CSUN Print Anywhere: Your Comprehensive Guide to Campus Printing

Printing documents on campus at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) has never been easier thanks to Csun Print Anywhere. This service allows students, faculty, and staff to conveniently print from virtually anywhere, whether you’re on or off campus. Forget about being tethered to specific computer labs or printers; CSUN Print Anywhere offers a flexible and efficient printing solution tailored to your needs.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about utilizing CSUN Print Anywhere, from printing web pages and emails to using the mobile app and website. We’ll cover supported file formats, step-by-step instructions, and troubleshooting tips to ensure a smooth printing experience. Whether you need to print an assignment, a research paper, or any other document, CSUN Print Anywhere is designed to make the process seamless and accessible.

Printing Web Pages and Online Documents with CSUN Print Anywhere

Often, you might encounter web pages or online documents that require a login or use session-based security, which can prevent direct printing. CSUN Print Anywhere can still handle these situations effectively. The key is to first save the webpage content as an HTML file onto your computer.

To do this, follow these general steps, which apply across most web browsers:

Save the Webpage: While viewing the page you wish to print, navigate to your browser’s menu (usually found in the top right corner, or under a “File” menu). Select the “Save Page As” or similar option.
Choose HTML Format: In the “Save As” dialog box, ensure you select “Webpage, HTML Only” or “HTML Files” as the format. Choose a location on your computer to save the file and click “Save”.
Upload to CSUN Print Anywhere: Once saved, access the CSUN Print Anywhere service through the website or mobile app. When prompted to select a file to print, use the “Browse” or “Upload File” button to locate the HTML file you just saved and upload it.

By saving the webpage as an HTML file, you bypass the login restrictions and allow CSUN Print Anywhere to process and print the content effectively. This method is particularly useful for printing online articles, restricted course materials, or any web-based information that isn’t directly printable.

Printing Emails and Attachments via CSUN Print Anywhere

Need to print an important email or an attachment you received? CSUN Print Anywhere simplifies this process. The general approach involves saving the email message or attachment as a file on your computer and then uploading it to the CSUN Print Anywhere system.

Here’s how you can handle emails and attachments from common email platforms:

General Email Saving Instructions:

Save the Email Message: Open the email you want to print. Look for a “Save” or “Save As” option, usually located in the “File” menu or under the “More Actions” dropdown within your email client or webmail interface. Save the email as a file. Common formats include:
- .rtf (Rich Text Format) – often a good choice for preserving formatting.
- .txt (Plain Text) – suitable for text-only emails without complex formatting.
- .html (HTML File) – if you want to preserve web-based formatting.
- .eml or .msg (Email Message) – might work, but .rtf or .html are generally more compatible with printing services.
Save Attachments: For attachments, locate the attachment within your email. There should be an option to “Download,” “Save,” or “Save As” next to the attachment icon. Click this option and save the attachment to your computer. Ensure you know the file format of the attachment (e.g., .doc, .pdf, .jpg) as CSUN Print Anywhere supports a wide range of formats.
Upload to CSUN Print Anywhere: Access CSUN Print Anywhere via the website or app. Use the “Browse” or “Upload File” option to select the saved email file or attachment file from your computer and upload it for printing.

While specific steps may vary slightly depending on your email provider (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc.) and whether you are using a web browser or a desktop email application, the core principle remains the same: save the content as a file, then upload.

Mobile Printing with the PrinterOn App for CSUN Print Anywhere

For ultimate convenience, CSUN Print Anywhere is fully integrated with the PrinterOn mobile app, available for both iOS and Android devices. This app lets you print directly from your smartphone or tablet, offering a truly mobile printing solution on the CSUN campus.

Setting up the PrinterOn App for CSUN Print Anywhere

First, download the PrinterOn app from the Google Play Store (for Android) or the Apple App Store (for iOS). Once installed, follow these steps to configure it for CSUN Print Anywhere:

For iOS Devices:

Access Settings: Open the PrinterOn app and tap on “Settings.”
User Account: Select “User Account.”
Add Account: Tap the plus sign “+” to add a new account.
Enter CSUN Credentials:
- In the “Account” field, enter your CSUN Portal ID (username).
- In the “Password” field, enter your CSUN Portal password.
Enable PrinterOn Service: Toggle “PrinterOn Service” to “On” or “Yes.”
Save Settings: Confirm your settings and press the checkmark icon to save your account information.

For Android Devices:

Access Settings: Open the PrinterOn app and select “Settings.”
Services: Tap on “Services.”
Add Service: Tap the plus sign “+” to add a new service.
Enter Service URL: In the “URL” field, type in: https://usuprint.csun.edu/cps
Confirm Service Settings: Press the checkmark to save the service settings.
Go Back to Settings: Navigate back to the main “Settings” menu.
User Accounts: Select “User Accounts.”
Add Account: Tap the plus sign “+” to add a new account.
Enter CSUN Credentials:
- In the “Account” field, enter your CSUN Portal ID.
- In the “Password” field, enter your CSUN Portal password.
Set Default Account: In the “Default Account” section, select “Yes” next to the service you created in step 4 (usuprint.csun.edu/cps).
Save Account Settings: Press the checkmark to save your account settings.

Adding a Printer in the PrinterOn App

Once your account is set up, you’ll need to add a printer to your PrinterOn app. For CSUN Print Anywhere, you can add a general location printer:

Select Printer: Tap the “Select Printer” button within the app’s main interface.
Search for Printer: Use the search tab and type “STH” (for Student Housing) to find relevant printers.
Choose Printer: Select the “Student Housing PrintAnywhere” printer option. This printer location is a common choice for CSUN Print Anywhere services.

