unable to print from mozilla

[Anonymous]

Helge Blischke wrote:
> rlharris at hal-pc.org wrote:
> >
> > I am unable to print from mozilla-browser 1.6 (Mozilla Debian Package 1.6-5).  The same problem exists when attempting to print from Adobe Acrobat Reader installed as a Mozilla helper application.
> >
> > In the print dialogue box, Mozilla offers four choices of printer:
> >
> >    lp@:64
> >
> >    xp_ps_spooldir_tmp_Xprintjobs@:64
> >
> >    xp_pdf_spooldir_tmp_Xprintjobs@:64
> >
> >    PostScript/default
> >
> > None of them seems to work.  If PostScript/default is selected, the properties dialogue box displays the following print command, which may be edited by the user:
> >
> >    lpr ${MOZ_PRINTER_NAME:+'-P'}${MOZ_PRINTER_NAME}
> >
> > Changing this command to "lpr -P hp4100nps" (which corresponds with the name by which CUPS identifies the printer) does not solve the problem.
> >
> > However, I am able to print from OpenOffice.org-writer,and the CUPS test page prints perfectly.
> >
> > The printer is a HP LaserJet 4100n (PostScript) with Jet-Direct interface; it was installed with the CUPS web administration interface.  The machine has a Pentium processor.  The kernel is 2.4.25.  CUPS was installed with other packages via TASKSEL, and configured by DEBCONF.
> >
> > CUPS is working with a previous installation of Debian on a nearly-identical machine, with kernel 2.4.24 and Debian Mozilla Package 1.6-1.
> >
> > This seems to me to be a bug with Mozilla; has anyone else experienced it?
> >
> > RLH
>
> After I changed Mozilla's print command to "kprinter -stdin" (without
> the
> quotes), I'm able to print to any printer controlled by any CUPS server.
> I even may
> specify options defined in the selected printer's PPD.
>
> Helge
>
> --
> H.Blischke at srz-berlin.de
> H.Blischke at srz-berlin.com
> H.Blischke at acm.org

Progress!  Thanks for the clue, Helge.

After a bit more searching with Google, I came across a posting:

   www.linuxmafia.com/faq/Debian/printing-setup.html

which notes that the package cupsys-bsd is needed, if the system is to respond to "lpr" commands.   After installing cupsys-bsd, I am able to print from Mozilla-browser.

The HP LaserJet 4100n was installed with the CUPS web administration interface as follows:

   name:        hp4100nps
   device:      AppSocket/HP JetDirect
   device URI:  socket://192.168.1.77:9100/
   make:        Raw
   model:       Raw Queue (en)

However, the default printer name shown in the Mozilla printer dialogue box now is "hp4100nps@:64"; this produces a rather coarse-texture printout (it looks to be about 150 dots per inch).

If I use the pull-down menu to select "PostScript/default" as the printer (and with the print command

   "lpr ${MOZ_PRINTER_NAME:+'-P'}${MOZ_PRINTER_NAME}"

then I get a nice, fine-texture printout.  However, the next time I try to print, the default printer name again is "hp4100nps@:64".  I see no way within Mozilla to save "PostScript/default" as the default printer.

Question #1:  Of what protocol is the "hp4100nps@:64" notation?  Is this "IPP"?

Question #2:  Is HP JetDirect compatible with IPP?  Do I have a choice?

Question #3:  What changed in the Debian release (sometime between February and June) to "break" printing in Gnome/CUPS/Mozilla?

RLH
rlharris at hal-pc.org