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Console Panes Reference

The ScrewDrivers Administration console organizes its workspace into three primary panes that work together to manage your print infrastructure. The Objects pane lets you browse and configure printers and settings, the Assignments pane shows which users and computers have access to those resources, and the Information pane displays detailed properties and configuration forms. Understanding how these panes interact is essential for efficient administration.

Overview​

The three-pane layout provides a logical workflow for managing assignments. You'll typically start in the Objects pane to select what you want to configure (printers, session settings, or permissions), then move to the Assignments pane to see or modify who has access, and finally use the Information pane to view or edit detailed configuration settings.

Each pane updates dynamically based on your selections in other panes, creating an integrated environment where you can quickly understand relationships between objects and owners. The panes are resizable, letting you adjust the layout based on your current task.

Objects Pane​

The Objects pane displays all available objects organized by type in a hierarchical tree structure. An object in ScrewDrivers Administration is something you can assign to users or computers—like a PDF printer, a session setting configuration, or an administrative permission. Objects can be grouped into object groups for easier management of multiple similar items.

The pane's name and content change dynamically based on which icon you select from the Icon Bar. When you click the Printers icon, the pane shows "Printers" and displays all printer objects; when you click Session Printer Settings, it shows "Session Settings" and displays printer session settings, scanning session settings, and printer profiles. This dynamic behavior keeps the interface focused on your current task.

Objects display in alphabetical order within each object type, and each type has a unique icon for quick visual identification. The specific object types you'll see depend on which ScrewDrivers products your organization has licensed—the console automatically shows only what's relevant to your environment.

Note: Depending on your window size, you might need to resize the Objects pane after expanding the Icon Bar to maintain visibility of the full object tree.

Assignments Pane​

The Assignments pane shows you which owners have access to selected objects. An owner is any entity that can receive assignments and configuration settings—users, groups, computers, IP addresses, or organizational units. When you assign an object, you're associating it with a specific owner so that owner gains access to that resource.

The pane organizes owners across three tabs, each representing a different owner type:

Active Directory Tab​

This tab displays your Active Directory domain structure with its organizational units (OUs). You'll use this when assigning objects based on your organization's AD hierarchy. OUs provide the most common way to apply printer and setting assignments at scale.

Note: ScrewDrivers Administration treats OUs and Containers as the same owner type for assignment purposes.

Network Tab​

The Network tab shows client computers specified by DNS name, IP address, or IP address ranges. This tab is essential when you need to assign printers based on physical location or network topology rather than Active Directory structure.

Local Users and Groups Tab​

This tab displays local accounts on the Terminal Server or machine where users log in. You'll use this for scenarios where Active Directory group membership doesn't align with printing needs, or when managing standalone or workgroup systems.

Information Pane​

The Information pane displays detailed information about whatever you've selected in the Objects or Assignments panes. The content varies based on your selection—it might show read-only information like a list of default printers for an owner, or it might display a fillable object form with configuration parameters.

When you select an object that can be configured, the Information pane loads an object form with controls preset to the current settings. Each object type has its own specialized form with relevant configuration options organized into tabs. You can expand or collapse individual tabs using the icons next to each tab name, which helps you focus on the specific settings you need to modify.

Important: After changing any value on any tab, you must click the Save button in the top right corner of the Information pane. The console saves all current values across all tabs when you click Save—you can't save changes on a per-tab basis. This ensures configuration consistency across related settings.

You might need to use the scroll bar on the right side of the Information pane to access all available tabs, especially for objects with extensive configuration options.

Workflow Integration​

These three panes work together in a coordinated workflow. When you select an object type from the Icon Bar, the Objects pane updates to show relevant objects. Selecting an object in that pane updates the Information pane to show its configuration form. Similarly, selecting an owner in the Assignments pane updates the Information pane to show what's been assigned to that owner.

This integrated design lets you quickly navigate between "what exists" (Objects), "who has access" (Assignments), and "how it's configured" (Information) without losing context or switching between separate windows.