Printers

Setting up printers for use with PracSoft

For printing under Windows to work, you must have printers installed. To install printers, or check that they have been previously installed, click Start – Settings – Printers…

Sharing printers on networks

All printing operations in PracSoft are performed through the Windows printing layer. This allows you to print to any printer on your Windows network.

NB: There is a limitation with the Share Names given to printers - there must be no spaces in the share name of the printer or the name of the computer, and the length of each name must not exceed 8 character. (A space or excessive length in either of these results in a space in the port name for the computers that are using this rinter as a network printer - spaces or excessive name length in port names are not supported by the current version of PracSoft.)

Printing Functions

PracSoft currently supports the following printing operations:

• Medicare DB4 (Bulk bill assignment form; dedicated tractor feed dot matrix printer required). Order free stationery from the HIC.
• Medicare PC1 (Patient claim form to go with private account; dedicated A4 paper tray that supports Landscape printing required). Order free pre-printed stationery from the HIC. The PC1 05/98 version of this form will require you to update to a version of PracSoft later than that installed from the August ’98 CD (available for download from our website, or contact PracSoft).
• Private accounts and receipts, banking summaries, lists of visits, receipts, etc. (requires a printers that supports text formatting, can use A4 or A5 paper size; the Windows default printer is used.)
• Medicare Assignment Forms (approved for use in conjunction with Medclaims) - fast laser printer recommended (requires a printers that supports text formatting, can use A4 or A5 paper size; the Windows default printer is used.)
• Label printing (using single column tractor feed labels). A dedicated tractor feed printer is required for this purpose.
• PracSoft Reports - any Windows printer. Printed on plain paper.

Setting up Printing for Medicare DB4 tractor feed stationery

There needs to be a Windows printer installed on your computer. If this is not already done, click Start - Settings - Printers, then double-click Add Printer and follow the instructions.

TIP: We recommend that you use printer names that describe the printers use rather than the default manufacturer and model name (e.g. DB4).

There is no need to print a test page at this point. When the new icon appears in the Printers window, right-click on the icon, then left-click on Properties. You need to change the Paper Size to Custom - with Width = 2100, Length = 2160 (Units 0.1 millimetres). You may now print a Windows Test Page (click Print Test Page in the General Tab).

From within the PracSoft Waiting Room, on the menu click Setup - Printing - DB4 Printing. The Vertical Offset is the amount (in millimetres) to roll forward before printing on the first line. Position the paper at the point where it is easy to tear off and adjust the Vertical Offset until it is printing in the correct position. The Vertical Scale Factor is usually set at 1. A change is only required if the line spacing is not correct for your printer.

NB: All printer settings are workstation specific - you will need to repeat this process on each workstation that you will want to print DB4 forms from.

After setting up and testing the printer you will also need to turn it on. This is normally done by checking the Enable DB4 Printing checkbox. After setting up and testing the printer you will also need to turn it on. This is normally done by checking the Enable DB4 Printing checkbox.

Setting up PracSoft Label Printing for JAQ single column tractor feed labels

There needs to be a Windows printer installed on your computer that is specifically for this purpose. If this is not already done, click Start - Settings - Printers, then double-click Add Printer and follow the instructions.

TIP: We recommend that you use printer names that describe the printer's use rather than the default manufacturer and model name (e.g. Label).

There is no need to print a test page at this point. When the new icon appears in the Printers window, right-click on the icon, then left-click on Properties. You must change the Paper Size to Custom - with Width = 1000, Length = 380 (Units 0.1 millimetres). You may now print a Windows Test Page (click Print Test Page in the General Tab).

To configure your label printer in PracSoft, in the Pracsoft Waiting Room click Setup - Printing - Label Printing - OK, then click Select Printer and follow the instructions. Position the paper at the point where it is ready to start printing the first label. Select the printer that has been set up as your label printer and print a test page - the Medical Label provides the best test as it prints on the full width of the label. Move the paper left or right in the printer's paper carriage to suit the left alignment on the label. If printing of right-aligned text is too far to the right compared to the edge of the label, decrease the Custom Width of the page in the Printer Properties (as described in previous paragraph).

Your printer may have a paper parking or tear off feature that will assist with the easy operation. Consult your printer's documentation to investigate this.

NB: All printer settings are workstation specific - you will need to repeat this process on each workstation you intend to print labels from.

Setting up PracSoft to print Medicare assignment forms on a laser printer

From within the PracSoft Waiting Room, on the menu click Setup - Printing - Print Laser DB4. When this function is turned on there will be a tick beside this item. Clicking on this menu item works like an on/off switch - only click on it if you intend to change the setting.

The next step in installation is Starting Medclaims Transmissions.