Methods and apparatus are provided for networked printing systems that include a client computer coupled via a print server to a plurality of network printers. Each network printer is coupled to an associated accounting server that requires pre-print information for billing purposes. The client computer sends the print server a print request that designates one of the network printers to print a document. The print server creates a print job based on the document, determines the pre-print information required by the associated accounting server, and prompts a user of the client computer to provide the required information. The print server creates a pre-print message based on the user's response in accordance with a pre-print protocol, and then sends the pre-print message to the associated accounting server. If the accounting server authorizes the print job, the print server sends the print job to the designated network printer for printing. After the print job has been printed, the print server receives print summary information from the designated network printer, and then creates a post-print message based on the print summary information in accordance with a post-print protocol. The print server sends the post-print message to the associated accounting server, which may use the post-print information to bill the user for printing the print job.

 
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