Tracker 4.0 is a powerful centralized print manager / print counter / printer monitor for Windows NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista print-server printing environments and direct IP printing environments.

Pros: CZ Print Job Tracker 4.0 is a powerful centralized print manager / print counter / printer monitor for Windows NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista print-server printing environments and direct IP printing environments. It takes care of mixed environments such as printers connected to workstations and printers connected to printer-server devices like the HP JetDirect.

Print jobs sent from a mixed environment consisting of Windows / Linux / Unix / Mac OS clients can be managed easily. Single location monitoring has functions such as alert by email, audit and log of all printing activity, analysis and monitoring of printing costs etc. Entering client code or project code and authentication by users ensures the costs are apportioned to right projects in a professional consulting environment or in a service organization. Quota management and audit of jobs ensure budgets are not exceeded and unauthorized print jobs do not use up resources. Jobs are redirected to idle printers as appropriate, with intimation to the initiator of the job. Add on modules help organize the services depending on the configuration available.

The reports can be created in a range of language and sent by email automatically. Up to 100 different reports can be generated, again in a range of languages. The reports can also be viewed from a web browser.

The user interface is mainly a log of jobs executing on different printers, gives a overview to the manager easily. Preferences pop up lets the printers and printer parameters be set up initially. It is fairly easy to understand.

Cons: Removing the preferences page was difficult, it was remaining on once the program was started. The close button was not operating by clicking on it. This was quite an irritation.

Quite an elaborate application it addresses a complex control and audit situation. Overall a 4 star performer.