LAWBase - Uploading PaperCut Usage to Lawbase. .

 

PaperCut by default uses an internal database that does not allow multiple accesses to occur. To get the usage data from PaperCut in a format that is compatible with Lawbase we must access the data directly.

Therefore we must either (a) Stop the PaperCut application service, extract the data then restart the service or (b) Upsize the PaperCut Database to SQL Express (or similar) and directly access the data with an SQL Query.

This article illustrates how to set up method (a) Stopping the service, extracting the data then restarting the service:

 

Step 1

 

Download the Lawbase files and extract into:

 

"C:\Program Files\PaperCut MF\server\bin\win\"

 

Lawbase Export Files

 

 

Step 2

 

Create a Batch file that will stop the PaperCut Service, Export the Data then Re-start the PaperCut Service.

 

Create a file called "C:\Program Files\PaperCut MF\LawBaseData\ExportPaperCutData.Bat"

 

Open the file in Edit Mode and Copy the following into the file.

 

NET STOP "PaperCut Application Server"
REM Stops the PaperCut Service
"C:\Program Files (x86)\PaperCut MF\server\bin\win\lawbase-export.exe" "C:\Program Files (x86)\PaperCut MF\LawBaseData\JobUsage.txt"
REM exports yesterdays data to the usage.txt file (make sure it is all on one line)
NET START "PaperCut Application Server"
REM Restarts the PaperCut Service

REM Now run the LawBase Usage Import to update Lawbase with yesterdays copy and print usage
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Lexis LAWbase\Bin\lbshelle41.exe" COPIERLOGGER /cmd r

REM pause
REM The pause will leave the command window open so you can check to see that there have been no syntax errors but you should remove it when you go live.

 

Usage File.

 

The contents of the usage file will typically be:

 

 

This lists Client.Matter, some blank fields, the number of Copies/prints and the associated cost.

 

Note:, this always exports yesterdays data, so for testing purposes you will need to change the system data to tomorrows date. (Don't forget to put it back at the end though)

 

Step 3.

 

Create a Windows Scheduled Task to run the batch file at 2.am

 

 

Create the Trigger

 

 

Create the Action, which will be to run the batch file created above.

 

 

Save the task then run it to check the data is exported.

 

When running the schedule you should receive the following output from the command window created and have the JobUsage.txt file created in the specified folder.

 


.In the Windows Task Scheduler you should now see both your tasks.