Before you can start the integration process, you'll need to make sure your device is set up correctly. You'll also need configure some settings in both PaperCut and Nexudus.
Make sure you complete these steps from your network location.
If you have an individual PaperCut server for each location, you'll need to complete the integration process for each server, as each PaperCut server requires its own dedicated bridge agent.
You'll need the following in order to run the integration:
- A desktop or laptop running Windows
- The latest version of .NET
- Your PaperCut settings
- A pricing model
A Desktop or Laptop Running Windows
While PaperCut MF and NG are available on all operating systems, including macOS, the Nexudus Bridge integration only works with devices running Windows.
We recommend installing both the PaperCut driver and Nexudus Bridge on the same device.
The bridge can't regularly sync print jobs and users when you turn off the device.
You'll also need your device's IP address. You can easily find your device's IP address by opening a command prompt from Windows Search and entering the command ipconfig.
Make a note of your IPv4 address, which is a set of four numbers separated by periods. You'll need this address at two steps in the integration process: when you define your Papercut settings and when you set up the integration.
The latest version of .NET
You'll also need to install the latest version of .NET on your device. You can download it here.
Once you've set up your device and installed .NET, the next step is to configure your settings in PaperCut.
PaperCut Settings
You'll need to configure the following settings in PaperCut before beginning the integration process.
A PaperCut License
You need a PaperCut license with a user limit that matches the number of customers who will print in your space. We recommend choosing a slightly higher limit to allow for growth and prevent printing being denied to new customers.
For example, if you have 100 customers who use printing, your PaperCut license should include at the very least 100 users.
For more details, check out Papercut NG or PaperCut MF pricing.
Disabling Sync Sources and Enabling Internal Users
You don't need a sync source in PaperCut since Nexudus handles the creation and sync of users in PaperCut once the integration is complete.
- Go to Options > User/Group Sync on the PaperCut Admin Panel.
- Make sure the Primary sync source field is blank.
- Tick the Enable internal users checkbox at the bottom of the page.
- Disable Also email confirmation message to user.
- Click Apply.
Making All Printers Unauthenticated
All the printers Nexudus users can print from must be unauthenticated in PaperCut. This will automatically require user authentication to release print jobs and let Nexudus deduct credits from their account or charge them the relevant amount for their print jobs.
- Click on Printers in the navigation menu of the PaperCut admin panel.
- Click on the relevant printer.
- Scroll down to Advanced configuration.
- Tick the Unauthenticated printer checkbox.
- Save your changes.
Repeat the process for every printer that Nexudus users should be able to use.
Setting up an Authentication Token
You'll need to set up an authentication token to allow the bridge agent to communicate with PaperCut.
You can follow PaperCut's instructions to set up this token. Make a note of your token as you'll also need to add it in Nexudus when you set up the integration.
Store it in a safe location and don't share it with anyone.
Adding your IP Address as an Approved Server
You'll also need to add your IP address to the list of approved servers.
- Go to Options > Config Editor on the PaperCut Admin Panel.
- In the field next to auth.webservices.allowed-addresses, add a comma and your IP address.
- Make sure you add a comma between the IP addresses
- Make sure there are no spaces before or after your IP address
✅ Correct Format
❌ Incorrect Format
- Click Update.
Setting your Minimum Password Length
You'll need to set a minimum password length of 8 digits or more in PaperCut to allow customers to log in to the client portal to print. The password will always be the customer's PIN code in Nexudus preceded by several zeroes.
- Go to Options > Config Editor on the PaperCut Admin Panel.
- In the field next to internal-users.self-registration.min-password-length, enter a digit that is 8 or higher.
- Click Update.
Customers will now be able to log in to the PaperCut client portal using their Nexudus PIN code preceded by several zeroes.
For example, if a customer's PIN code in Nexudus is 12345 and you set the minimum password length to 8, the customer's password will be 00012345.
Once you've configured your settings in PaperCut, the next step is to begin the integration process.
