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PrintSmart UTSA in the Library - FAQs
      Assess before you press "print"

Student Printing

What does it cost to print?
Each student will receive an allocation of 200 free pages each semester. The free pages have no cash value, and any balance does not roll over to the next semester.   After the 200 free pages are used, it costs 8-cents/page black and white, single-sided and 12-cents/page black and white, double-sided to print.

What login do I use to print?
Effective December 19th, 2007, you will be using the new UTSA student logon ID called myUTSAID with the format abc123 and password (case sensitive). There is no need to type "@utsarr.net" at the end of myUTSAID.

If you have not already done so, you need to access your ASAP account in order to get your new student logon ID. If you have problems using your new logon ID or need to reset your password, please visit any of the SCS Computer Labs for assistance.

From the workstation: When you are ready to print, you will get the following PrintSmart pop-up window:

Type myUTSAID (e.g., abc123) in the first box and enter your password twice. There is no need to type "@utsarr.net" at the end of myUTSAID.

From the student release station: When you are ready to release your print jobs:

Type myUTSAID (e.g., abc123) in the first box and your password. There is no need to type "@utsarr.net" at the end of myUTSAID.

I'm having trouble with my logon or releasing my print jobs. What could be the problem?

• Be sure you are using myUTSAID (e.g., abc123) and that you are entering your password correctly.
• If you have received a brand new UTSA ID Card, you need to wait at least an hour before you can release your print jobs. Go to any SCS Computer Labs to ensure you are in the system.
• If your password is older than 90 days, you need to renew it at any public workstation. If you don't remember you old password then you will need to go to any SCS Computer Labs to reset it.
• Be sure you use the same logon ID and password (case sensitive) at both the public workstation and release station.

How long will my print job stay at the release station until I print it?
Twenty-four hours.

How can I add money to my account?
You can add cash ($1, $5, $10, and $20 bills) to your UTSA ID Card at the value stations. You can also add funds at the ID Card Office, Fiscal Services, and in ASAP.

Can a print job that has been released to the printer be cancelled or stopped from printing?
No. You will have a chance at the release station to confirm that you want to print. Once released, it cannot be cancelled.

What is that first page that always prints when I release a job and am I being charged for it?
That first page is called the Banner, and it has a summary of your print job. If you need to request a credit (read note at the bottom of page), you need to have this page with you. This Banner page is free of charge.

If the printer jams or the print job is unreadable, can I get a credit?
Please read note at the bottom of page. Check with staff for assistance.

Are there other options besides printing?
Yes. You can save to 3.5 floppy disks, 250 or 750 MB zip disks, and flash drives, and in many cases, email articles from research databases

Faculty/Staff Printing

What does it cost to print?
8-cents/page black and white, single-sided and 12-cents/page black and white, double-sided to print.

What card do I swipe at the print release station?
Use your UTSA Faculty/Staff ID card.

What username and password do I use to print?
Please type your first and last name and any password (case sensitive) for each print job you send. You will have to re-type it again at the release station. Remember to choose a guest printer from the print list at the workstation.

How can I add money to my account?
You can add cash ($1, $5, $10, and $20 bills) to your UTSA ID Card at the value stations. You can also add funds at the ID Card Office, Fiscal Services, and in ASAP.

Can a print job that has been released to the printer be cancelled or stopped from printing?
No. You will have a chance to confirm that you want to print; once released, it cannot be cancelled.

Why did I get blank pages when I printed an article in PDF format?
For documents in PDF format, do not use the "File" print option. You must use the printer icon on the PDF toolbar.

What is that first page that always prints when I release a job and am I being charged for it?
That first page is called the Banner, and it has a summary of your print job. If you need to request a credit (read note at the bottom of page), you need to have this page with you. This Banner page is free of charge.

If the printer jams or the print job is unreadable, can I get a credit?
Check with staff for assistance. Please read note below.

Are there other options besides printing?
Yes. You can save to 3.5 floppy disks, 250 or 750 MB zip disks, and flash drives, and in many cases, email articles from research databases.

Guest (Non-UTSA) Printing

What does it cost to print?
8-cents/page black and white, single-sided and 12-cents/page black and white, double-sided to print.

Can I print in the Library Electronic Classroom (LEC)/PC Lab?
No. Only UTSA faculty/staff, students and invited guests are allowed to work and print in the LEC. General public can only use the online resources and print from the reference public area computers at both 1604 and Downtown libraries.

