Different default printers for each user:

[Nancy Palmquist]

John Broome wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> I am >< close to being done with my filepro migration from sco to unix,
> and I need one more tidbit of knowledge.
> 
> The stats:
> 
> Mandrake 10
> FP 5.0.00
> 
> I have three printers set up in my printer maintenance screen:
> billing
> receivables
> shipping
> 
> All three are epson fx-980's hooked up to a jetdirect.  I can print to
> each one just fine.
> 
> I have three users:
> Jenny
> Martha
> Vance
> 
> Each needs to have the correct printer ready to go for them when they
> login to FP.
> 
> I looked in ~/.profile for each user and thought set
> PFPRINTER=shipping/billing/receivables would do it, but when I log in as
> one of the users, all three have the same printer.
> 
> I'm missing something pretty obvious, and am willing to receive the FP
> cluebat.
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> Oh, users will be connecting to the FP server from windows 2000 clients
> using Putty.

Does each user only use one printer?  Then:

in Jenny/.profile  add:  PFPRINTER=billing;export PFPRINTER
in Martha/.profile add: PFPRINTER=receivables;export PFPRINTER
etc.

Does each user select different printers depending on what they are doing?

Add -pq to the menu lines that need to choose a printer.

Add -pn billing on the jobs that need to print to billing, add -pn 
shipping to the jobs that need to print to shipping, etc.

Does each function get a different printer, not each user?

Make the main menu have three choices:  Shipping Department, Accounts 
Receivable, Billing.  When they pick one, it will set the default 
printer and load the menu for that department.  This would be my 
preference.  This allows any user to work in any department.  A new user 
can easily be added to the system without worrying about changing the 
.profile.  This allows Jenny to go work on stuff for Martha and have the 
printing still print to the department printer.

Printing can be the hardest thing to define and one of the things most 
people have trouble with.  Reason is simple - filePro has given us so 
many ways to get the job done, it has made it too complex.  My best 
suggestion is to keep the setup as close to the job as possible.  Think 
of the setup as having these levels:

Processing   prc.output
Output job   out.output
Particular Menu choice  /fp/menu/mymenu.-A
batch/script that starts the menu   p
User Environment   .profile
System Environment  system default profile or OS printer setup using lp 
commands


If you set the printer at the USER Environment level - everything above 
that has been covered.

If you set the printer at the output job level, it will only apply to 
that output.

Hope that helps.

ADVERTISEMENT: I teach classes on topics like this - on the Web.  I 
realize this forum offers much in the way of quick answers, but a full 
understanding can make your solution fit better.  Schedule and classes 
are detailed on my web site.  (Sorry, I thought I could stick this in - 
just for some of the new users.)

Nancy

-- 
Nancy Palmquist 		MOS & filePro Training Available
Virtual Software Systems	Web Based Training and Consulting	
PHONE: (412) 835-9417		   Web site:  http://www.vss3.com