When the user client tool in PaperCut NG or PaperCut ChargeBack is installed on a Windows system, it delivers notifications using balloon tips by default.

If you have disabled balloon tips (e.g. by using Group Policy), PaperCut will not be able to display notifications from the client tool. You may hear the standard windows 'pop' sound when a notification arrives, but nothing will be displayed. There are two options to get notifications working: 1) enable balloon tips, or 2) make the client tool deliver notifications using standard dialogs instead of balloon tips.

1. Re-enabling balloon tips

a) Via Group Policy (if using Active Directory, recommended method)

1. Open the Group Policy Object Editor for the group in question
2. Browse to User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Start Menu and Taskbar
3. Find the setting Remove Balloon Tips on Start Menu Items
4. Double-click on the setting and change the status to Disabled or Not configured

b) Via Group Policy Custom Administrative Template

1. Download the BalloonTips.adm template from here. You can also view a screen-cast of the process here. (special thanks to Daniel for the contribution)
2. Open Group Policy editor
3. Edit the relevant GP
4. Right Click on User\Administrative Templates
5. Choose Add/Remove and add the new balloontips.adm
6. Then Right click again on Administrative Templates - Choose View / Filtering and untick "Only show policy settings that can be fully managed"

b) Via the registry (advanced)

1. Open the Registry Editor' on the system in question
2. Find the key HKEY_CURRENT_USER -> Software -> Microsoft -> Windows -> CurrentVersion -> Explorer -> Advanced
3. Look for the value EnableBalloonTips. If it exists, change its value to 2, or remove the value completely, to re-enable balloon tips.

2. Forcing the client tool to deliver notifications using dialogs

The client tool can be forced to deliver notifications using standard windows dialogs instead of balloon tips. This can be done on an individual system when the client tool is installed locally, or for all systems by modifying the version of the client available on the network share.

To force standard dialogs, locate the file tray.dll. For a local installation this will be located on the workstation at [app-dir]\lib\tray.dll. The version to run from the network will be located on the server at [app-dir]\client\lib\tray.dll.

Rename the tray.dll file to something else, e.g. tray_disabled.dll.

Restart the client tool(s) and send a test notification. The notification should now appear in a standard dialog instead of a balloon tip.

Categories: Troubleshooting, UserClientTool

Keywords: popup, message, low balance notification, printing notifications