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Enabling Tricerat Advanced Print Features

Overview​

Tricerat Advanced Print Features enables access to the native printer driver user interface within ScrewDrivers sessions. When enabled, users can access manufacturer-specific printer settings, configure advanced features, and create custom print profiles directly from their applications.

Without Advanced Print Features, users see only a simplified print dialog with basic options. With Advanced Print Features enabled, they gain access to the full driver interface, including:

  • Advanced color management and correction
  • Finishing options (stapling, hole punching, booklet creation)
  • Watermarks and overlays
  • Custom paper sizes and media types
  • Manufacturer-specific features (like HP's Job Storage or Xerox's Special Pages)
  • Native driver preferences and defaults
Prerequisites
  • ScrewDrivers v6 or v7 installed and configured
  • ScrewDrivers Administration console access
  • Printer drivers installed on the Print Server or Driver Repository
  • Appropriate permissions to modify printer settings in the Administration console

Why Enable Advanced Print Features?​

For End Users​

Access to native driver settings: Users can configure advanced features specific to their printer model without administrator intervention.

Printer profiles: Users can save frequently used print settings as profiles, eliminating repetitive configuration for common print jobs (see Printer Profiles Configuration).

Self-service customization: Reduces help desk tickets by allowing users to configure their own print preferences.

Full feature access: Enables access to all printer capabilities, not just basic options like copies, orientation, and paper size.

For Administrators​

Centralized configuration: Create and deploy printer profiles with organizational defaults.

Compliance enforcement: Set default duplex, black-and-white, or other settings via profiles.

Reduced support calls: Users can troubleshoot and configure their own advanced settings.

Better driver utilization: Take full advantage of printer features purchased with expensive MFP devices.

Enabling Advanced Print Features​

Step 1: Open ScrewDrivers Administration Console​

Launch the ScrewDrivers Administration application and navigate to the printer you want to configure.

You can enable Advanced Print Features for:

  • Print Server printers
  • Direct IP printers
  • Individual printer assignments

Step 2: Select the Printer​

Click on the printer object in the Administration console to select it and view its properties.

Step 3: Enable Advanced Print Features​

Locate the Tricerat Advanced Print Features section in the printer properties. Check the box next to Enable Advanced Print Features.

Step 4: Save Changes​

A blue Save button appears after making changes. Click the Save button to apply the configuration.

The setting is now saved and will take effect for new printer creations. Users who already have this printer in their session may need to log off and log back in for the change to apply.

Using Advanced Print Features as an End User​

Once enabled, users can access the native printer driver interface from any print dialog.

Step 1: Open a Print Dialog​

From any application (Microsoft Word, Adobe Reader, etc.), initiate printing:

  1. Click File → Print
  2. Or press Ctrl+P

Step 2: Access Printer Properties​

In the print dialog, click the Properties or Preferences button next to the printer name.

Button Names

Different applications use different names:

  • "Properties"
  • "Preferences"
  • "Printer Properties"
  • "Advanced..."

All lead to the same printer configuration dialog.

Step 3: Navigate to Advanced Print Features Tab​

In the printer properties dialog, look for the Advanced Print Features tab. Click the Advanced Print Features tab to access the Tricerat controls.

Step 4: Show Native Driver UI​

Click the Show UI button to launch the native printer driver interface.

Step 5: Configure Native Driver Settings​

The native driver interface appears, showing all manufacturer-specific options and settings.

This is the exact same interface you'd see if the printer were locally installed on your computer. All driver-specific features and options are available:

Common Native Driver Features:

  • Paper/Quality tab: Media type, print quality, color mode
  • Effects tab: Resizing, watermarks, orientation
  • Finishing tab: Duplex, stapling, hole punching, booklet mode
  • Color tab: Color management, color adjustment, matching
  • Advanced tab: Driver-specific options, memory settings
  • Services or Device Settings tab: Installed accessories, trays

Configure any settings you need, then click OK to apply them to your current print job.

Advanced Print Features vs. Standard Dialog​

Understanding the difference helps you decide when to enable Advanced Print Features.

Standard Print Dialog (Advanced Features Disabled)​

Pros:

  • Simpler, cleaner interface
  • Faster print job submission
  • Less confusing for basic users
  • Consistent across all printer models
  • Lower bandwidth usage (simpler driver communication)

Cons:

  • Limited to basic options (copies, orientation, paper size, duplex)
  • Can't access manufacturer-specific features
  • No access to advanced color management
  • Can't configure finishing options (stapling, hole punching)
  • Users can't save custom profiles

Advanced Print Features Enabled​

Pros:

  • Full access to all driver capabilities
  • Native UI shows all printer features
  • Users can configure advanced options
  • Supports printer profiles for saved settings
  • Access to manufacturer-specific tools

Cons:

  • More complex interface (can confuse basic users)
  • Slightly slower print job submission
  • Requires more bandwidth for driver communication
  • May expose settings users shouldn't change

When to Enable Advanced Print Features​

Enable for These Scenarios​

Power Users and Departments:

