printing_faq_2.html

JLAB Printing FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):

This FAQ was authored and is maintained by Sherman White, srwhite@jlab.org

Questions covered in this FAQ:

1) How do I print in landscape mode (in Unix)
2) How do I print in landscape mode (in Windows)
3) How do I print a Transparency? (in Unix)
4) How do I print a Transparency? (in Windows)
5) The printer is jammed! Help!
6) How do I cancel my print job? (in Windows)
7) How do I cancel my print job (in Unix)
8) Which printers are available?
9) How do I find a printer?
10) The .printjobs directory is using up my quota. How can I fix this?
11) The printer is printing out garbage, how do I make it stop?
12) What happened to my 'lp' options?
13) How do I get rid of the header page?
14) How can I print from my Apple computer?
15) The printer shows an error, what do I do?
16) I'm having problems printing from Netscape under Unix, what can I do?
17) I am not a CUE supported system, where can I find additional help?
18) How can I determine the status of my print job? (in Unix)
19) How can I determine the status of my print job? (in Windows)
20) Where can I send my comments and questions?
21) How can I change the default settings (transparency, duplex, etc.) for a printer in Unix?
22) How can I find out the command line settings for printer in Unix?
23) How can I print Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files in Unix?
24) My settings used to work, what I can do?

1) How do I print in landscape mode? (in Unix)

If you are printing from anapplication, you must set the application to generate a landscape orientedpostscript file. If you are printing out a text file, you will need to usethe '-r' option of enscript and pipe (|) the output into the pdq command.

Example:

enscript -r myfile.txt | pdq -Pcchp2

The reason for this is that the print server itself is a Windows machine running MS tcp-ip based printing. In the past, vendor specific software was installed for each printeravailable from the print server. Under the new configuration, documentformatting is handled by the print client. This means that the print clientmust complete all page formatting operations before dispatching the print jobto the print server.

2) How do I print in landscape mode? (in Windows)

If you are printing from windows, you must select the page setup option from the application you are printing from. This generally appears as one of the menu options under the 'File' menu, though occasionally, it appears as an option in the PrintDialog of the print menu. If you experience difficulty printing landscapefrom windows and are unable to find the landscape option for the printer youwish to print to, please email the helpdesk at helpdesk@jlab.org.

3) How do I print a Transparency? (in Unix)

Under unix, transparencies are only supported via the xpdq/pdq interface. The -dtrans ane -dtray options for lp and lpr are no longer supported. Under the xpdq interface, select the printer that you wish to print to then press the 'Driver Options' button. Within the driver options dialog, select 'Tray 2' for transparencies. Press the 'Okay' button to set the option for the printer. Next, under the 'File' menu, select the 'Print File' option. This will give you a browser from which you may select the file to be printed. Select the file and press the 'Print' button.

From a command line using the 'pdq' command:

This is slightly more complicated but not that difficult.

First, at the command line, enter:

pdq -Pprinter -h

where 'printer' is the name of the printer you wish to print to. This will display the pdq command syntax as well as a list of the supported options for the selected printer.

Unfortunately, because each printer is different, the options to invoke specific features such as duplex and transparency may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and from printer to printer. Identify the option for selecting tray 2 (tray 2 is usually the tray reserved for transparencies at jlab)

Next, modify the previous command to include the appropriate option:

pdq -Pprinter -o[referenced option goes here]

Example:

pdq -Pcchp2 -oInputSlot:Tray2

***VERY IMPORTANT:

When using the 'pdq' command to invoke specific options of the printer, letter case is significant. Make sure that you enter all options EXACTLY AS DETAILED in the help instructions (pdq -Pprinter -h)

4) How do I print a Transparency? (in Windows)

Under windows, select print from the file menu. Then find the 'advanced options' button under the windows print dialog. The appearance of this configuration option is different for different printers, so you may need to search a little for it. Find and select the option for printing transparencies.

5) The printer is Jammed! Help!

Please do not attempt to service printers yourselves. Instead put in a printer hardware service request CCPR or email the helpdesk at helpdesk@jlab.org.

6) How do I cancel my print job? (in Windows)

From the 'Start' menu, select 'Run'.