What card do I swipe at the print release station?
You will have to purchase a copy/printing guest card at the card station near the photocopiers. The card costs $1 and initially has no value. You can add value with $1, $5, $10, and $20 bills.

What username and password do I use to print?
Please type your first and last name and any password (case sensitive) for each print job you send. You will have to re-type it again at the release station. Remember to choose a guest printer from the print list at the workstation.

Can a print job that has been released to the printer be cancelled or stopped from printing?
No. You will have a chance to confirm that you want to print; once released, it cannot be cancelled.

Why did I get blank pages when I printed an article in PDF format?
For documents in PDF format, do not use the "File" print option. You must use the printer icon on the PDF toolbar.

What is that first page that always prints when I release a job and am I being charged for it?
That first page is called the Banner, and it has a summary of your print job. If you need to request a credit (read note at the bottom of page), you need to have this page with you. This Banner page is free of charge.

If the printer jams or the print job is unreadable, can I get a credit?
Check with staff for assistance. Please read note below.

Are there other options besides printing?
Yes. You can save to 3.5 floppy disks, 250 or 750 MB zip disks, and flash drives, and in many cases, email articles from research databases.

Printing & Saving Tips

Why did I get a second page that's mostly blank when I printed from UCAT?
Always click "Print Preview" to check what will actually print. Under "Page Range" you can select page 1. In UCAT under "Save Options" at the bottom of the page for a book record, you can select Print/Save. The result will be a one page layout of the information.

Why did I get blank pages when I printed an article in PDF format?
For documents in PDF format, do not use the "File" print option. You must use the printer icon on the PDF toolbar.

Are there printing tips for certain library databases?
Always look for a "Print" icon or option in the database. Using that option, if available, will remove extraneous information and give you a better print copy. Also be sure to check "Print Preview" before you print.

How can I avoid retyping my credentials when trying to print muliple documents?
The following PDF file will explain how to use PrintSmart more effectively.

What if I just want to print a section of a page?
Highlight the section, select "File" and then "Print." Under "Page Range" choose "Selection."

The right margin was cutoff. How do I fix that?
Go to "File" and then "Print." Choose "Layout" at the very top (you may have to click "Properties" to see this). Then select "Landscape" instead of "Portrait". That will print across the long side of the paper instead of top-down.

How can I save to a disk or flash drive?
Go to "File" and then "Save As." Choose "My Computer." In the box next to "file name:" type a:\ name of file for the floppy drive, d:\ for the zip drive, and f:\ for the flash drive (e:\ for the Compaq computers without zip drives).

How can I save a PDF document?
In Internet Explorer, right-click the link to the PDF document and then choose Save Target As in the pop-up menu. Then follow the instructions from the item above, and then click Save.

Can I save to the hard drive and come back later and retrieve the file?
No. You can only save to a 3.5 " floppy disk, 100 or 250 MB zip disk, or a flash drive.

Some articles in library databases are available in both HTML and PDF formats. Which do I choose?
Most of the time, both formats will contain the same information. PDF format will usually retain the original look of the article in print, with illustrations. HTML format will often be only the text version, with deleted images. PDF files are larger, so if you need to email the article to a free email account like Hotmail or Yahoo, you might want to choose the HTML format.

If I checkmark several articles or add them to my folder, and then email them, will they all arrive in one email to my inbox or come separately?
If you add articles in PDF format to the folder in EBSCO databases and email the content of the folder to yourself, the articles will be sent in separate emails. ProQuest databases, on the other hand, will send articles in PDF from your marked list in one email. Both EBSCO and ProQuest send multiple articles in HTML format from your folder or marked list in one email. If you're emailing many articles to yourself, it is a good idea to periodically check your inbox to make sure you have received them and not exceeded your email storage limit.

Can I save citations to bibliographic management software like EndNote?
Many databases allow saving and exporting of citations to software like EndNote, ProCite, Reference Manager, and RefWorks. In EBSCO databases, choose the "Save" option and then click the "Bibliographic Manager" tab. In ProQuest databases, checkmark article citations you want to format for your bibliographic management software. Click the "Marked List" tab, and then click "Export."

Note: UTSA is not responsible for printed jobs or pages within any jobs not intended by the patron. UTSA will issue credit only for pages printed when the toner is low, making pages unreadable, or when there is a paper jam. Please ask library staff for assistance.