[vox-tech] printer question

[Peter Jay Salzman]

also, this gets printed to my logfile when i try to print something:

   satan lpd[12188]: lp: job could not be printed (cfA003satan)

i wish lpd wouldn't print such verbose error messages...

pete

begin Peter Jay Salzman <p@dirac.org> 
> i'm trying to configure an epson stylus color 600.
> 
> when i print, the job simply disappears into the void without a trace.
> i know it gets spooled because if i stop lpd and try to print, the job
> appears in /var/spool/lpd/es600.  then if i enable lpd, the job
> disappears.  the printer lights never blink.  so SOMETHING right is
> happening.  at least as far as spooling the job goes.
> 
> also, i can cat a file to /dev/lp0, so THAT'S working.
> 
> forget that i haven't been able to get it working yet.  i have a
> different question.  i'd like to know where the job goes.
> 
> here's the printcap i'm using:
> 
> lp|lp720|Epson Stylus Color 600 - 720dpi:\
>    :lp=/dev/lp0:\
>    :af=/var/log/lp-acct:\
>    :lf=/var/log/lp-errs:\
>    :sd=/var/spool/lpd/es600:\
>    :sh:\
>    :pw#80:\
>    :pl#66:\
>    :px#1440:\
>    :mx#0:\
>    :if=/usr/local/sbin/es600-720:
> 
> and here's /usr/local/sbin/es600-720
> 
>    #!/bin/bash
>    #
>    # 720 dpi filter for the Epson Stylus Color 600
>    
>    gs -q @stc600p.upp -sOutputFile=- -
>    echo "hello" >> /tmp/printer
> 
> do you see where i'm about to go with this?  /tmp/printer never shows
> up.  i've set the input filter in printcap, but as far as i can tell,
> it's not being used.
> 
> i hate setting up printers; maybe because i know so little about how
> printing works.   here's what i think happens:
> 
> 
> 1. lpr spools the job into the spool directory specified by printcap's sd.
> 2. lpd "somehow" knows the job is there and sends the job through the
>       input filter.
> 3. the input filter writes the translated job to standard out, which is
>       connected back to lpd.
> 4. lpd ships the job to the device, printcap's lp.
> 
> Q1: is this correct?
> 
> Q2: why am i not seeing "hello" in /tmp/printer?
> 
> Q3: is there _really_ no debugging/verbose switches for lpd?
> 
> note, installing lprng isn't an option.  the system that i'm using
> normally uses my laserjet 6MP, and i'd like to disturbe the printing
> system "as little as possible" so i don't muck up my laserjet
> configuration.
> 
> plus, lprng comes with _way_ too much documentation.
> 
> thanks,
> pete

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