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Windows - End User Client Guide

James Gilmore
  • Updated

Getting Started

Accessing printers

Printing

 

Getting Started

Installing and running the directprint.io app

If your organization is using directprint.io to manage printers then your System Administrator may have already installed directprint.io on your computer.

If you need to install the application yourself, your System Administrator should provide you with a link to the directprint.io setup.exe.

  1. Download the setup.exe.

  2. Once downloaded, double click on directprint-io-setup.exe to initiate the installer.

  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the directprint.io app.

 

Check if the directprint.io app is installed

After installation, the directprint.io app automatically starts and runs in the background, and every time you log into your computer.

To see check if it's installed, navigate to the Start menu, you should see directprint.io listed in the Start menu.


Start menu - directprint.io application

 

Accessing the directprint.io app

To display the directprint.io app, you can either;

  • Launch it from the Start menu or;
  • Launch it from the 'Show hidden icons' section in the taskbar.

Click on the small printer icon to bring the directprint.io app into focus.

Show hidden icons - directprint.io application

 

Accessing printers

Your System Administrator is likely to allocate you printers based on your access needs. There are a number of ways in which printers can be allocated to you;

  1. Google Workspace
    If your organization utilizes the Google Ecosystem (Google Workspace) then use the ‘Sign in with Google’ button to access your printers. Use your Google credentials to sign in. 
  1. Microsoft 365
    If your organization utilizes Microsoft / Office 365 then use the ‘Sign in with Microsoft’ button. Use your Microsoft credentials to sign in.

  2. QuickCodes / self-provisioning
    directprint.io supports self-provisioning of printers via the use of QuickCodes.
    QuickCodes can be used standalone or in combination with either Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.
    Your System Administrator will distribute QuickCodes if they choose to use this method of printer allocation.

 

Sign on with Google

  • Click the sign-in button in the header bar or on the home screen of the directprint.io app.
  • You will be presented with a Google sign-on screen. Enter your Google username and password.
  • If sign-on is successful you'll be shown a directprint.io sign-on success message. Close the window.

  • If your System Administrator has allocated you printers, you will now see printers in your printer list tab.

googlesignin.png

Google workspace - example sign-on

 

Sign on with Microsoft

  1. Click the sign-in button in the header bar or on the home screen of the directprint.io app.
  1. Depending on how your System Administrator has configured the directprint.io app, you may be presented with a sign-on code entry screen. If you do not see the sign-in code screen skip to step 4.

  2. If you do see a sign-on code entry screen, please ask your System Administrator for the Microsoft Azure sign-in code, once they've provided it, enter it into the input field.

  3. You will be presented with the standard Microsoft sign-on screen. Enter your Microsoft 365 username and password.

  4. If entered correctly you will be shown a directprint.io sign-on success message. Close the window.

  5. If your System Administrator has allocated you printers, you will now see printers in your printer list tab.

microsoftsignin.png

Microsoft 365 - example sign-on

 

 

QuickCodes

If your System Administrator has provided you with a QuickCode, enter it into the directprint.io app to quickly gain access to a printer or group of printers.

You can add printers via QuickCode from the home screen or by using the ‘+’ icon in the header bar on the ‘Printer List’ tab.

quickcode2.png

directprint.io - adding a print via a QuickCode (1)

 

quickcode.png

directprint.io - adding a print via a QuickCode (2)

 

Sign out

  • If you wish to sign out of your account, navigate to, ‘Config’ and then click the ‘Remove linked account’ button.

signout.png

directprint.io - example sign-out

 

 

Printing

Basic Printing

Printing with directprint.io is easy. If you are familiar with printing in Windows, then you already know how to print using directprint.io.

Let’s run a test print.

  1. Open an application like Microsoft Word or equivalent

  2. Type some text into the document.

  3. Navigate to File → Print or use the keyboard shortcut of CTRL & P.

  4. Select the target printer.

  5. Hit the Print button.

  6. Your print job will be shown in the Queue tab while it’s being processed and will shortly be available to collect at the printer.

 

Print Preferences

It’s possible to set default printing preferences when using directprint.io. Alternatively, you can select your preferred print preferences every time you submit a print.

 

Setting default print preferences

  1. Navigate to Settings → Bluetooth & devices →Printers & Scanners.
  1. Locate the printer that you wish to select preferences for.

  2. Click Printing preferences and you will be presented with a selection of basic print options.

  3. Set the options and click OK.

directprint.io - example print preferences (1)

 

Setting print preferences when sending a print job.

  1. Hit File → Print or CTRL & P to send initiate a print job
  1. Hit the Preferences button.

  2. From the popup choose your basic print options - Paper size, Orientation, Color mode, Duplex printing.

  3. Click OK.

  4. Hit the Print button

 

directprint.io - example print preferences (2)

 

 

 

Advanced Finishing Options

Some printers may be configured to include advanced finishing features such as stapling, hole punching, Booklet creation, etc.

If advanced finishing options are available then you will see ‘Advanced finishing options’ under the three-dot action button next to the printer name.

You can set these options before printing and have your selection persist for every print job.

 

advancedfinishing.png

directprint.io - example advanced finishing options (1)

 

Alternatively, you can access this option every time you print through the print dialog → preferences → Advanced.

directprint.io - example advanced finishing options (2)

 

 

Secure PIN release

Your System Administrator may have configured some or all printers to use secure PIN release.

Secure PIN release means that you can securely send a print job to a printer and it can only be collected when entering your PIN number.

If a printer with a secure PIN release has been allocated to you, it will be displayed in the directprint.io app. See ‘(PIN) Toshiba eStudio 4508a’ as an example in the image below.

directprint.io automatically generates a PIN number for you. It can be found in the ‘Config’ tab of the application. It’s possible to change your PIN but it cannot be left empty. Delete the PIN will result in it changing back to the default.

If you require additional information on how to use secure PIN release, please contact your System Administrator.

securepin.png

directprint.io - setting/editing your secure prin

 

 

Accounting Codes

Your System Administrator may have configured some or all printers to use accounting codes.

Accounting codes can be used in various different scenarios, however, they are typically used to track cost allocation across different areas of the organization.

Your System Administrator can configure accounting code submission in different ways;

Manual entry - You as an end-user are responsible for entering an account code into the account code box in the directprint.io app under the Config tab. 

Text entry for every print - When you send a print job, you be required to enter the accounting code every time.

Selection from a drop-down - When you send a print job, you be required to select an accounting code every time.

You may need to receive a list of valid accounting from your System Administrator.

accountingcode1.png  acountcodetext.png  accountcodedrop.png

    Accounting code - manual entry            Accounting code - text entry.              Accounting code - dropdown               

 

Edge Printing

Your System Administrator may have configured some or all printers to use our Edge Print feature, where print jobs are sent to your chosen printer via the cloud.

Edge Print enables the use case where you may wish to print to printers in your organization while you are at home.

If a printer with Edge Print capabilities has been allocated to you, it will be displayed in the directprint.io app with a cloud icon. See the example screenshot below.

If you require additional information on how to use Edge Print, please contact your System Administrator.

 

edgeprint.png

directprint.io - Edge printer example 

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