Printer Configuration with Overlays

The steps you should take to install a printer using overlays are as follows:

1. Use the multipage overlay script which should be in /u/ccdev/binl/overlay_filter.
2. Copy that script and the epsi file to /etc/cups/interfaces/ on the machine you are setting up the printer on
3. Rename the script to something meaningful in terms of printer names eg. invoice_printer
4. You'll need to modify the FILTER variable in the script to use the epsi file that you copied

5. Add the System (Linux) Printer as necessary. Instructions should be in InstallingPrinter.

6. Now that printer is in it should show up in lpstat and show as enabled, if not try reloading cups

Overlays

If you wish to use an overlay in with your printer, the following needs to be done.

This is only applicable for CUPS, but the config is similar on older unix systems.

Copy the script that performs the overlay, into cups's interface directory, and make sure its name is identical to the printers name

       /etc/cups/interfaces/

Make sure the script is executable by the cupsd, its probably best to make it executable by everyone, but only editable by root.

      chmod 755 /etc/cups/interfaces/printer-name

Run the script with some test data and verify the results

      /etc/cups/interfaces/printer-name < data.txt

Once the script itself has been confirmed to work, then control should now print data with this overlay.

Troubleshooting Overlays

1. Ensure that the name, permissions and ownership of the file are correct.
2. If there is a file in the ppd directory with the same name, delete it

   rm /etc/cups/ppd/<system-printer-name>

3. Did you restart cups after adding the overlay?

4. Remember, the script will be run as the lp user. Make sure you use check the script will be calling the correct programs. One program of note is  pstops . Make sure you use the full path when referring to other programs.

5. Run Away, and never come back.
6. Refer to above statement.

CategoryPrinter