[RESOLVED] need to add a 2nd user/printer

[jrough]

I have a php script that prints barcode labels, 200 rows at a time, per each page. There is no permanent connection to the printer, it works best with 200 at a time. The php page displays the rows based on a search form. It then writes to a template and a javascript button drops the template to the FTP server /printer. Only one user is using it only for printing, but they would like two users. There was some data input but that feature isn't being used. It is on the same network.

There is no login/password system. Since there is no data input involved with the printing, it should work with two different users, using two separate printers.

My question is how do I add the 2nd user/ printer?I have a form that lets the user change the printer and on the printer script page I have a sql query that pulls the most recent user/printer. Do I add sessions? How do I tell which user is printing? They would always be the same 2 users, the IP's might change depending on which location they are printing from. tia,

[jrough]

I forgot to mention they will be printing different units of labels by different locations.

[jeremyphphaven]

Since each user will be printing different sets of bar codes (each user won't print the same barcodes), I think the question you need to solve for is "How am I going to distinguish which bar codes go to which user without the users being uniquely identified?"

Are you flagging the rows after they are retrieved to show they have printed?

If the idea is to track who printed what, I think it's a simple matter of creating a tracking table on the database and track via IP. you could also add a simple front page form that makes a user punch in their name before they are able to print out the barcodes eh, then save their name, ip, and which barcodes they printed (and when) to a tracking DB.

What you think?

[jrough]

Yes I need to flag the printed ones not who printed them though. I plan to have a javascript confirm button after the print is complete to flag them printed. It goes to an FTP zebra printer. It isn't a live connection to the printer. It just plops the template in and that is it. It is really fast so there shouldn't be any problems with interference with each other since they have 2 printers.. They will be assigned to print their own units so they won't be printing the wrong ones. The only danger would be printing to the wrong printer and destroying the labels they will be in separate cities. I print 200 at a time. The labels are expensive. Do I use cookies and sessions or what to determine who is the user/printer? thanks very much.

[jeremyphphaven]

Sessions are fine and cookies are fine. Sessions are probably going to be easier for you if you're not all that great at PHP.