The WCPP client utility

Overview

Each client machine that wants to print locally from ASP.NET CORE websites through the WebClientPrint solution will require to install a very small utility called WebClientPrint Processor (WCPP).

WCPP is a lightweight native app (without any dependencies) that processes all the Client Print Jobs generated by the WebClientPrint server-side component.

WCPP is a native app that does not require the client to install any other dependencies or frameworks (like Java, .NET, ActiveX, Silverlight, Flash, etc.) and runs on Windows, Linux, Mac & Raspberry Pi! You can keep your current enterprise hardware, save money and start porting your systems to ASP.NET CORE web apps with your current infrastructure.

The client machine requirements are:

  • Windows Clients

    • OS: Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8.x (Desktop-mode), Windows 10
    • BROWSER: Internet Explorer 6 or greater (IE10/11 in Desktop Mode), Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox 2.0 or greater, Google Chrome 11 or greater, Opera 9.0 or greater, Safari 3.0 or greater

  • Linux Clients

    • OS: Debian 6 or greater (GNOME), Ubuntu 10.04 or greater (Unity/GNOME), Linux Mint 7 or greater (GNOME), Fedora 11 or greater (GNOME), CentOS 5.3 or greater (GNOME)
    • BROWSER: Mozilla Firefox shipped with the OS or latest version, Google Chrome latest version

  • Mac Clients

    • OS: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) or greater / Intel
    • BROWSER: Safari shipped with the OS or latest version, Mozilla Firefox latest version, Google Chrome latest version

  • Raspberry Pi Clients

    • OS: Raspbian
    • BROWSER: Iceweasel (Firefox), Chromium

How WCPP works?

WCPP is launched from the client machine each time the user that interacts with your website takes an action which invokes the jsWebClientPrint.print() (usually when clicking on a Print button or anchor you provide in your website)

When launched, WCPP makes HTTP GET requests to your ASP.NET CORE Website. This request will be handled by a Controller or HTTP Handler which after processing the printing request, it will create and return a Client Print Job. Please refer to the WebClientPrint Server Component

Proxy Server Environments

If the user requires to passthrough a Proxy Server to get access to your website, then the WCPP Utility needs to be specified with the Proxy Settings. To do this, the following commands need to be executed from the Command Line/Terminal in the Client Machine

Specifying Proxy Settings

[WCPP Install Folder]/wcpp -proxyHost:10.0.0.20 -proxyPort:8080 -proxyUser:TheUser -proxyPass:ABC123

Authentication Type in Windows: If user runs on Windows and proxy authentication requires NTLM or DIGEST, then use -proxyAuth:NTLM or -proxyAuth:DIGEST parameters respectivelly.

Delete Proxy Settings

[WCPP Install Folder]/wcpp -proxyHost:delete -proxyPort:delete -proxyUser:delete -proxyPass:delete -proxyAuth:delete

WCPP Installer Packages

The WCPP Installer Packages are available at http://neodynamic.com/downloads/wcpp

You can host it on your own website but please consider linking it to Neodynamic's website. It will help you and your users to always get the latest builds of WCPP and ensure the utility comes from us.

WCPP Security Protection

Both the WCPP Installer for Windows as well as the WCPP program file (wcpp.exe) are digitally-signed with a Windows Authenticode certificate issued by DigiCert Assured ID Code Signing CA-1 to protect you, your end-users and us from malware and tampering.

You must instruct and educate your end-users to install the WCPP utility only if it comes from our company i.e. the Publisher is Neodynamic SRL as shown in the following figures.

WCPP Open File - Security Warning

WCPP Code Signing Certificate