Note
We have developed a new printer spooler with improved job handling, easier setup and an overview of all your print jobs. It is compatible with Windows as well as macOS (Intel and M1/M2).
If you want to try it out before the official release and help us with testing, please reach out to gligor.micajkov@xentral.com.
In order to print shipping labels and documents using Xentral, you need to connect your instance to a printer. This requires the printer spooler app, which you need to install on your device.
After you connected your printer, you can freely choose in which contexts it should be used. You can, for example, set up a Standard printer in the System settings. You can further differentiate between printers by assigning them to certain projects, users or shipping methods.
Tip
In order to use the printer in Xentral, you need to turn on the device where the printer spooler app is installed. For example, you can install the spooler app on a dedicated device in your network so that all Xentral users can access the printer.
Installation on a server is currently not supported!
The newest printer spooler app for macOS devices is available in two versions that are optimized for different types of processors:
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Apple processors (M1 and M2)
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Intel processors
To install xentral-spooler3:
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Click one of the following links to download the printer spooler installation file from the Xentral GitHub repository. The download immediately starts without any extra notice.
Note
If the links do not work, you can find the files in the Xentral GitHub repository.
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Go to your Downloads folder on your device and double-click the xentral-spooler3 file to open it.
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Drag the xentral-spooler3 icon to the Applications folder to complete the setup.
Once you've installed the printer spooler on your macOS device you can connect your printer to your Xentral instance. For this procedure you will need a Security key from your Xentral instance.
To connect your printer to Xentral :
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The first step is to acquire your security key. Go to:
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In Xentral NextGen: Settings > Administration > Printer Setup
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In classic design: Administration > System > Printer
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Select Xentral Device API activated.
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Click Generate key and then Copy to copy the key to your clipboard as you will later need it in the settings of the spooler app.
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Open the xentral-spooler3 app on your macOS device to initialize the process.
Tip
If the “xentral-spooler3” can’t be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software message appears you must go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General and click Open Anyway.
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Once you've allowed your macOS device to open the app, open the Xentral-spooler3 app again and click Open to confirm.
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The Xentral-spooler3 app has the following tabs:
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Drucker (Printer) - In this tab you can find printers that are connected to your macOS device.
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Einstellungen (Settings) - In this tab you have the following fields that you need to fill in:
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URL zu Xentral (Xentral URL) - Paste the URL of your Xentral instance.
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Seriennummer (serial number) - Enter 123456789.
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Security key - Paste the security key that you previously generated in Xentral .
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Info - In this tab you can find general information about the Xentral-spooler3 app.
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Once you've entered all the necessary information, go back to the Einstellungen (Settings) tab and click Speichern (Save).
If all your input parameters are correct the Xentral-spooler3 app will display the message Ready for printing.
The last part of connecting your printer is to configure it in Xentral .
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Go to:
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In Xentral NextGen: Settings > Administration > Printer Setup and click + Add printer.
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In classic design: Administration > System > Printer and click +NEW.
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Enter the following basic information:
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Name / location - Enter a recognizable name, so you can easily identify your printer in the printer overview table.
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Designation - Copy the printer name from the Drucker (Printer) tab in the xentral-spooler3 app and paste it to the Designation field. You must use the same name. Otherwise, you won't be able to connect your printer with Xentral .
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Active - Select this checkbox to activate the printer.
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No background - Select this check box if you don't want to print a stationery with background on this printer.
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Select the check box in the Expert section to edit the following more advanced settings:
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Device type - Select the type of printer that you want to connect.
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Size - Select the size of paper depending on your printer.
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Connection - Select the Xentral Druckerspooler (Xentral printer spooler) in the drop-down menu.
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Optional: Email - Send the documents you want to print to an email address. Enter the address in the Email printer recipient field, the subject in Email printer subject, and a text in E-mail printer text. Your documents will be attached as PDFs and allow you to print your documents collectively at a later date.
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Serial number - Enter 123456789.
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Click Save.
You have now successfully connected your printer to Xentral .
Important
If you use a firewall, you need to add an exception to the firewall for the printer connection. Otherwise, the printer spooler will not work.
To install Xentral Spooler 3.0:
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Click here to download the printer spooler installation file from the Xentral GitHub repository. The download immediately starts without further notice.
Note
If the link does not work, you can find the file in the Xentral GitHub repository.
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Go to your designated Downloads folder on your device and double-click the xentral-spooler3 Setup 3.0.3.exe file to open it.
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If the Windows protected your PC message appears click More info and Run anyway to start the installation.
Once the installation is completed, the Xentral Spooler 3.0 app will launch on your device.
Once you've installed the printer spooler on your Windows device you can connect your printer to your Xentral instance.
To connect your printer to Xentral:
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The first step is to acquire your security key. Go to:
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In Xentral NextGen: Settings > Administration > Printer Setup
-
In classic design: Administration > System > Printer
-
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Select Xentral Device API activated.
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Click Generate key and then Copy to copy the key to your clipboard as you will later need it in the settings of the spooler app.
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Launch the Xentral Spooler 3.0 app on your device.
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The Xentral Spooler 3.0 app has the following tabs:
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Drucker (Printer) - In this tab you can find printers that are connected to your Windows device.
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Einstellungen (Settings) - In this tab you have the following fields that you need to fill in:
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URL zu Xentral (Xentral URL) - Paste the URL of your Xentral instance.
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Seriennummer (serial number) - Enter 123456789.
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Security key - Paste the security key that you previously generated in Xentral.
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Abfrageintervall in Sek (Polling interval in seconds) - Enter an integer between 1-5 with 5 being the default value. This field controls how often the printer asks Xentral for new printing jobs. If it takes a long time to print, you can reduce the polling interval.
Please be aware that a reduction of the polling interval will increase the load on your instance! If you experience perfomance issues after decreasing the value, please reset the interval to the default value of 5.
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Info - In this tab you can find general information about the Xentral-spooler3 app.
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Once you've entered all the necessary information, go back to the Einstellungen (Settings) tab and click Speichern (Save).
If all your input parameters are correct the Xentral-spooler3 app will display the Ready for printing message.
The last part of connecting your printer is to configure it in Xentral .
-
Go to:
-
In Xentral NextGen: Settings > Administration > Printer Setup and click + Add printer.
-
In classic design: Administration > System > Printer and click +NEW.
-
-
Enter the following basic information:
-
Name / location - Enter a recognizable name, so you can easily identify your printer in the printer overview table.
-
Designation - Copy the printer name from the Drucker (Printer) tab in the xentral-spooler3 app and paste it to the Designation field. You must use the same name. Otherwise, you won't be able to connect your printer with Xentral .
-
Active - Select this checkbox to activate the printer.
-
No background - Select this check box if you don't want to print a stationery with background on this printer.
-
-
Select the check box in the Expert section to edit the following more advanced settings:
-
Device type - Select the type of printer that you want to connect.
-
Size - Select the size of paper depending on your printer.
-
Connection - Select the Xentral Druckerspooler (Xentral printer spooler) in the drop-down menu.
-
Optional: Email - Send the documents you want to print to an email address. Enter the address in the Email printer recipient field, the subject in Email printer subject, and a text in E-mail printer text. Your documents will be attached as PDFs and allow you to print your documents collectively at a later date.
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Serial number - Enter 123456789.
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Click Save.
You have now successfully connected your printer to Xentral .