FAQ: The Print Agent
Common questions and answers about the print agent and printing in Usystems.
Q: What is the print agent?
A: The print agent is a lightweight software service that runs on a computer in your office network. It acts as a bridge between Usystems and your physical printers, allowing documents from Usystems to be sent to your printers. Without the print agent, printing from Usystems is not possible.
Q: Can I print without the print agent?
A: No. The print agent is required for all printing from Usystems. If you do not have the print agent installed and running, you will not be able to print documents to any printer.
Q: Which machine should I install the print agent on?
A: Install the print agent on a computer that:
- Is always powered on or is turned on during business hours
- Is connected to your company network
- Can reach your Usystems server
- Has access to the printers you want to use (either directly connected or on the same network)
Typically, this is a dedicated server machine or an office PC that is always running. Do not install it on a laptop that is frequently shut down or disconnected.
Q: Can I have multiple print agents?
A: Yes. You can install multiple print agents on different machines. Each print agent can be configured with different printers. This is useful if you have printers in different offices or departments.
Q: What if my printer is shared over a network?
A: Network printers can be used with the print agent. When you configure the print agent, enter the printer's IP address or network name instead of a local port. The print agent will communicate with the printer over your network.
Q: Can I use the print agent with wireless printers?
A: Yes, as long as the wireless printer is on the same network as the machine running the print agent and the printer's IP address or network name can be resolved.
Q: What if the print agent machine loses power?
A: If the print agent machine is shut down or loses power, no printing will occur until the machine is restarted. This is why it is recommended to install the print agent on a machine that has stable power and network access, such as a dedicated server.
Q: How often should I update the print agent?
A: Check for print agent updates periodically (at least monthly) in Settings → Print Templates in Usystems. Updates may include bug fixes, printer driver improvements, or security patches. Follow your administrator's guidance on when to apply updates.
Q: Can I access the print agent console remotely?
A: Some print agent versions support remote administration, but this depends on your configuration. Contact your administrator or Usystems support to learn if remote access is available in your setup.
Q: What should I do if print jobs are stuck in the queue?
A: If print jobs are not being sent to printers:
- Check that the print agent is running and shows as "Connected" in Usystems
- Verify that the selected printer is online and has paper
- Clear the print queue: open the print agent console and look for a "Clear Queue" or "Restart" option
- If the issue persists, contact your administrator
Q: Can the print agent print documents in different languages?
A: Yes. The print agent sends documents to the printer as formatted by Usystems. Language and text formatting (including right-to-left text in Dari) are preserved during printing, as long as the printer driver supports the required fonts and character encoding.
Q: Is printing from Usystems secure?
A: Print jobs are sent from Usystems to the print agent over your company network. The security of print data depends on your network's security (firewall, encryption, etc.). If you are concerned about sensitive document data being printed, discuss security policies with your administrator.
Q: Do I need to restart the print agent after configuring a new printer?
A: Usually, changes to printer configuration take effect immediately or within a few minutes. However, if a newly configured printer does not appear in Usystems, restart the print agent service to ensure the changes are applied.
Q: What happens to printed documents—are they archived?
A: Printing a document does not automatically create an archive or log. If you need to track which documents have been printed, you may need to implement a separate process or ask your administrator about print logging options.
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