  • Graphic design departments needing color management
  • Legal departments using finishing options (stapling, hole punching)
  • Marketing teams requiring watermarks and overlays
  • Finance departments enforcing duplex and black-and-white defaults

Specific Printer Models:

  • High-end MFPs with advanced finishing
  • Color production printers
  • Wide-format plotters
  • Specialty printers (label printers, badge printers)

Self-Service Environments:

  • Organizations with tech-savvy users
  • Environments minimizing help desk involvement
  • Users who frequently print different document types

Don't Enable for These Scenarios​

General Office Users:

  • Users who only need basic printing
  • Environments prioritizing simplicity
  • Users who rarely print

Limited or Locked-Down Printers:

  • Basic black-and-white printers with few features
  • Kiosk or public printing terminals
  • Printers where settings should never change

High-Security Environments:

  • Locations where users shouldn't modify printer settings
  • Compliance-driven organizations with strict print policies
  • Environments using centrally managed, locked profiles

Combining with Printer Profiles​

Advanced Print Features and Printer Profiles work together powerfully:

Administrator-Created Profiles​

Administrators can use Advanced Print Features to:

  1. Enable Advanced Print Features on a test printer
  2. Log in as a test user
  3. Access the native driver UI
  4. Configure desired default settings
  5. Save as an administrator profile
  6. Assign the profile to printers, users, or groups

See Printer Profiles Configuration for complete details.

User-Created Profiles​

With Advanced Print Features enabled, users can:

  1. Access the native driver UI
  2. Configure settings for frequent print jobs
  3. Save configurations as personal profiles
  4. Quick-switch between profiles for different document types

Example User Profiles:

  • "Draft - BW - Duplex" for everyday documents
  • "Final - Color - Simplex" for presentations
  • "Letterhead - Color - Single-sided" for business correspondence
  • "Booklet - Duplex - Stapled" for bound documents

Troubleshooting Advanced Print Features​

Show UI Button is Grayed Out​

Symptom: The Show UI button in the Advanced Print Features tab is disabled.

Solutions:

  • Verify Advanced Print Features is enabled for this printer in the Administration console
  • Save the setting in the Administration console and have the user log off/on
  • Check that the printer driver is properly installed on the session host
  • Confirm the driver supports native UI (some universal drivers don't)

Native Driver Dialog Doesn't Appear​

Symptom: Clicking Show UI does nothing or shows an error.

Solutions:

  • Check driver compatibility: Some drivers don't support UI display in session environments
  • Verify driver version: Update to the latest driver from the manufacturer
  • Test locally: Verify the driver UI works when the printer is locally installed
  • Review event logs: Check Windows Event Viewer for driver errors
  • Reinstall the driver: Delete and reimport the driver in Printer Discovery

Settings Don't Apply to Print Jobs​

Symptom: Configuring settings in the native UI doesn't affect the printed output.

Solutions:

  • Ensure you clicked OK in the native driver dialog (not just closed it)
  • Verify the printer supports the configured feature (some options may not work with certain paper trays or media types)
  • Check for conflicting profiles: A user or administrator profile might override manual settings
  • Test with a different application to rule out application-specific overrides

Advanced Features Enabled But Users Don't See the Tab​

Symptom: The Advanced Print Features tab doesn't appear in the printer properties.

Solutions:

  • Verify the setting was saved in the Administration console
  • Have users log off and log back in to refresh printer configurations
  • Check that users have the correct printer (not a cached or old version)
  • Confirm the ScrewDrivers version supports Advanced Print Features (v6+ required)

Security and Compliance Considerations​

Controlling User Access​

While Advanced Print Features provide flexibility, consider these controls:

Disable for Compliance Environments: If your organization has strict printing policies (mandatory duplex, mandatory black-and-white), you may want to:

  • Keep Advanced Print Features disabled
  • Use administrator-assigned profiles only
  • Prevent users from changing settings

Enable with Profile Enforcement: If you want to give users access to native settings but enforce some defaults:

  • Enable Advanced Print Features
  • Assign administrator profiles with organizational defaults
  • Users can change settings per job, but defaults reapply for each new print

Selective Enablement: Enable Advanced Print Features only for:

  • Specific printers (high-end MFPs, color printers)
  • Specific users or groups (power users, design teams)
  • Specific locations (headquarters, not branch offices)

Auditing and Monitoring​

When Advanced Print Features are enabled:

  • Monitor printer usage: Check if users are misusing advanced features
  • Review print logs: Look for excessive color printing if black-and-white is preferred
  • Audit profile changes: Track when users create or modify personal profiles
  • Compliance reporting: Generate reports showing duplex usage, color vs. B&W ratios

Best Practices​

  1. Test before deployment: Enable Advanced Print Features on test printers first
  2. User training: Provide documentation or training for users who need native driver access
  3. Selective enablement: Don't enable for all printers—only those where users need advanced features
  4. Document printer capabilities: Let users know which printers have which advanced features
  5. Monitor usage: Track how Advanced Print Features are being used and adjust based on actual needs
  6. Regular driver updates: Keep printer drivers current to avoid UI compatibility issues
  7. Combine with profiles: Use administrator profiles to set good defaults, then let users customize as needed