If you're having difficulty connecting your printer to the Admin App or want to print colored badges, downloading PrintNode to your laptop may be your answer.
Before proceeding, check if your printer is compatible with PrintNode.
Note: For colored printers connected through PrintNode, depending on the model of the printer and the badge's design, it may take 20 seconds or more to print a badge. We recommend pre-printing your colored design on the badges to reduce print time. On the event day, you can print the attendee information in black through a thermal printer during check-in. This way, printing would be faster.
How it Works
The printer is connected to the laptop through the same network. Then, PrintNode is downloaded and installed on the laptop. Next, PrintNode is integrated into the event through an API key. On the iPad, select the printer connected to the laptop from the PrintNode menu.
Step 1: Connect The Printer to the Computer
You must connect the printer to a computer instead of directly to the iPad. The printer should be connected to the same network as the computer or directly to the computer.
Step 2: Install PrintNode to the Computer
Go to the PrintNode website and sign up for an account.
Download and install PrintNode on your MacOS device. Click here to go to PrintNode's Download Page.
After downloading, open the file and log in to your PrintNode account.
You should see PrintNode's icon at the top of your screen. Click that to check if the printer is now connected to PrintNode.
Step 3: Create a PrintNode API Key
Login to your PrintNode account through a browser
Click API Keys
Enter your password and click Next
Enter your API key description and click Create
Copy the generated API Key
Step 4: Integrate PrintNode with Accelevents
In your event's admin console, go to Settings > General Settings
Turn on the toggle to "Enable Print Node"
Paste the API Key
Step 5: Select the Printer and File Format in the iPad Admin App
Open the event in the admin app
Click the "Choose from available printers" menu at the bottom of the page, then select the printer.
Click "Send command as" and choose the format - Raw or PDF
If the connected computer is Windows, it will only work with PDF
If the connected computer is a Mac, PDF is recommended. Raw will also work, provided that the printer driver settings are correct.
Important Note: When you return to this page, you must select the printer and file format again. Ensure both are selected when you move to the check-in page or kiosk to print badges.
That's it! Any event connected to the printer using PrintNode can print badges from the iPad, even if the iPad is in a different country!
If you cannot make PrintNode work, contact your Account Manager to arrange a meeting with our product team a few weeks before the event to test PrintNode with your computer and printer. Testing will allow us to determine whether the devices are compatible and additional drivers/installers are needed.