This document applies to AIX Version 4.x.
The product documentation library is also available at the following URL:
NOTE: If you only want to configure a printer without adding a print
queue, do not use this procedure. See the section
"Configuring a printer without adding a queue" in this document.
To test the print queue make sure you use a file that is appropriate for the
printer you have attached. If you are testing an ASCII text or PCL queue,
one of the following commands is recommended:
If you are testing a printer that prints only PostScript or HPGL, print a
known good file or use the following commands:
With HPGL it is best to use a known good
file.
The handshaking on the parallel port is quite simple but depends on the
printer receiving the data within a set period of time after the data has
been shown as READY. There is a single SMIT setting for this.
Related documentation
http://www.rs6000.ibm.com/resource/aix_resource/Pubs/index.html
Prerequisites
# lsdev -Cc printer | grep 0P will show if a printer is already attached.
Configuring a local printer and adding a queue
If the manufacturer of your printer is not listed,
If your printer model is not listed,
If you select a generic printer definition, you will get a no
printer initialization string generated before a print job.
As a result, print flags such as setting pitch and page
orientation will have no effect.
If you already have a printer added, select the device to which you
want to add the queue.
Add a Print Queue
Type or select values in entry fields.
Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.
[Entry Fields]
Description IBM 4029 LaserPrinter
Names of NEW print queues to add
ASCII [ascpp0]
GL Emulation [glpp0]
PCL Emulation [pclpp0]
PostScript [pspp0]
IBM 5587 G01 Japanese Data Stream Emulation by []
4029
Printer connection characteristics
* PORT number [p] +
Type of PARALLEL INTERFACE [standard] +
Printer TIME OUT period (seconds) [600] +#
STATE to be configured at boot time available
NOTE: If the printer supports more than one type of print data, such as
PostScript and ASCII, enter a print queue name for each print data type.
Testing the print queue
These commands will print a single page to the printer.
This will produce a page that contains rows of ### and lines with percent
signs, but will print a banner page and only one other page.
lptest 10 10 | enscript -d<psqueue>
Troubleshooting parallel port problems
Some common problems when printing to parallel port printers are:
Setting the Delay for Parallel Port Printing
Change / Show Characteristics of a Printer/Plotter
Type or select values in entry fields.
Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.
[TOP] [Entry Fields]
Printer/Plotter lp0
Printer/Plotter type ibm4029
Printer/Plotter interface parallel
Description IBM 4029 LaserPrinter
Status Available
Location 00-00-0P-00
Parent adapter ppa0
* PORT number [p] +
Type of PARALLEL INTERFACE [standard] +
Microseconds to delay between characters [0]
Printer TIME OUT period [600] +#
STATUS of device at BOOT time available +
Files changed when adding an AIX 4 local queue |
|
---|---|
File | Description |
/etc/qconfig | New queue stanza and queue device stanza is added |
/etc/qconfig.bin | Digested binary version of /etc/qconfig |
/var/spool/lpd/pio/@local/custom/<queue:quedev> | ASCII editable version of virtual printer colon file definitions |
/var/spool/lpd/pio/@local/ddi/<queue:quedev> | Digested binary version of virtual printer colon file definitions |
/var/spool/lpd/pio/@local/smit/<odm files> | ODM database of attribute limits and smit panel information |
/dev/lp/device_number> | Special Device Files |
The procedure for adding a printer without adding an AIX print queue differs slightly from the preceding discussion. This is the case, for example, if you are using a third party print spooler or if you are using applications that print directly to a device file.
Following are the steps to add a printer without adding a print queue.
This will add a device file in /dev such as /dev/lp24.
Example:
lptest 10 10 > /dev/lp24 cat /etc/hosts > /dev/lp24
To look at the configurations or make temporary changes to the device configuration use:
# splp lp24 device = /dev/lp24 (+ yes ! no) CURRENT FORMATTING PARAMETERS (ignored by qprt, lpr, and lp commands) Note: -p + causes the other formatting parameters to be ignored. -p ! pass-through? -c + send carriage returns? -l 64 page length (lines) -n + send line feeds? -w 80 page width (columns) -r + carriage rtn after line feed? -i 0 indentation (columns) -t ! suppress tab expansion? -W ! wrap long lines? -b + send backspaces? -C ! convert to upper case? -f + send form feeds? CURRENT ERROR PROCESSING PARAMETERS -T 30 timeout value (seconds) -e ! return on error?
To print postscript to this file you may need to set the printer to passthrough mode using:
splp -p+
[ Doc Ref: 92220751819558 Publish Date: Oct. 02, 2000 4FAX Ref: 6447 ]