Batch Printing

This chapter includes information about setting up and using batch printing for documents that the Document Server generates, such as correspondence, proposals, and presentations. It includes the following topics:

About Batch Printing

Batch printing simplifies the task of printing multiple correspondence items. The user first selects one or more correspondence items, and then selects Print in the menu that appears for Menu (the cogwheel icon). The documents are then printed on the appropriate printer.

Siebel applications support two types of batch printing, server-based and client-based. Initially, the print menu item appearing in the Correspondence and Fulfillment screens is configured to perform client-based batch printing. However, the administrator can use Siebel Tools to reconfigure these menus to use server-based batch printing, either in addition to, or instead of, client-based batch printing.

Note: If you experience issues with batch printing, you can set up WebDAV (Web-based Distribution Authoring and Versioning) for the IIS (Internet Information Server) to enable collaboration between the Siebel Server in a UNIX computer with the Document Server in a Windows computer.

Client-Based Batch Printing

When a user prints a document using client-based batch printing, the Siebel application launches Microsoft Word on the user’s client. It then retrieves the document from the Siebel File System and prints it to the default printer configured for the user’s desktop session.

For this feature to work correctly, the end user must configure the browser to enable the Siebel application to launch Microsoft Word by changing the following security option: Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked safe. Change this option to either Enable or Prompt for the security zone containing the Siebel application URL. Typically, this zone is either the local intranet zone or the trusted zone. Users must verify that any other URL in this zone can be trusted with this security privilege.

Server-Based Batch Printing

When a user prints a document using server-based batch printing, a request is sent to the DocServer server component. This component then prints the document to the printer the user specifies in the User Preferences screen. If the user does not specify a preference, the document is printed on the default printer the system administrator configures on the Document Server computer.

When a user initiates server-based batch printing for a correspondence document, a request is sent to the DocServer component. This request contains the values for the Default Printer and Printer Driver preferences the user selects in the Correspondence view of the User Preferences screen. After receiving the request, the Document Server uses Microsoft Word to convert the document into a PostScript file. The value for the Printer Driver user preference determines the style of generated PostScript. This parameter specifies the name of a network printer. The PostScript file is suitable for this printer and all other printers of the same model. After the PostScript file is generated, the Document Server sends the file to the printer specified in the Default Printer user preference.

Setting Up Batch Printing for Administrators and Users

The following table lists procedures for setting up batch printing for administrators and end users. Administrators set up server-based batch printing; end users set up server-based and client-based batch printing.

Setup Procedures for Administrators	Setup Procedures for End Users
Add server print menu items to the Correspondence and Fulfillment screens.	Verify system requirements for client-based batch printing.
Set up the printer configuration.	Configure Internet Explorer to permit client-based batch printing.
Add a printer connection to the Document Server computer.	Add a printer connection to the desktop for client-based batch printing.
Change the default printer (if necessary).	Change the default printer (if necessary).
Change the default printer (if necessary).	Specify a printer for server-based batch printing.

Adding Server Print Menu Items

To set up server-based batch printing, administrators can add server print menu items to the Correspondence and Fulfillment screens. After completing the task in this topic, verify that the Server Print and Server Print Label menu items appear in the menus for the Correspondence and Fulfillment screens.

To add server print menu items

In the Object Explorer window of Siebel Tools, under Siebel Objects, select Applet.
In the Applets window, query for Correspondence List Applet in the Name column.
In the Object Explorer, select Applet Method Menu Item.
In the Applet Method Menu Item window, select the record with Server Print in the Menu Text column, and clear the Inactive check box in the Inactive column.
In the Applet Method Menu Item window, select the record Server Print Label in the Menu Text column, and clear the Inactive check box in the Inactive column.
In the Application menu, click Tools, select Compile Projects, and then in the Project Selection window, select the Corresp (SSE) project.
Browse and select the appropriate siebel.srf file, and click Compile.
Starting with Step 2, repeat this procedure for the Fulfillment screen, and query for Fulfillment List Applet in the Applets window.

Configuring Printers for Server-Based Batch Printing

Administrators can perform the following tasks to support server-based batch printing:

Identify the printer models in the enterprise to use for server-based batch printing.
For each model, select one network printer, and add a printer connection to it on the Document Server computer.
Designate one configured printer as the default printer for the Document Server computer.
Provide the list of configured printers to end users, who use the list to select a printer driver in the User Preferences screen.

For example, an organization has five Xerox Model A printers (xrx001 to xrx005), and five Canon Model B printers (cnn001 to cnn005). A printer server (hqsrvr) is used to route requests to all of the printers. The administrator decides to use the xrx005 printer to represent the Xerox Model A printers and the cnn005 printer to represent the Canon Model B printers, and adds printer connections on the Document Server computer for each printer. The administrator selects the xrx005 printer as the default printer. The DocServer component uses these connections to generate PostScript files. Only one printer for each model is actually configured on the Document Server computer. After creating the printer connections, the administrator notifies the end users of the network names of the configured printers (\\hqsrvr\xrx005 and \\hqsrvr\cnn005).

A user wants to use the cnn003 printer for personal batch printing requests. The user navigates to the Correspondence view of the User Preferences screen and enters \\hqsrvr\cnn003 in the Default Printer field and \\hqsrvr\cnn005 in the Printer Driver field. All subsequent batch printing requests the user submits are sent to the cnn003 printer.

