Sepialine Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

General / Overview
Operating Systems
General Applications
CAD Applications
Print Room and Batch Plotting
Configuration and Options
Accounting Packages
Reporting
Print and Plot Hardware

General / Overview

Q: What kind of hardware does Argos require?
A: Sepialine Print Tracking runs on any relatively modern PC. If you already have a file or print server, the Argos database can run there. Manager and Billing components run on all modern versions of Windows (see below).

Q: Does Sepialine software require a dedicated server?
A: Absolutely not. Sepialine software is designed to run in your existing network environment. In fact, the majority of Sepialine customers install to their existing print or file servers.

Q: What kind of load does Sepialine software place on my network?
A: Sepialine client software communicates with the server at regular intervals via ODBC or HTTP. Sepialine server-side operations are highly optimized to minimize network traffic, and ODBC itself is an efficient protocol. In very large installations, Sepialine offers web-based HTTP communication to further minimize traffic. In short, Sepialine adds very little load to networks.

Q: Where can I learn more about how Sepialine Print Tracking will impact my network and computer systems?
A: An overview of the major technologies used by Sepialine is available here.

Operating Systems

Q: Does Argos work on Windows XP?
A: Yes

Q: Does Argos work on Windows 9x/ME?
A: Yes. However, printers must be shared through a Windows NT/2000/2003 server. Printers shared from Win9x/ME computers cannot be tracked.

Q: Will Argos work on Windows 2003 Server?
A: Yes. Windows Server 2003 is fully supported.

Q: Does Argos work with Windows Terminal Services?
A: Yes. However, you should not use Terminal Services during installation.

Applications

Q: What software applications does Sepialine track?

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Project)
AutoCAD 2009 and prior versions; AutoCAD verticals (e.g. Autodesk Architectural Desktop)
Microstation V8, /J, SE
Other CAD applications (e.g. Arris, Archicad, Revit)
Graphics applications (e.g. Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw)
Desktop publishing applications (Quark Express, Adobe InDesign, Microsoft Publisher)
Océ Repro Desk
Internet Explorer
Any application that uses Windows printing
Contact us to find out about a specific application.

Q: Does Sepialine Print Tracking require special printer or plotter drivers?
A: No. Sepialine works with native drivers and print processes.

Q: What if I copy plot files to my plotter through a command prompt? Will Sepialine track that?
A: Yes. Sepialine tracks activity sent via DOS or command prompts, including custom Autospool functions.

CAD Software

Q: Does Sepialine track batch plotting from AutoCAD and Microstation?
A: Yes, Sepialine tracks batch plotting without any additional software and without altering your batch plot process.

Q: Does Sepialine Print Tracking redefine or otherwise alter the print and plot commands in AutoCAD?
A: No. Sepialine leaves the native printing and plotting processes intact for all applications.

Q: Does Sepialine track plots generated by HEIDI drivers? What about ADI drivers?
A: Yes. Sepialine tracks plotting activity from both modern and legacy plot drivers.

Q: Does Sepialine require special plot drivers?
A: No. Sepialine is driver-independent, and does not require any change to your CAD software.

Q: Does Sepialine track plots generated from the AutoCAD command line?
A: Yes. As well, Argos tracks plots generated by scripts, AutoLISP or VBA custom applications.

Q: If I print or plot to file, will Sepialine track that activity?
A: Sepialine only tracks prints when they are sent to the printer. Therefore, Sepialine will not track the creation of print files. If you send the print file to the printer, Argos will track it.

Q: My company has custom plotting scripts/procedures. Will Sepialine work with them?
A: Yes. You do not need to change your custom scripts whatsoever to work with Sepialine.

Q: We used to have an AutoCAD plot tracking tool, but users could avoid it by typing .PLOT. Does Sepialine have the same problem?
A: No. Because Sepialine works outside of AutoCAD, it is not susceptible to .PLOT loophole.

Q: Do I need to load any .ARX, .LSP, .DVB or other files into AutoCAD in order to use Sepialine?
A: No. Again, Sepialine functions completely outside of AutoCAD, so there are no plug-ins required.

Print Room and Batch Plotting

Q: I use Bentley InterPlot. Can Sepialine work with IPlot?
A: Yes. IPlot is supported through Sepialine Third-Party Tracking.

Q: Can Sepialine track Océ Reprodesk?
A: Yes. Learn more about Argos integration for Repro Desk here.

Q: What about Océ Print Exec LT? Can Sepialine track that?
A: Yes. An understanding of LPR-based printing is often helpful in this instance.

Q: How does Sepialine work with AutoCAD's batch plot routine (eBatch)?
A: Sepialine does nothing to stop or interfere with eBatch, so you can use it as you always have. As with any other kind of printing, using eBatch causes the Sepialine billing dialog to appear as soon as you reach your quota.

Q: Instead of using my CAD software's native batch plotting, I use a third-party batch plotting utility. Can Sepialine track that?
A: Absolutely. As long as your batch utility send jobs through a Windows print queue, Sepialine can track it.

Configuration and Options

Q: I only wish to track certain printers and plotters. Can I tell Sepialine not to track certain devices?
A: Yes. Sepialine tracking can be disabled on each printer individually.

