When setting up location-based printing, you can use the iPrint Map designer to map the location of printers or create printer lists to help users find a printer closest to them.
Two examples of location-based printing are available by opening /var/opt/novell/iprint/httpd/htdocs/ippdocs/examples/start.htm. You can use the example files as templates to build similar pages by replacing the graphics and content with your own.
Using the iPrint Map Designer tool, you can quickly create a map showing printer locations. The tool lets you import floor plans, then you drag-and-drop printers onto the floor plans to show the actual locations of the printers. When you save the map, the tool generates an HTML page that contains the information required to install the printers. You then publish the HTML page with its supporting files in /var/opt/novell/iprint/httpd/htdocs/ippdocs to a Web server so users can install printers that are closest to their location.
After the map is created, you must use the iPrint Map Designer to modify or update it. Changes to a map file made outside of the iPrint Map Designer are not supported. If you need to add links to a map, you should create a frameset file and then display the map file in one frame and display your links in a different frame.
A default set of printer icons is included. These files are detected by iPrint Map Designer at startup. File types that can be used for background and printer icon images are JPEG, GIF, and BMP.
To start iPrint Map Designer, open http://server_address/ippdocs/maptool.htm where server_address is the server's IP address or DNS name of the server where the iPrint Manager is running.
Select a map from the Background drop-down list.
Add a printer to the map.
In the Printer Icon field, select the type of printer and size.
Sizes range from 1 to 6, with 1 being the largest. Icons with a C indicate color printers.
Click the Printer icon and drag-and-drop it in the desired location on the map.
Next to the Printer List field, click the Browse icon and type the IP address or DNS name of the server where the iPrint Manager is running.
From the Printer list, select the Printer Agent you want associated with this Printer icon.
The Printer URL and Mouse Over Text is automatically filled in with the Printer Agent information.
Printer URL: The URL created for the printer when IPP is enabled for the printer. You should not need to change the URL.
Mouse Over Text: By default, displays the Printer Agent's name. You can override this information by typing the text you want displayed when a user moves the mouse over the Printer icon.
(Optional) In the Printer Caption field, type the information to display, using Enter to parse the information onto multiple lines.
(Optional) On the menu bar, click Driver Settings to set the installed driver settings for this printer.
These settings included paper size, orientation, copies, duplex, color, collate, and the option to remove the printer when the workstation is rebooted.
If you delete a Printer icon or change the Printer Agent assignment for a Printer icon, any driver settings are cleared for that icon.
(Optional) On the menu bar, click Font to change the base font, color, and size for text on the map.
(Optional) Edit a printer's information by clicking the desired printer's icon and then editing the printer information fields.
To deselect a Printer icon while in the map, click anywhere in the design area.
Click Save.
Unless you have set up a Samba share, you will have to save the map to a local drive. See Hosting Maps on a Web Server for information on making your new map available to your users.
WARNING:
If you click Refresh or exit Internet Explorer without saving the map, all changes made since the last time the map was saved will be lost.
To retrieve and modify an existing map file, click Open on the menu bar and browse to the directory where the map is located.
You can add printers from different iPrint Managers to the same map. First, add the printers from one iPrint Manager. Then click the Browse icon and select a different manager.
If you need to add or modify printers from a previously used iPrint Manager, click a Printer icon from that manager and the Printer List will be populated with printers from that manager.
After creating your maps, you need to post them on a Web server. Copy the contents of the /var/opt/novell/iprint/httpd/htdocs/ippdocs directory and its subdirectories to the Web server in order for your maps and iPrint to work properly. Copy your map to the \ippdocs directory on your Web server. You can link to your maps from your company's internal Web page or send the URL out to your users.
You can use the NNLS server to host the map file by copying the map file to /var/opt/novell/iprint/httpd/htdocs/ippdocs and setting up a link to the map file.
Using iPrint Map Designer, you can specify the printer driver defaults for a printer on the map. For example, if you use a specific printer for printing 8 1/2 x 14 documents in duplex mode, you can set the default paper size to Legal and turn on duplexing using the Printer Driver menu.
You can also set the persistence of a printer---in other words, set how long a printer should exist on a user's workstation. This is useful if you have a printer in the lobby that is used primarily by mobile users that are visiting your company. When the user reboots his laptop, the printer is removed. To enable persistence, check the Remove Printer from Workstation on Reboot check box on the Driver Settings dialog box.
For more information on these settings, see Changing Printer Driver Default Install Options and Setting Printer Persistence.
You can use the keyboard to create maps using iPrint Map Designer. The following table lists the tasks to complete and the corresponding keystrokes required.
Printer lists allow users to select printers using categories that are meaningful to them. For example, you could create a list of printers by building location, department names, eDirectoryTM context, etc. iPrint provides a default list of printers organized by iPrint Manager. To create a custom list, you must use an HTML editor and create links to the printer's IPP URL. This URL is displayed when you enable IPP for a printer.
To view a printer's URL:
In Novell iManager, click iPrint > Manage Printer.
Browse to and select the printer you want.
Click Client Support > IPP Support.
The printer's URL is displayed under Accepted IPP URL.