Print Client

Principle

Watchdoc® PrintClient is an executable software Watchdoc® executable software, supplied since Watchdoc® version 5.4, that allows you to automatically install a network print queue on a workstation.

Supplied as an executable file and launched from the workstation, this tool queries the Watchdoc® server(s) to obtain the configuration of a default print queue and install it on the workstation, thus avoiding the technician to use the print manager.

Prerequisites

Technical prerequisites

Before installing the Print Client tool, please check the following prerequisites:

  • Watchdoc® 5.4.x minimum version on the print master server;

  • .NET core 3.1 Runtime (minimum build 3.1.301) version installed on the workstation.

Organisational prerequisites

When the PrintClient has to be installed on a large number of workstations, it can be deployed via GPO on all the workstations concerned.

How it works

The Print Client service aims to enable permanent "on-demand" printing, by preventing possible failures and unavailability of print servers. In constant watch, it allows the client stations to have permanently a print queue (or several) "on demand" operational.

 

This service, which guarantees the high availability of the printing function, is based on the need to have the same MS Windows print queues (with the same name) on the master server (and other Watchdoc servers) as on the backup server.

  1. the service (WatchdocPrintClientService.exe) detects the people connected to the workstation and launches a WatchdocPrintClient.exe process on their behalf

  2. Print Client retrieves the global configuration of the master server (via port 5753), including the list of print queues to be installed (and/or maintained) on the client computer;

  3. if the server and all the print queues declared in the configuration are available and the queue configurations have not been modified, the user can start printing.

  1. according to an iterative process, at regular intervals (whose delay is defined in the configuration), Print Client interrogates the master server (and other Watchdoc servers) to download the configuration again in order to detect possible changes;

    1. if the server is not available;

    2. or if the server is available, but one of the queues is not;

    3. if the server is not available, or if the server is available but one of the queues is not, or if the configuration of one of the queues has changed, Print Client contacts the backup server (defined in the configuration);

    4. If the backup server is available and all its queues are available and properly configured, Print Client installs the print queues on the client workstation.

All verification and file installation steps are invisible on the user's workstation, unless the "Notifications" box has been checked in the Print Client administration.

Anomaly management

The log file for the service is by default in C:\Program Files\Doxense\WatchdocPrintClientService\Logs

The log file for the user processes is by default in C:\Program FilesDoxense\WatchdocPrintClientUsers\$DOMAIN$\$LOGIN$