In today’s fast-paced world, the need to print documents from various devices and locations is more critical than ever. Whether you’re a student needing to print assignments on the go, a professional requiring hard copies of important emails, or simply someone who values the convenience of printing from anywhere, “Print Anywhere” solutions offer the flexibility and efficiency you need. This guide will walk you through how to leverage “print anywhere” capabilities, ensuring you can print your documents whenever and wherever you are.
Traditionally, printing web pages protected by logins or emails required a cumbersome process of saving files and then uploading them for printing. However, with advancements in “print anywhere” technology, the process has become significantly streamlined. Let’s explore how you can print various types of documents using these innovative solutions.
Printing Web Pages and Emails from Anywhere
Often, web pages that require login credentials or sensitive emails cannot be directly printed due to security protocols. “Print anywhere” services provide workarounds to easily print this content.
For Password-Protected Web Pages:
If you encounter a web page behind a login that you need to print, the most effective method is to save the page as an HTML file on your computer.
- Save the Web Page: In your web browser, navigate to File > Save As. Choose to save the page as a complete HTML file.
- Upload the Saved File: Utilize the “print anywhere” service’s upload feature, typically a Browse button, to select and upload the HTML file you just saved.
This method allows the “print anywhere” system to access and process the web page content offline, bypassing the login restrictions for printing purposes.
For Email Messages and Attachments:
Printing emails and their attachments from anywhere is equally straightforward. The key is to save the email or attachment as a file on your device first.
Saving Emails and Attachments from Different Platforms:
-
Outlook:
- Email Message: Open the email, click File > Save As. Select Rich Text Format (*.rtf) as the save type.
- Attachment: Right-click on the attachment directly within the email and choose Save As. Alternatively, open the attachment and save it from within the application used to open it.
-
Outlook Express:
- Email Message: Open the email, click File > Save As. Select HTML Files (*.htm, *.html) as the save type.
- Attachment: Right-click the attachment and select Save As, or open the attachment and save it from the respective application.
-
Hotmail (Outlook.com):
- Email Message: Open the email and find the Printer Friendly Version option (usually within the email options). Open the printer-friendly version, then click File > Save As in your browser.
- Attachment: Click the Download File option associated with the attachment to save it to your device.
-
Yahoo! Mail:
- Email Message: Look for a Save Message Text link, often found at the bottom of the email. Click this to save the email content as text.
- Attachment: Click the Download File link to save the attachment to your device.
Once you have saved your email message or attachment as a file, you can then upload it to the “print anywhere” service using the Browse button for printing.
Mobile “Print Anywhere” with Dedicated Apps
For users who frequently need to “print anywhere” from their mobile devices, dedicated apps offer a seamless experience. PrinterOn is a popular platform that provides such mobile printing capabilities.
Setting Up PrinterOn Mobile App:
- Download the App: Obtain the PrinterOn app from either the Google Play Store (for Android) or the Apple App Store (for iOS).
Account Setup (iOS):
- Access Settings: Open the app and go to Settings, then select User Account.
- Add New Account: Tap the plus sign “+” to initiate adding a new account.
- Enter Credentials: Use your designated portal ID and password (e.g., CSUN portal ID and password if using a university printing service) in the “Account” and “Password” fields.
- Enable PrinterOn Service: Ensure the “PrinterOn Service” is toggled “On” or “Yes.”
- Save Settings: Confirm your settings and press the checkmark to save your account information.
Account Setup (Android):
- Access Services Settings: Go to Settings within the app and select Services.
- Add New Service: Tap the plus sign “+” to add a new service.
- Enter Service URL: In the “URL” field, type in the service address (e.g., “https://usuprint.csun.edu/cps” for CSUN’s PrintAnywhere service).
- Confirm Service Settings: Press the checkmark to save the service URL.
- Go Back to User Accounts: Navigate back to Settings and this time select User Accounts.
- Add New Account: Tap the plus sign “+” to add a user account.
- Enter User Credentials: Input your portal ID and password in the “Account” and “Password” fields.
- Set Default Account: In the “Default Account” section, choose “Yes” next to the service you configured in the earlier steps.
- Save Account Settings: Press the checkmark to save all account settings.
Adding a Printer within the App:
- Select Printer: Tap the “Select Printer” button within the app interface.
- Search for Printer: Use the search function (search tab) and enter keywords to find your desired printer (e.g., “STH” to find “Student Housing PrintAnywhere” printer). Select the printer from the search results.
Printing from the Mobile App:
- Send Files to PrinterOn: Open the PrinterOn application and navigate to the files you wish to print.
- Select Printer and Print: Choose the printer you saved earlier and press the “Print” button to send your print job.
Many “print anywhere” apps also provide additional printer details such as contact information (email, phone number) and operating hours, which can be found within the app’s printer details section.
Mobile Website “Print Anywhere” Options
For users who prefer not to download a dedicated app, many “print anywhere” services also offer mobile website interfaces.
