Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:44:10 +0100 From: Polytropon <freebsd@edvax.de> To: Jason Lenthe <lenthe@comcast.net> Cc: Ewald Jenisch <a@jenisch.at>, freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Printing - standard? CUPS? ...?? Message-ID: <20090114144410.6ddf9401.freebsd@edvax.de> In-Reply-To: <496BE775.6010805@comcast.net> References: <20090112162216.GA6391@aurora.oekb.co.at> <496BE775.6010805@comcast.net>
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On Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:59:33 -0500, Jason Lenthe <lenthe@comcast.net> wrote: > The problem [with CUPS] was that certain other software (gtk+ and gnome as I recall) > expected /usr/bin/lpr to be the CUPS lpr (the CUPS port normally > installs lpr to /usr/local/bin). It was also necessary for some > applications to have /usr/local/bin before /usr/bin in your path for > certain applications to work. My memory is vague regarding the details, > though. These were the main reasons why I always tried to avoid CUPS. It's a good tool if you're running Gnome anyway, and especially if you've got a "modern" multifunctional device (printer + scanner + fax + coffe maker + god knows what else), you've better support there than under apsfilter. If your printer is PS capable, you can send the PS directly into the printer. FreeBSD's printer spooler should do this fine. Since 4.0, I've always been very comfortable with apsfilter. I've owned office-class laser printers (HP Laserjet 4 then, 4000 duplex today) and they were supported very well, especially because of their ability to "speak" PCL. apsfilter can be easily setup using its SETUP script, /usr/local/share/apsfilter/SETUP which lets you select your setting dialog driven. In opposite to CUPS, it does not interfere with the system's printer commands. One downside I noticed since I was forced to upgrade my home system was that some programs seem to expect (!) the presence of CUPS on a system in order to print, which they didn't do in earlier versions. Yes, I'm talking to you, Gimp! :-) When trying to print something from the Gimp (I think it's called "Gutenprint"), the message /usr/local/bin/lpstat: Unable to connect to server is output to the controlling terminal. It seems that it's not enough that Gimp runs slower with every version update... :-( The strangest thing: cups-base is a dependency to apsfilter! Furthermore, I think apsfilter lost some functionality. I mean, I DIDN't change anything on the printer when I reinstalled my whole system, and I restored all the settings such as they were before, but now, the printer doesn't print duplex anymore. > By all means, give CUPS a try though. CUPS seems to be the way to go, I'll try it on the next reinstall. -- Polytropon >From Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ...
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