HELP! (Only test page prints)

Forum: Printers
Topic: HELP! (Only test page prints)
started by: jhsu

Posted by jhsu on May 01 2008,16:27

I set up the printer, and the test page prints fine, but nothing else prints at all.

I used System->Printing/lpd/Start and the export Printer= command (as shown in the printerhowto pdf file), but the printer STILL doesn't work. I edited the filetool and bootlocalsh files as instructed. But as necessary as these steps are, they weren't sufficient.

What else could be missing? Can anyone tell me what files are used by the printing system and how to tell exactly where my problem is?

Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on May 01 2008,16:52

If you aren't running the application in the same environment where you exported the variable, it won't see it.

Since you placed it in bootlocal (which is a startup file), you'd need to restart first.

Posted by jhsu on May 01 2008,18:44

Quote (^thehatsrule^ @ May 01 2008,16:52)

It's been several days since I first followed the instructions in that howto document, so I've powered the computer up and down multiple times.

Now what do you mean by "If you aren't running the application in the same environment where you exported the variable, it won't see it."? I have no idea what you're talking about.

Posted by roberts on May 01 2008,21:09

Can you print from command prompt?

lpr -h -Pyour_printer_name a_small_text_file_to_print
e.g.

lpr -h -Plp Events.cal

Where my printer name is lp (apsfilter default) and the text file to print is Events.cal

Did you export using Printer and not PRINTER?

What does the command env show for your printer?

Posted by jhsu on May 01 2008,21:51

Quote (roberts @ May 01 2008,21:09)

Printing from command prompt didn't work. I got:
[/home/dsl/jhsu-homepage]# lpr -h Plp hans.html
Warning - Cannot open file 'Plp', No such file or directory
Status Information:
sending job 'root@box+209' to lp@localhost
connecting to 'localhost', attempt 1
connected to 'localhost'
requesting printer lp@localhost
job 'root@box+209' transfer to lp@localhost failed
error 'NONZERO RFC1179 ERROR CODE FROM SERVER' with ack 'ACK_FAIL'
sending str '^Blp' to lp@localhost
error msg: 'printer 'lp', chdir to '/var/spool/lpd/lp' failed 'No such file or directory''

The env command gives me:[/home/dsl/jhsu-homepage]# env
HZ=100
SHELL=/bin/bash
TERM=rxvt
WINDOWID=16777218
USER=root
SUDO_USER=dsl
SUDO_UID=1001
MAIL=/var/mail/dsl
PATH=/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/X11R6/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/games:/opt/bin:.
PWD=/home/dsl/jhsu-homepage
LANG=C
SUDO_COMMAND=/bin/su
COLORFGBG=15;0
IRCNICK=DSL
SHLVL=4
HOME=/root
LANGUAGE=us
LOGNAME=root
SUDO_GID=50
DISPLAY=:0.0
COLORTERM=rxvt-xpm
XAUTHORITY=/home/dsl/.Xauthority
_=/usr/bin/env
OLDPWD=/home/dsl

Posted by roberts on May 01 2008,23:17

That is a -P

minus signP

You need the -

Did you name your printer lp ?

Your export did not work as it is not in the env display

Better post what you are typing for your export and type carefully so we can help you.

Posted by jhsu on May 02 2008,00:11

I typed export PRINTER=lp again.

The env command brought:
[/home/dsl/jhsu-homepage]# env
HZ=100
TERM=rxvt
SHELL=/bin/bash
WINDOWID=16777218
OLDPWD=/home/dsl
USER=root
SUDO_USER=dsl
SUDO_UID=1001
PATH=/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/X11R6/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/games:/opt/bin:.
MAIL=/var/mail/dsl
PWD=/home/dsl/jhsu-homepage
LANG=C
SUDO_COMMAND=/bin/su
COLORFGBG=15;0
HOME=/root
SHLVL=6
IRCNICK=DSL
LANGUAGE=us
LOGNAME=root
PRINTER=lp
SUDO_GID=50
DISPLAY=:0.0
COLORTERM=rxvt-xpm
XAUTHORITY=/home/dsl/.Xauthority
_=/usr/bin/env

Then I made sure to add the - before the "P" and got:
[/home/dsl/jhsu-homepage]# lpr -h -Plp hans.html
Status Information:
sending job 'root@box+734' to lp@localhost
connecting to 'localhost', attempt 1
connected to 'localhost'
requesting printer lp@localhost
job 'root@box+734' transfer to lp@localhost failed
error 'NONZERO RFC1179 ERROR CODE FROM SERVER' with ack 'ACK_FAIL'
sending str '^Blp' to lp@localhost
error msg: 'printer 'lp', chdir to '/var/spool/lpd/lp' failed 'No such file or directory''

Posted by roberts on May 02 2008,00:19

After you printer the test page from apsfilter, did you use the install option ?
What is in /opt/printcap ?

Posted by jhsu on May 02 2008,00:56

Quote (roberts @ May 02 2008,00:19)

After you printer the test page from apsfilter, did you use the install option ?
What is in /opt/printcap ?

There was nothing in the printcap file and thus realized from your question that the printer wasn't properly installed. I reinstalled in apsfilter, and now I can print using the lpr command and even print from applications like OpenOffice. Thanks!

So it sounds like the things to check are:
1. The opt/printcap file for the printer settings: If it's not there, the printer wasn't properly installed, or the printcap file wasn't properly saved during the reboot.
2. Use the env command to check for the PRINTER=lp setting. If it's missing, you didn't type export PRINTER=lp, or the computer didn't perform the task upon booting up.