A Pricing Model
You print pricing must be set up in both PaperCut and Nexudus before you start the integration process. How you set up your print pricing will depend on which of the following pricing models you choose:
Pay-per-print Only
Customers can print as much as they'd like, and Nexudus invoices them according to the prices you set in PaperCut. Printing credits are not available.
Printing Credits Only
Customers can only print if they have enough printing credits in their account. Once they run out, Nexudus won't let them print until they receive more credits through a product or plan or by an admin directly adding them to their account.
Customers won't be able to print unless they have enough credits to cover the entire print job.
For example, a customer wants to print 10 black-and-white pages at 5 credits each for a print job totalling 50 credits. If they only have 45 credits remaining, they won’t be able to print.
Printing Credits & Pay-per-print
Customers print using printing credits until they run out, at which point Nexudus will charge and invoice them for any additional print jobs.
Free Unlimited Printing
Customers can print as much as they’d like for free. They don’t need printing credits, and Nexudus won’t invoice them.
Setting up your pricing model in PaperCut
The first step is to set up your print pricing in PaperCut.
Defining a custom currency
Regardless of which pricing model you use, you'll need to set your currency to credits in PaperCut.
1. On the PaperCut admin panel, go to Options > General > Display Options.
2. Tick the Display currency sign and Use custom currency sign checkboxes.
3. Add Credits in the Custom sign field.
4. Select Display after number in the Display drop-down list.
5. Click Apply.
Defining print prices
You need to set up the price per page for each print type you have in PaperCut. You can apply different prices per page based on the type of print and the printer used by your customers.
Prices must be whole numbers.
1 credit in PaperCut = 1 cent or credit in Nexudus
For example, if you define the cost per page for A4 black and white prints to 5 credits in Papercut, you'll be able to charge customers either 5 credits or $0.05 per print in Nexudus.
For more details, check out Papercut's pricing tutorial.
Once you have your cost per page defined in PaperCut, you can move on to the pricing setup in Nexudus.
Setting up your pricing model in Nexudus
The final step is to create your printing inventory in Nexudus. Which inventory items you create in Nexudus depends on the pricing model you choose.
If you’re using the Credits & Pay-per-print pricing model, you’ll need to create all the inventory items listed under Pay-per-print Only and Printing Credits Only.
If you’re using the Free Unlimited Printing model, you don’t need to create any inventory items.
You’ll need to create the following inventory item in Nexudus when using the Pay-per-print Only pricing model.
A product dedicated to printing
The price of this product should always be set to 1 cent. This allows the prices you’ve defined in PaperCut to be multiplied by 0.01.
For example, if you set the price of an A4 black-and-white print to 5 credits in PaperCut, your customers will be invoiced $0.05 per print in Nexudus.
For more details, check out Adding Products.
You’ll need to create the following inventory items in Nexudus when using the Printing Credits Only pricing model.
A printing resource type
Before creating your printing credit in Nexudus, you’ll need to create a resource type dedicated to printing.
For more details, check out Adding Resource Types.
A rate dedicated to printing
You’ll also need to create a rate for your new printing resource type.
Log in to dashboard.nexudus.com if you haven’t already.
Go to Inventory > Prices.
Click Add rate.
Name your printing rate.
Under This rate applies to the following resource types, select your resource type dedicated to printing.
Set the rate Price to 1 for every use.
Click Save changes.
A printing credit
You’ll also need to create a printing credit to give to customers to allow them to print.
Log in to dashboard.nexudus.com if you haven’t already.
Go to Inventory > Printing credits.
Click Add printing credit.
Name your printing credit.
Under This credit can be used to book the following resource types, select your resource type dedicated to printing.
Click Save changes.
You should only have one printing credit in your Nexudus inventory.
Because only one printing credit can be tied to the integration, any other printing credits given to customers can’t be used.
You can give printing credits to customers as benefits through plans or products or by adding them directly to their account.
For more details, check out Printing Credits.
Once you've prepared your device, your PaperCut settings, and your pricing model, you can set up the integration.