Install a Release Station on a Mac

Step 1: Set up a Mac workstation near the printer

The Release Station terminal (normally a budget workstation system) should be located close to the printers so users can release the jobs and pick up the printing nearby.

See the System requirements pages for Release Station requirements:

• Print Release Station Requirements (PaperCut NG)
• Print Release Station Requirements (PaperCut MF)

… and ensure that it’s attached to the network so that it can communicate with the Application Server.

Step 2: Set the workstation to automatically log in (optional)

If you want the Release Station to automatically start when the terminal is rebooted, you need to set the workstation to automatically log in.

1. Create an account for the Release Station to log in with. The account should be a normal local or domain user and not have any administration privileges.
2. Set up automatic log in on the workstation. For more information, see Set your Mac to automatically log in during startup .

Step 3: Set up the Release Station to run on startup

To set the Release Station software to run on startup:

1. Log into the machine with the user account that you created in Step 2.
2. Open System Settings > General > Login items (or Login items & Extensions)
3. Click + at the bottom of the Open at Login section; then browse to your PaperCut NG/MF server share under [app-dir]/release.
4. Select pc-release-mac.command.
5. Reboot the system.

You can also run the Release Station by copying the files from the server hosting the Application Server to the dedicated workstation. These files are located under [app-dir]/release.

This runs the Release Station in default mode with default configuration options. You can change the default configuration by modifying the following file:

\[appdir]\release\config.properties

This configuration file has many options that allow you to customize the Release Station behavior and look. For more information about the Release Station modes, see Release Station interfaces .

Step 4: Lock down the Release Station machine

You should lock down the Release Station terminal to stop users from performing some operations.

These operations can be restricted by using the built in Screen Time feature in macOS. For more information, see Change Screen Time settings .

Step 5: Configure the Release Station (optional)

This step is required only if the default mode or settings need to be changed.

The Release Station configuration is stored in the following file:

\[appdir]\release\config.properties

This configuration file has many options that allow you to customize the Release Station behavior and look. The options are documented in the configuration file. For more information about the options, see Standard Release Station settings .

Step 6: Enable Release Station support for the printers

By default, print jobs are sent directly to the printer and not held by the Release Station. To enable Release Station support on a printer:

1. Click the Printers tab.
   The Printer List page is displayed.

2. Select a printer.
   The Printer Details page is displayed showing the Summary tab contents.

3. In the Hold/Release Queue Settings area, select the Enable hold/release queue check box. This ensures that jobs are held in the print queue until users are ready to release their jobs.

   

4. In Release mode, select one of the following:

   • User Release—(default) allows users to release and view only the jobs printed under their name/user account.
   • Admin/Manager only release—jobs can only be released by administrators or hold/release queue managers.

5. Click OK.

You can copy Release Station settings from printer to printer using the Copy settings to other printers action.

Step 7: Perform testing

Perform some tests to see print jobs in the Release Station.

1. Print to a printer with Release Station support enabled.
2. Open the Release Station application.
3. Log in to the Release Station as the user who performed the print.
   The print job should be displayed in the list.
4. Click the Print link to release the job or Cancel to cancel the job.