[cups] Acquire paper and tray info

[Paul Mitchell]

Hello Michael,
  I'm not surprised by this!  So the question becomes: is there a method 
for addressing the PJL commands without using the "raw" printer 
definition?

Paul

On Thu, 8 Jan 2015, Michael Sweet wrote:

> Unfortunately, "forms" support in printers is highly printer-specific 
> and is not something that CUPS supports directly. Moreover, as soon as 
> you go the "raw" printer route you eliminate any driver-supplied 
> information from the mix - there is no driver, PPD, or other information 
> available to get the information from.
>
>> On Jan 8, 2015, at 12:44 PM, Paul Mitchell <pmitchel at email.unc.edu> wrote:
>>
>> Hello, I'm attempting to print to a Konica Minolta bizhub printer, from 
>> Windows, using CUPS as the spooler.  This, in itself, is not so 
>> difficult as I can easily send text (from say, notepad) to the CUPS 
>> printer via IPP.
>>
>> The reason I am trying this is because the default software that the 
>> vendor has supplied us with has started failing and acting wonky. This 
>> software, when working, allows us to place jobs on hold, move them 
>> between printers, and acquire tray and paper (form definitions) from 
>> said printer.
>>
>> The problem I'm having is that while CUPS can accomplish the first two 
>> of these requirements (holding jobs, moving them between printers) it 
>> seems to have no ability to import a set of FORMS from the printer.
>>
>> Form definitions are defined in the PPD file, however, I'm declaring 
>> this printer a "raw" printer so as to be able to process PJL 
>> statements. Thus, I bypass using the 
>> Minolta-PagePro_1250E-Postscript.ppd file.
>>
>> Is there some method for querying a printer and exporting definitions, 
>> or creating Form definitions for a "raw" device?  I can't believe I'm 
>> the first person who has run into this problem.  Obviously, since 
>> Windows drivers are able to querry the printer, there must be some API 
>> somewhere which defines how to do this?
>>
>> Any advice (save buy a commercial product!) is appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Paul Mitchell
>> ==============================================================================
>>        Paul Mitchell
>> 	ITS Systems
>>        email: pmitchel at email.unc.edu
>> 	location: 440 Franklin, cubby 1512, CB#1150
>> 	desk phone: 919 445-0063
>> ==============================================================================
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>> https://www.cups.org/mailman/listinfo/cups
>
> _________________________________________________________
> Michael Sweet, Senior Printing System Engineer, PWG Chair
>
> _______________________________________________
> cups mailing list
> cups at cups.org
> https://www.cups.org/mailman/listinfo/cups
>

==============================================================================
         Paul Mitchell
 	ITS Systems
         email: pmitchel at email.unc.edu
 	location: 440 Franklin, cubby 1512, CB#1150
 	desk phone: 919 445-0063
==============================================================================