Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 23:11:53 +0200 From: Juris Kaminskis <juris.kaminskis@gmail.com> To: freebsd-doc@freebsd.org Subject: TODO item: Add info on USB printers Message-ID: <CAKJAkzuQYx0WgsjfZ=GJFhcU=TeAFVudLEP4YguwDgnvVOoPQg@mail.gmail.com>
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Hi, Some first trial to create better coverage for USB printing support in FreeBSD documentation. There are some more chapters to revise but this is definetly one: 10.3.1.4.1. Checking a Parallel and USB Printer This section tells you how to check if FreeBSD can communicate with a printer connected to a parallel or USB port. To test a printer on a parallel port use /dev/lptN on a USB port use /dev/ulptN:: Become root with su(1). Send data to the printer. If the printer can print plain text, then use lptest(1). Type: # lptest > /dev/lptN Where N is the number of the parallel port, starting from zero. For USB port /dev/ulptN, N number identifies how many USB printers are connected, if zero then one printer connected. If the printer understands PostScript=AE or other printer language, then se= nd a small program to the printer. Type: # cat > /dev/lptN Then, line by line, type the program carefully as you cannot edit a line once you have pressed RETURN or ENTER. When you have finished entering the program, press CONTROL+D, or whatever your end of file key is. Alternatively, you can put the program in a file and type: # cat file > /dev/lptN Where file is the name of the file containing the program you want to send to the printer. 10.3.1.4.1.1. Testing printers with special wire protocols Many printers use different wire protocols instead of PostScript=AE. To tes= t communication create a file first in a format printer understands. Many variants exist use Ghostscript and/or foo2zjs to convert PostScript=AE file= s. Example: HP Laserjet M1120 uses XQX protocol http://foo2xqx.rkkda.com/ Install foo2zjs port (includes foo2xqx) Create a test PostScript=AE file (any decent program will print a PostScrip= t=AE file). Foo2xqx converts pbmraw file into xqx format, thus first convert PostScript=AE file to pbmraw format: gs -sDEVICE=3Dpbmraw -sOutputFile=3DYourFileName.pbm YourFile And convert outputfile to xqx wire: foo2xqx YourFileName.pbm > YourFileName.xqx Last check if something prints: cat YourFileName.xqx > /dev/ulptN You should see something print. Do not worry if the text does not look right; we will fix such things later. Is there someone who can help me to review this and put into documentation? After that I will take a look what else requires update to cover USB printing. thanks Juris
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