2. Print the document (File > Print) and select the printer you have added.
  3. Collect your document.