A 'workstation' is a term meaning a computer or device, and the printers that are connected to it. If you import your orders with Click & Drop Desktop and you wish for your labels to be printed automatically, you will need to set up at least one workstation.
Setting up multiple workstations allows multiple users to import orders into the same Click & Drop account, and send labels they process to different printers.
What do I need to install on each additional computer/device?
If you have not already installed and configured Click & Drop Desktop, please see this guide: How to import orders with Click & Drop Desktop. You will need to do this first.
Once downloaded, go to settings and set your 'Watch directory'. This should be the same watch directory for all of your workstations. Please do not select your individual workstation folders at this point.
If you wish for your labels to print automatically, and your watch directory is on a shared server or network location, you only need to install Click & Drop Desktop on the server or network machine. Please note: You will need to have Click & Drop Desktop version 2.1 or later, with Auto Print enabled on each machine you wish to print from.
If you wish for your labels to print automatically, and your watch directory is not on a shared server or network location, you will need to install Click & Drop Desktop with Auto Print enabled on every workstation you wish to print from.
For more information, please see this guide: How to connect Royal Mail Auto Print.
Please note that if you are using multiple workstations within Click & Drop, you do not need to configure your printers in Click & Drop Desktop - but you must have Auto Print switched on and configured.
Configuring your workstations in Click & Drop account settings
To begin, go to your Settings page when logged into Click & Drop in a browser, and click the 'Integrations' tile. In the new window that opens, click Click anywhere within your 'Click & Drop Desktop'. integration to expand the line and view additional information.
In order to configure multiple workstations, you must first ensure the 'Print labels automatically after import' button is checked.
Next, click the 'Configure workstations' button.
You will be presented with the screen that will display each workstation that you have connected to Click & Drop. A workstation is a particular machine or device that you or your staff may use.
When you configure a workstation, Click & Drop will be able to detect any printers installed on that device or machine, so please ensure your printers are installed correctly.
To configure a workstation, click the 'Add workstation' button.
From the drop down menus, select the workstation you are currently on, and then select which printer should be used for each type of label/document.
The options available here are dependent on your label template settings. For information on how to change or review your label settings, please see this guide: Choosing your label template.
If you choose to use the 'Is default' setting, all documents dropped into your 'Watch' folder will be automatically send to your default printer.
Click the 'Save' button when ready.
To configure a different workstation, log into Click & Drop on that particular machine or device, and click the 'Add workstation' button again to repeat the process.
Which folder should I drop my spreadsheets into?
Within your 'Watch' folder, a new folder will have been created for each workstation you have configured.
When you are working on a particular workstation, you will need to drop your file into that particular workstation's folder.
In the example below, two different workstations have been configured, 'Workstation A' and 'Workstation B'.
If you drop your file into your 'Workstation A' folder, your labels will print from the printers configured for 'Workstation A', and your labels, results files, and processed spreadsheets will all be placed into correct folders.
Recommended setup when multiple versions of Click & Drop Desktop to import spreadsheets from folders on local machines
If you will be processing files from a folder on a local machine, or from a folder that is not shared, and you wish for labels to be printed automatically, you will need to:
- Install the Click & Drop Desktop app on the machine
- Configure the machine as a workstation in Click & Drop Desktop integration settings within the browser, and ensure printers are selected.
- Ensure Auto Printing is switched ON in Click & Drop within the browser. If you have multiple logins/users on your account, you'll need to switch this on for every user who can print.
- Make sure Auto Print only mode is OFF within the Click& Drop Desktop app.
- In each Click & Drop Desktop app, select the Watch folder where you will be placing files. A subfolder with the same of the workstation will be automatically created. Do not select the workstation subfolder as the Watch folder.
- When a file is dropped into a workstation subfolder, providing the file has sufficient information for a label to be produced, the label will be automatically sent to the printer associated with that workstation.
- Repeat for all workstations/machines you wish to use. Please note that different machines can send labels to the same printer this way if you choose.
Each installed Click & Drop Desktop app needs to be able to read files from its own folder, and Auto Print to its own printer.
Recommended setup when multiple versions of Click & Drop Desktop to import spreadsheets from folders on a shared network location
If you will be processing files from a folder on a shared/networked location that multiple machines can access, there are some additional steps that must be taken to prevent multiple apps from trying to read, process, and print the same files. Without proper setup, duplicate labels could be produced, or Auto printing could not work properly.
If you wish for labels to be printed automatically, you will need to:
- Install the Click & Drop Desktop app on the machine
- Configure the machine as a workstation in Click & Drop Desktop integration settings within the browser, and ensure printers are selected.
- Ensure Auto Printing is switched ON in Click & Drop within the browser. If you have multiple logins/users on your account, you'll need to switch this on for every user who can print.
- Make sure that only one machine has Auto Print only mode is OFF within the Click& Drop Desktop app settings. For all other machines, set Auto Print only mode to ON. This step ensures that only one app is doing the importing of files, and avoiding conflicts. All other apps will be responsible for printing only.
- In the Click & Drop Desktop app that will be responsible for reading and importing files, select the Watch folder where you will be placing files. One or more subfolder with the same of the workstation will be automatically created. Do not select the workstation subfolder as the Watch folder.
- When a file is dropped into a workstation subfolder, providing the file has sufficient information for a label to be produced, the label will be automatically sent to the printer associated with that workstation.
- Repeat for all workstations/machines you wish to use. Please note that different machines can send labels to the same printer this way if you choose.
Each installed Click & Drop Desktop app needs to be able to send labels to its own printer, but only one Click & Drop Desktop app needs to process files when the Watch folder is shared by all machines.