Enter the following into the run window:

\\jlabprt\printer_name

where printer_name is the name of the printer that you want to use. A window will appear displaying the current print jobs. If your print job is present within the window, right click on the job that you want to cancel. A menu will appear. Select 'Cancel Print Job' to cancel your print job.

If your print job does not appear in the display window, it means that it has been sent to the printer. You will need to cancel the job at the printer.

If the print job appears in the display window yet you are unable to cancel it with the instructions detailed above, email the helpdesk at helpdesk@jlab.org.

7) How do I cancel my print job (in Unix)

Under unix, you will need to use the 'cancel', 'lprm' or 'rlprm' commands to cancel a print job:

Syntax:

cancel -Pprinter request-id

rlprm -Hjlabprt -Pprinter username

lprm -Pprinter -Uuser jobid

Examples:

cancel -Pprinter 5555

rlprm -Hjlabprt -Pprinter srwhite

lprm -Pprinter -Uuser 6602

Jobs may also be cancelled using xpdq. Under xpdq select the print job from the print window. Right click on the job, and select 'cancel'.

8) Which printers are available?

A list of supported available printers can be found here.

9) How do I find a printer?

Printers are distributed across the site and vary in capabilities, makes, and models. Each printer's name should be clearly labeled and affixed to the printer in a place easily seen. Use the printer name in conjunction with all Unix and Windows printing commands.

10) The .printjobs directory is using up my quota. How can I fix this? (Unix)

The .printjobs directory is a directory used to temporarily hold print jobs before spooling them to the print server. Although a script exists to clean out old directories, from time to time, extensive postscript print jobs may consume the user's quota.

11) The printer is printing out garbage, how do I make it stop?

First, if the printer features a 'cancel' button on its control panel, attempt to cancel the print job by pressing the cancel button. If this does not work, or no cancel button exists, turn the printer off and then email the help desk at helpdesk@jlab.org. The computer center can then delete the offending print jobs from the queue and instruct you to turn the printer back on.

12) What happened to my 'lp' options?

The backend print server is no longer a Unix machine. When the print server was a Unix machine with vendor software installed, support for the specific options of printers was included. The current print server is a Windows machine that only supports a minimal set of BSD style printer options. This means that options such as -otray and -oland will not be recognized by the server.

13) How do I get rid of the header page?

Unfortunately, you don't. Printer header pages are created for the purpose of helping users differentiate print jobs. Because of the difficulty in coming up with header page solutions that work for the majority of people, a number of people in an area or department should come to consensus concerning header page output changes. Once a department or department head has come to consensus concerning the printer header page, upon bringing the group's (or department head's) decision, modifications can be implemented.

14) How can I print from my Apple computer?

Jlab printers are Unix printers, under MacOS 10, you should be able to install the printer using the name of the printer as the print queue and 'jlabprt' as the remote host name. Older revisions of the MACOS operating system will need to install the LPR print client/TCP Print client. Appletalk/Chooser printing is not supported.

15) The printer shows an error, what do I do?

Call the helpdesk at x7155 and report the error and or submit a hardware service CCPR.

16) I'm having problems printing from Netscape under Unix, what can I do?

This is a known problem, we're working on it. It's frustrating because the problem is not predictable. As a work-around, use Metaframe to log into a Windows machine and then print the file from Netscape or IE under Windows. Please report the nature of the problem along with any applicable information (application run, URL, print parameters) to the helpdesk x7155 OR send email to srwhite@jlab.org, SUBJECT: Printing.

17) I am not a CUE supported system, where can I find additional help?

All printers under the current printing system are defined as LPD/Unix printers where the printer name is the queue name and the remote host is 'jlabprt.jlab.org'.

18) How can I determine the status of my print job? (in Unix)

In Unix, you can get the status of a print job using the 'rlpq' command. The general syntax of the rlpq command is:

rlpq -Hjlabprt -Pprinter_name

where printer name is the name of the printer you wish to see information about.

Example:

rlpq -Hjlabprt -Pcchp2

This command is available from all CUE based systems.

19) How can I determine the status of my print job? (in Windows)

From the 'Start' menu, select 'Run'.

Enter the following into the run window:

\\jlabprt\printer_name

where printer_name is the name of the printer that you want to use. A window will appear displaying the status of your current print jobs.

20) Where can I send my comments and questions?

