Set Up Printers

To make printers available to users when they distribute reports, you can create entries for printers and save them in the IBM Cognos 8 content store. When users want to print a report, they can select a printer that you set up without needing to know its network address details.

When you create a printer entry, ensure that the printer you define is set up on the computer where IBM Cognos 8 is installed. If the printer is not set up, the users cannot use it.

To set up printers, You must have the required capabilities to access IBM Cognos Administration functionality. You must have write permissions for the Cognos namespace. See Secured Functions and Features.

Printing Considerations

To avoid possible errors, ensure that the following conditions are met before you try printing:

• Ensure that Adobe Reader version 5.0.5 or later is installed on each computer where IBM Cognos 8 servers are installed.

• Ensure that the IBM Cognos 8 server is started using an account that has access to the network printer.

  Sometimes, system accounts may not have access to network printers.

• If IBM Cognos 8 is installed on UNIX, ensure that Adobe Reader is installed in the path of the user that starts IBM Cognos 8.

• If IBM Cognos 8 is installed on UNIX, ensure that the command lpstat -v, returns a configured printer and that a printer variable is defined.

• When you define the network address for the printer in IBM Cognos Connection, use the following syntax:

  For Windows, use \\server_name\printer_name.

  For UNIX, use printer_name.

• When you define the network address for the printer, try using the IP address of the printer instead of the computer name.

• Ensure that IBM Cognos 8 users have the correct access permissions to the printer.

  The role Directory Administrators must have all access permissions granted, and the group Everyone must have read, execute, and traverse permissions granted.

Steps

1. In IBM Cognos Connection, in the upper-right corner, click Launch, IBM Cognos Administration.

2. On the Configuration tab, click Printers.

   A list of printers appears.

   Tip: To remove a printer, select the check box for the printer and click the delete button.

3. On the toolbar, click the new printer button .

4. Type a name and, if you want, a description for the printer.

   Tip: Use a name that provides details about the printer, such as Color Printer - 4th Floor

5. Type the network address of the printer by using the format \\server_name\printer_name for a network printer on a Windows installation and printer_name for a UNIX installation or for a local printer on Windows.

6. Click Finish.

Tip: To check or assign access permissions for a printer, in the Actions column, click the set properties button  for the printer, and then click the Permissions tab.