Using a Mobile Website for “Print Anywhere”:
- Access the Website: Go to the designated “Print Anywhere” website for your service provider (e.g., a university housing “Print Anywhere” website).
- Choose Printer Location: Select the desired printer location from the available options on the website.
- Select Document and Options: Upload your document and configure printing options such as number of copies, page range, and color settings.
- Format Page Settings: Adjust page settings like paper size and orientation as needed.
- Log Out or Send Another Document: After printing, ensure you log out or proceed to send another document if required.
Note for Apple iOS Users: When using a mobile website for “print anywhere” on iOS, printing is typically limited to public webpages.
Supported File Formats for “Print Anywhere”
“Print anywhere” services are designed to support a wide array of file formats to accommodate diverse printing needs.
Major Supported Formats:
- Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx)
- Microsoft Excel (.xls, .xlsx)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx)
- Microsoft Visio (.vsd, .vsdx)
- Adobe PDF (.pdf)
- HTML (.htm, .html)
- JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg)
- TIFF (.tif, .tiff)
- Fx (.fx)
Other Supported Formats Include:
- CAD: AutoCAD (DWG, DWF, DXF), CADRA, CoCreate ME10, GTX RasterCAD, Microstation, Softelec, RasterDWG
- Color Raster: DCX Multipage, OS/2 BMP, PCX, PNG, Sun Raster, Targa Truevision, XWD, Graphics, CGM, Micrographx, DRW, Auto-trol TI, Enhanced Metafile, Windows Metafile, Macintosh PICT
- Black and White Raster: AIIM Type II, Brooktrout FAX, CAD Overlay, Calcomp CCRF, CALS, DCX Multipage, DDIFF, EDMICS, FileNET Banded, FileNET Tiled, Formtek, GEM IMG, Group IV, GTX Group IV, Hitachi Raster, HRF, Image Machines, TG4/IG4, Intergraph, IBM IOCA, LaserData, MicroDynamics, MARS, OS/2 BMP, PCX, Photomatrix, Group 3 & 4, RLC & RLC 2, Skantek Group 4, Sun Raster Bilevel, Versatec VDS, Vidar, Windows BMP, WINFAX Pro, Watermark, Xionics, Xerox Docuplex, XWD RAW, Zsoft ZGF
- Print/Plot: PostScript, HPGL, HPGL/2, Calcomp 906/907
- Text: ASCII (.txt), Microsoft RTF (.rtf), WordPerfect (.wpd)
It’s important to note that “print anywhere” systems often intelligently analyze file content to determine the file type, rather than relying solely on file extensions.
Troubleshooting Common “Print Anywhere” Issues
Encountering issues while trying to “print anywhere” can be frustrating. Here are solutions to common problems:
Unable to Use a Printer:
- Access Restrictions: Some printers are access-controlled and restricted to specific users (e.g., residence printers for residents only). If you are restricted, contact the printer owner/administrator to request addition to the access control list.
Web Pages Do Not Print:
- Login Requirements: “Print anywhere” services cannot typically access content behind login pages directly. Download the document or save the webpage as HTML first and then upload the saved file for printing.
Unrecognized File Format:
- Unsupported Format: The service may not support the file type you are trying to print. Check the list of supported formats and save your document in a compatible format before attempting to print.
No Output Printed:
- Job Cancellation: Closing the status window before the print job is fully processed can cancel the job. Ensure you respond to any prompts, such as accepting costs or confirming page counts, and keep the status window open until completion.
Multiple File Documents Issues:
- Missing Files: Documents composed of multiple linked files (like CAD xrefs, saved webpages with associated files, linked Excel sheets, or Word graphics) might not print correctly. Save your document in a consolidated “single file” format to include all components within a single file for printing.
Text Characters Missing or Wrong:
- Font Compatibility: If your document uses custom, unusual, international, or non-TrueType fonts (like PostScript or AutoCAD fonts), the “print anywhere” service may substitute fonts. This might lead to character display issues. While the service attempts reasonable substitutions, perfect rendering isn’t guaranteed for uncommon fonts.
Session Time Out:
- Inactivity Timeout: To protect your network identity, “print anywhere” services often have session timeouts. If there’s no print activity for several minutes, your session might disconnect. If you are prompted to approve a print job, respond promptly to avoid session timeout. Active status windows updating print progress keep your session alive.
Session Cookies Issues:
- Cookies Disabled: The service requires session cookies to be enabled in your browser. Ensure your browser settings allow session cookies for the service to function correctly. These cookies are temporary and are discarded after each print session.
Pop-up Blockers:
- Blocked Status Windows: “Print anywhere” services often open a small pop-up window to display job progress. Pop-up blockers might prevent these status windows from displaying, potentially hindering job completion. Temporarily disable pop-up blockers to ensure these windows appear and your print request completes successfully.
By understanding these guidelines and troubleshooting tips, you can effectively utilize “print anywhere” solutions to meet your printing needs conveniently and efficiently, no matter where you are.