Q: I only wish to track my CAD software, but not Microsoft Office. Can Sepialine track only specified applications?
A: Yes. Argos can be configured to track specific software applications, both implicitly and explicitly.

Q: We like the user quota feature found in Argos, but we want different quotas for different users. Can Argos do that?
A: Yes. Argos allows you to assign personal quotas to specific users, and maintain a global quota for everyone else.

Accounting Software Integration

Q: Does Sepialine work with my accounting software?
A: Yes. The Sepialine Platform can obtain project lists from a variety of popular accounting software packages. Learn more here.

Q: I don't see my company's accounting package on your list. Can Sepialine still work with my accounting software?
A: Yes. You have two options. If your accounting database is ODBC compliant (e.g. Access, Foxpro, Oracle, Excel, CSV files), you can use the built-in System DSN import module to make custom field mappings to your database. For a more specific solution to suit your exact needs, our Professional Services Group can develop a custom import module for you.

Q: Can Sepialine return expense data back into my accounting software?
A: For Deltek Vision, yes. Our round-trip integration populates your Vision database with expense data from Argos. For other accounting packages, you can use Argos Manager to produce a CSV file which can subsequently be imported into your accounting system.

Reporting

Q: How does Sepialine software generate reports?
A: The Sepialine Platform has built-in reporting, based on Crystal Reports, an industry standard reporting engine.

Q: Can I customize reports?
A: Yes. Crystal Reports is commercially available in a variety of versions, starting at US$199. See the Business Objects website

for more information. Using the Crystal Reports designer, you can add or remove data from reports, change fonts and layout, add logos, and much more.

Q: Do I need to purchase Crystal Reports in order to view reports?
A: No. The Crystal Reports viewer is built right into Sepialine Manager software. You only need to purchase Crystal Reports if you wish to design or modify reports.

Q: Can Sepialine customize reports for me?
A: Yes. Sepialine Professional Services provides report customization services. Contact us for more information.

Printing and Plotting Hardware

Q: Does Sepialine work with Océ TDS plotters?
A: Yes. See our Océ Center for information on the various ways Sepialine helps you capture Océ wide format printing.

Q: What about KIP plotters?
A: Sepialine has partnered with KIP America to work seamlessly with Powerprint Request. See our KIP Center for more information.

Q: I have a Xerox 88xx series plotter with an AccXES controller. Can Sepialine work with it?
A: Yes. Xerox AccXES is supported through Sepialine Tracking Integration

Novell NetWare

Q: How does Sepialine track Novell NetWare printing?
A: There are three components involved: the core Sepialine Cost Tracking Suite is responsible for data storage, billing dialogs, reporting and configuration. The Pcounter engine from A.N.D. Technologies resides on the NetWare server, and is responsible for capturing printing on NetWare print servers. Sepialine Integration includes a Pcounter Adapter which connects the Pcounter engine to the Sepialine suite.

Q: What about Windows-based print queues?
A: Sepialine Print Tracking captures all of your Windows printing natively.

Q: Isn't Pcounter a Sepialine competitor?
A: Sepialine and Pcounter are two products that cater to different market segments. As respective cost recovery leaders, Sepialine and A.N.D. Technologies complement and cooperate to deliver tracking solutions ideal for each customer's needs.

Q: How does support work? Should I contact Sepialine or A.N.D. Technologies for support?
A: Sepialine supports both the Sepialine Suite and the Pcounter tracking engine. A.N.D. Technologies stands behind us, and assists us when needed. Please visit the Sepialine Support Center for more information about support options.

Q: How do I buy? Do I need to license Sepialine and Pcounter separately?
A: You can get everything you need directly from Sepialine to track NetWare printing. Contact your Sepialine sales representative for more information.

Sepialine Copy Tracking

Q: How does Sepialine Copy Tracking work?
A: There are three basic components:

The terminal is a touch-screen where users log in and/or supply accounting information. Terminals can connect via wired or wireless network configurations and can host up to three devices (copiers, fax machines) each.
The Sepialine Copier Interface (SCI) unit mounts behind the copier and is physically cabled to your copier.
Server software configures and communicates with terminals and SCI units.

Q: Will the Sepialine Copy Tracking terminal work with my wireless network?
A: As long as you have an 802.11b wireless network, yes.

Q: What about wireless security?
A: Sepialine terminals support WEP, but not WPA.

Q: Will Sepialine Copy Tracking work with my copier?
A: As long as your copier has an accounting harness, yes. The accounting harness is also sometimes known as a foreign interface host, or FIH. Your copier manufacturer may refer to it under a different name. Most modern workgroup-grade copiers and multi-function printers (MFPs) either have - or can accommodate - an accounting harness. Check with your copier dealer or technician for details.

Q: I'm not sure if my copier has a harness. Can Sepialine check / install one / order one for me?
A: We cannot verify or provide accounting harness hardware for your copier. Please consult your copier dealer or technician.

Q: Sepialine Copy Tracking locks my copier until users log in. What happens if the network goes down?
A: A key switch override is provided on every SCI unit, so that you can always enable your copier(s) manually.