Questions, comments and criticisms may be sent to srwhite@jlab.org, please include the word 'PRINT' in the subject line.

21) How can I change the default settings (transparency, duplex, etc.) for a printer in Unix?

The easiest way to change the default settings for a printer is to use the xpdq utility. Execute xpdq (/apps/bin/xpdq), select the printer you wish to modify the default settings for, and select the Driver options button. A list of driver options specific to that printer will be presented for you to choose. Select the options that are of interest to you. NOTE: The settings will be changed for your account only and stored in a local .printrc data file., please include the word 'PRINT' in the subject line.

22) How can I find out the command line settings for a printer in Unix?

at the command line enter:

pdq -Pprinter -h

A list of driver options specific to that printer will be diplayed. Take note of the options that are of interest to you. Example:

[user@host]$ /apps/bin/pdq -Pcctek1 -h Usage: /apps/bin/pdq [options] file1 file2 ... fileN options: -o driver_opt -a driver_arg=VALUE -O interface_opt -A interface_arg=VALUE -P printer | -d printer -h | --help --debug-rc (Name rc files as they contribute resources.) Printer cctek1 takes the following options: Interface arguments: REMOTE_HOST : Remote lpd host QUEUE : Remote lpd queue Interface options: Driver arguments: Driver options: InputSlot -oInputSlot:Paper : Paper -oInputSlot:Transparency : Transparency -oInputSlot:Upper : Upper Tray -oInputSlot:Middle : Middle Tray -oInputSlot:Lower : Lower Tray -oInputSlot:ManualPaper : Manual Feed Paper -oInputSlot:ManualTransparency : Manual Feed Transparency Color Correction -oTKColor:Automatic : Automatic -oTKColor:NoAdjust : None -oTKColor:VividColor : Vivid Color -oTKColor:sRGB : sRGB Display -oTKColor:SWOPPress : SWOP Press -oTKColor:EuroscalePress : Euroscale Press -oTKColor:CommercialPress : Commercial Press -oTKColor:SNAPPress : SNAP Press -oTKColor:DIC : DIC -oTKColor:Toyo : Toyo -oTKColor:FujiProof : Fuji Proof -oTKColor:Monochrome : Black and White -oTKColor:UsePrinterSetting : Use Printer Setting Print Quality -oOutputMode:FastColor : Fast Color -oOutputMode:Standard : Standard -oOutputMode:Enhanced : Enhanced -oOutputMode:Photo : High-Resolution / Photo (1200 dpi) Image Smoothing -oTKImageSmoothing:False : Off -oTKImageSmoothing:True : On Duplex/2-Sided Printing -oDuplex:None : Off -oDuplex:DuplexNoTumble : Long-Edge Binding -oDuplex:DuplexTumble : Short-Edge Binding PageSize -oPageSize:Letter : Letter -oPageSize:A4 : A4 -oPageSize:A5 : A5 -oPageSize:Executive : Executive -oPageSize:Env10 : #10 Envelope -oPageSize:EnvMonarch : Monarch Envelope -oPageSize:EnvPersonal : #6 3/4 Envelope -oPageSize:EnvDL : DL Envelope -oPageSize:EnvC5 : C5 Envelope -oPageSize:EnvChou3 : Choukei 3 Envelope -oPageSize:EnvChou4 : Choukei 4 Envelope [user@host]$ [user@host]$ pdq -Pcctek1 -oDuplex:DuplexNoTumble file1.ps file2.ps file3.ps

NOTE: This does NOT affect default printer settings. If changing printer defaults is the operation you seek, refer to question/answer 21.

23) How can I print Adobe Portable Document Format files in Unix?

The best way to print a PDF file is to use PDQ as the print command behind Adobe Acrobat Reader. If Adobe Acrobat Reader is not available, sometimes using GNU ghostscript and related utilities will work.

24) My settings used to work. What can I do?

Sometimes if you have created custom settings for a particular printer you use, the local copy of the system wide printer database may get out of sync with the site-wide database. This usually happens when a printer definition is upgraded and a new driver is installed; systems locally referring to the printer's old driver may cease to function properly. You can always resync with the site wide printer database by simply removing the .printrc file from your home directory (rm ~/.printrc).

This document is maintained by {helpdesk@jlab.org}