Note: If a user does not specify a default printer in the Correspondence view of the User Preferences screen, then the user’s batch printing requests are sent to the default printer for the Document Server. Printing is directly through Microsoft Word; no intermediate PostScript file is created.

Adding a Printer Connection to the Document Server Computer

Complete the following procedure to add a printer connection to the Document Server computer.

To add a printer connection to the Document Server computer

Log in to the Document Server computer using the same User ID for the Windows Service running the Siebel Server.
Navigate to Start, Settings, and then Printers.
Double-click the Add Printer button.
On the Welcome screen, click Next.
On the Local or Network Printer screen, select Network Printer, and click Next.
On the Locate Your Printer screen, select Network Printer, and click Next.
On the Default Printer screen, select either Yes or No, click Next, and click Finish.

Changing the Default Printer for Server-Based Batch Printing

Complete the following procedure to change the default printer.

To change the default printer for server-based batch printing

Log in to the Document Server computer using the same User ID for the Windows Service running the Siebel Server.
Navigate to Start, Settings, and then Printers.
In the printer list, right-click a printer and select Set as Default.

Performing Batch Printing (End User)

To batch print, end users select correspondence items in the Correspondence screen, and then select Print in the menu that appears for Menu (the cogwheel icon). The print menu item is active only if the selected correspondence record has a value of Completed in the Document Status field.

The print menu item in the Correspondence and Fulfillment screens is configured for client-based printing. However, administrators can configure server-based printing in addition to (or instead of) client-based printing. Check with the system administrator to determine the available print methods.

Preparing for Client-Based Batch Printing

When you use client-based batch printing, the Siebel application launches Microsoft Word on your client. The Siebel application retrieves the document from the Siebel File System and prints it to the default printer configured for your desktop session. Before using client-based batch printing, verify that the following tasks are complete:

Install Microsoft Word on the client.
Configure Internet Explorer to start Microsoft Word.
Configure the default printer for your desktop.

To prepare for client-based batch printing, perform the tasks in this topic.

Note: The options in the following procedures can vary depending on the version of Microsoft Office you use.

Configuring Internet Explorer to Enable Client-Based Batch Printing

Complete the following procedure to configure Internet Explorer to enable client-based batch printing.

To configure Internet Explorer to enable client-based batch printing

Start Internet Explorer, and log in to the Siebel Sales application.
In Internet Explorer, select Tools, then Internet Options.
Select the Security tab, and click Custom Level.
The security zone Siebel uses is highlighted (Local intranet or Trusted). Verify that any other URL in this zone can be trusted with extra security privileges.
In the Security Settings dialog box, locate the following option:
Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked safe
Change the option setting to either Enable or Prompt, and click OK.
Click Yes to answer the question, and in the Internet Options dialog box, click OK.

Adding a Printer Connection to Your Desktop

Complete the following procedure to add a printer connection to your desktop.

To add a printer connection to your desktop

Navigate to Start, Settings, and then Printers.
Double-click the Add Printer button.
On the Welcome screen, click Next.
In the Local or Network Printer screen, select Network Printer, and click Next.
In the Locate Your Printer screen, select Type the Printer Name.
Enter the network name of the printer, or click Browse and select the printer, and click Next.
In the Default Printer screen, select either Yes or No, and click Next, and click Finish.

Changing the Default Printer for Client-Based Batch Printing

Complete the following procedure to change the default printer.

To change the default printer for client-based batch printing

Navigate to Start, Settings, and then Printers.
The current default printer is marked with a check mark.
In the printer list, right-click the printer and select Set as Default.

Printing Documents Using Client-Based Batch Printing

Complete the procedure in this topic to print documents using client-based batch printing.

To print documents using client-based batch printing

Close files that are open in Microsoft Word.
Navigate to either the Correspondence or Fulfillment screen.
Select one or more records in the Correspondence list.
The selected records must have a Document Status field value of Completed.
In the Correspondence list, click Menu (the cogwheel icon), and then select Print.
The selected documents are printed on the default printer.

Preparing for Server-Based Batch Printing

To prepare for server-based batch printing, perform the task in this topic. Server-based batch printing sends a printing request to Oracle’s Siebel Document Server. The document is then sent to the printer specified in the User Preferences screen. If you do not specify a printer, the document is printed on the default printer that the system administrator configures.

To specify a printer for server-based batch printing

Navigate to the User Preferences screen, then the Correspondence view.
In the Default Printer field, enter the network name of the printer for correspondence.
The network name contains both the printer server name and the printer name as follows:
```
\\printer_server_name\printer_name
```
In the Printer Driver field, enter the name of the printer driver used to generate an intermediate file during the printing process, and save the record.
The system administrator can provide you with a list of printer drivers and their associated printer types. Select the printer driver associated with the printer used for correspondence.

Printing Documents Using Server-Based Batch Printing

Complete the procedure in this topic to print documents using server-based batch printing.

To print documents using server-based batch printing

Navigate to either the Correspondence or Fulfillment screen.
Select one or more records in the Correspondence list.
The selected records must have a Document Status field value of Completed.
In the Correspondence list, click Menu (the cogwheel icon), and then select Print.
The selected documents are printed on the default printer.