Printing from the PrinterOn App

With the app configured and a printer selected, you’re ready to print:

Send Files to PrinterOn: Open the document or file you wish to print on your mobile device. Use the “Share” option and choose the PrinterOn app from the sharing options. Alternatively, you can open the PrinterOn app and select the document from within the app.
Select Saved Printer: Ensure the “Student Housing PrintAnywhere” printer (or your chosen printer) is selected within the app.
Print: Press the “Print” button within the PrinterOn app to send your print job to the CSUN Print Anywhere system.

Additional App Information:

Within the PrinterOn app, under “Printer Details” for a selected printer, you can often find useful contact information, such as the USU Computer Lab email address, phone number, and operating hours. This can be helpful if you need assistance or have questions about printer locations or services.

Using the Mobile Website for CSUN Print Anywhere

If you prefer not to use the mobile app, CSUN Print Anywhere also offers a mobile-friendly website interface for printing from your smartphone or tablet.

Mobile Website Printing Instructions:

Access the Website: Go to the designated CSUN Print Anywhere website for student housing. (You may need to search the CSUN Housing website or resources for the direct link).
Choose Printer Location: Select the desired printer location from the available options on the website.
Select Document and Options: Upload your document file and choose your printing preferences (e.g., number of copies, page range, color/black and white).
Format Page Settings: Adjust page settings as needed, such as paper size and orientation.
Submit and Logout: Submit your print job. After printing or if you are finished, remember to log out of the website to secure your session.

Additional Mobile Website Information:

It’s important to note that Apple iOS users printing from the mobile website may be restricted to printing only from public webpages. For other types of documents, using the PrinterOn App is generally recommended for iOS devices.

Major File Formats Supported by CSUN Print Anywhere

CSUN Print Anywhere supports a wide variety of file formats to accommodate your printing needs. Major supported formats include:

Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx)
Microsoft Excel (.xls, .xlsx)
Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx)
Microsoft Visio (.vsd, .vsdx)
Adobe PDF (.pdf)
HTML (.html, .htm)
JPEG Images (.jpg, .jpeg)
TIFF Images (.tiff, .tif)
Fx files (.fx)

Other Supported File Formats

In addition to the major formats, CSUN Print Anywhere also supports a range of more specialized formats, categorized as:

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

Note on File Types: The CSUN Print Anywhere system intelligently analyzes the content of your uploaded file to determine its type, regardless of the file extension. You don’t necessarily need to worry about having the “correct” three-letter extension (like .doc); the system focuses on the file’s internal structure.

Troubleshooting Common CSUN Print Anywhere Issues

While CSUN Print Anywhere is designed to be user-friendly, you might occasionally encounter issues. Here are some common problems and how to address them:

Unable to Use a Printer:

Access Restrictions: Some printers, especially those in residential areas, may be restricted to specific users via an access control list. If you can’t access a printer, it might be restricted to residents of that facility. Contact the printer owner or administrator (often listed in printer details in the app) to request to be added to the access list.

Web Pages Do Not Print:

Login Protected Pages: If the webpage requires a login, the CSUN Print Anywhere service won’t be able to access it directly. As explained earlier, save the webpage as an HTML file and then upload that file to the printing service.

Unrecognized File Format:

Unsupported Format: CSUN Print Anywhere only supports specific file types. If you receive an error about an unrecognized format, ensure your document is in one of the supported formats listed earlier. You may need to save your document as a supported file type before printing.

No Output Printed:

Status Window Closure: When you submit a print job, a status window appears. Closing this window prematurely, before the job is fully processed, can cancel the print job. Make sure to leave the status window open until the process is complete, especially if you need to approve costs or confirm page counts.

Multiple File Documents:

Missing Linked Files: Some complex documents (like CAD drawings with xrefs, saved webpages with associated files, or documents with linked Excel sheets or graphics) are composed of multiple files. CSUN Print Anywhere processes single files. Missing linked files may cause errors or incomplete printing. Try saving your document in a “single file” format (e.g., embedding linked graphics in Word, saving CAD drawings as a single DWG with all dependencies included) before submitting.

Text Characters Missing or Wrong:

Font Compatibility: CSUN Print Anywhere servers have a wide range of standard TrueType fonts installed. However, if your document uses custom, unusual, international, or non-TrueType fonts (like PostScript or AutoCAD fonts), the printing service may attempt to substitute fonts, but accurate rendering isn’t guaranteed. For best results, use standard fonts.

Session Time Out:

Inactivity Timeout: To protect your CSUN network identity, the CSUN Print Anywhere service will time out your session after a period of inactivity. If you are prompted to approve a print job, respond promptly to avoid session timeout. Active status windows that are updating print progress keep your session alive.

Session Cookies:

Cookies Required: The CSUN Print Anywhere service relies on session cookies in your web browser to function correctly. Ensure that session cookies are enabled in your browser settings. These cookies are temporary and are discarded after each print session for security.

Pop-up Blockers:

Status Window Blocking: CSUN Print Anywhere opens a small pop-up window to display job progress. If you have a pop-up blocker enabled in your browser, this status window might be blocked, potentially preventing your print job from completing correctly. Temporarily disable your pop-up blocker to ensure proper operation.

By understanding these common issues and solutions, you can effectively troubleshoot most problems you might encounter while using CSUN Print Anywhere.

Conclusion

CSUN Print Anywhere provides a robust and versatile printing solution for the CSUN community. Whether you are printing from a web page, email, mobile app, or mobile website, the service is designed for ease of use and flexibility. By following this guide, you should be well-equipped to utilize CSUN Print Anywhere effectively for all your campus printing needs. Embrace the convenience of printing from anywhere and make the most of this valuable CSUN resource.