InstallingPrinter

Printer Configuration

Firstly you should setup a printer through printconf (system-config-printer) or another tool available on the system.

(Examples are for CUPS)

Queue Name and Type

Queue Name:

Enter a name for the printer.

Queue Type:

Select the appropriate printer queue type:

Setting Up the Printer Device

LOCAL

Select the device that the printer is connect on. Parallel ports should appear as /dev/lp0 or /dev/lp1. USB printers ports should appear as /dev/usb/lp1 of /dev/usb/lp1.

LPD

Server: Enter the IP address of the computer that the printer is connected to.

Queue: Enter the name of the printer as it appears on the above-mentioned server.

SMB

note: unless the computer is running windows 95, 98 or ME, you should use Windows LPD

You will need to know the Windows computer name. To do this (in WinXP):

1. Right-click on "My Computer"
2. Select Properties
3. Select the tab labelled "Computer Name"
4. The computer should be located in this page.

You will need to share the printer on the Windows end. To do this (in WinXP):

1. Click on "Start"
2. Click on "Printers and Faxes"
3. Right-click on the appropriate printer.
4. Select "Sharing"
5. Select "Share this printer"
6. Give the printer a share name. Usually this is the same as the Windows printer name.
7. Click OK.

Share: //<Windows-Computer-Name>/<Printer's-Share-Name>

You should be able to ignore the other fields.

JetDirect

You will need to know the IP address of the printer. You should be able to retrieve this information from the printer's menu.

IP: Enter the printer's IP address

Port: Should leave as 9100

Queue Driver

Most (90%) printers should be set to:

       A. The 'device' is set to "raw".
       B. 'The model' is "Raw Queue".

Only use the printer drivers as neccessary. This is because Control sends the necessary printer control characters.

Test Pages

After your printer is configured, try printing a test page.

In CUPS or redhats printconf, just select print test page when you have selected the printer or if your on the command line:

       lpr -P 'Printer Name' 'File name'

Once your printer is printing to your satisfaction continue on to configuring control.

Configuring Control

Adding a Printer to Control

To add the printer to control go to the command line and run 'prnaad' and select '1 ADD'

Code:

       prnaad

Then you will be taken to a screen where you can enter your printer details

       Short printer name..... : 'Some name you can remember'

This is the name you want control to reference the device by, it can be any name you want, but its better to select something meaningful.

       System printer name.... : 'Printer Name'

This is the name you chose for the printer during configuration, it has to match that name exactly.

eg:

       Printer description.... : A description of your printer

A short description of the printer, or its functionality.

       Text printer? (y/n).... :

Generally you always want to pick Y here. If there is to be any console usage at all (including yourself, who has probably sshed into the machine) then you need to pick yes here.

       Printer type........... :

This option allows control to send the correct escape sequences to a printer when it generates output. This includes things like page breaks, or resets. When selecting options here it is important to choose the correct options for different printers so that docket, and desktop printers behave correctly. For a full listing of sequences look in

inprint.c

For PCL compatible printers (any level, such as: PCL3, PCL5, PCL6) Choose "HP Laserjet"

If you are using the multipage overlay script then you should use printer type "31" which is Form Feed.

However if you are still using the overlay script which handles only single pages then use type "32" Single Page Printer (it's a special hack that converts mulitpage raw input into single page and creates a new print job for each page)

       Formfeed at report end. :(Y/N)

This option differs for different printers, so if at the end of printing a formfeed might be sent depending on this option. Generally just leave this blank or N.

       Pre-printed stationary. :(Y/N/ )

This option specifies if the printer is using paper that already has some data printed on it. This is necessary for programs in control to determine if to include some formatting, and headings on their output. It is necessary for overlays so pick Y.

       Force orientation (l/p) :

Forces a printer to use landscape or portrait orientation. Leave blank.

       Special printer options :

When using graphical mode this option allows for the user to determining if a popup appears prompting the user for options. Leave blank.

Selecting Printers for Reports

This is a relatively simple step, once the printer is working and added to control, all that is left is to select it as the default printer for use by different programs. To change the printer defaults for each program run the following command and go to the second page and select the relevant report.

teaad

Potential problems with printers

If you find these in dmesg or /var/log/messages (only for newly installed printers, not for one that's previously running fine):

Jul 21 09:09:53 midland kernel: pnp: Device 00:06 activated.
Jul 21 09:09:53 midland kernel: parport: PnPBIOS parport detected.
Jul 21 09:09:53 midland kernel: pnp: Device 00:06 disabled.
Jul 21 09:09:53 midland kernel: lp: driver loaded but no devices found

And trying to print to lp0 will end in an error message like "device not found". This happened on a standby box we have pre configured for a client. Someone will have to enter the BIOS settings and set parallel port to 0x378, irq 7. Do not use AUTO. While you're there set the parallel port mode to "ECC + EPP" and not "SPP + EPP". On next reboot lp0 should be automatically detected. This is a bit of a hassle to do since there is no way to remotely control the box and you just have to guide someone over the phone to do this.

• CategoryPrinter