Date: Tue, 5 May 2020 05:47:29 -0400 From: Jerry <jerry@seibercom.net> To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Brother HL-L2340D printer and lpd? Message-ID: <20200505054729.00000035@seibercom.net> In-Reply-To: <20200505095657.b436931b.freebsd@edvax.de> References: <20200503171259.GA48627@admin.sibptus.ru> <20200503192444.2d700440.freebsd@edvax.de> <ec10816a-15d1-e947-e032-9ad024c044d6@pinyon.org> <20200503185521.GB52059@admin.sibptus.ru> <20200504085053.9bcf8d9d.freebsd@edvax.de> <9992c5ca-fdac-7a62-b0e4-d33afaeb042d@panix.com> <20200505095657.b436931b.freebsd@edvax.de>
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--Sig_/mHHMn6+I6KntCT8hx+=KKCm Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable On Tue, 5 May 2020 09:56:57 +0200, Polytropon commented: >On Mon, 4 May 2020 15:10:58 -0400, Kurt Hackenberg wrote: >> On 2020-05-04 02:50, Polytropon wrote: >> =20 >> > However, it's really scary that a printer like the one mentioned >> > here does not seem to understand ASCII text, even though it >> > supports PCL standard (as shown on the specification page). =20 >>=20 >>=20 >> PCL was originally ASCII with proprietary escape sequences mixed in, >> but that spec page says that printer understands PCL 6, which >> apparently is a stack-based graphics language like PostScript, >> except binary. It's supposed to include backward compatibility with >> PCL 5, but doesn't always. So possibly what that printer understands >> has nothing to do with ASCII. >>=20 >> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printer_Command_Language >>=20 >> I don't like it either, but there is heavy pressure to hold down the=20 >> cost of printers. =20 > >Thank you, that is an important note! PCL backward compatibility >might be the reason why the printer accepts PCL intended for a >Laserjet 4 (I don't know, maybe PCL 3?), but doesn't actually >print anything. So the printer filter will have to explicitely >output PCL 6. That could be achieved using a different output >device for gs, or using CUPS in combination with the PPD file >provided by Brother. This of course brings you all the "joy" >of using CUPS... ;-) > >Maybe this thread can also help: > >https://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-questions/2017-July/277994.html Poly, I know you are going to disagree with me here vehemently, but the problems expressed by the OP are one of the reasons I so detest 'printing' under FreeBSD. This is 2020, not 1820. There is absolutely no reason that a user should have to go through all this effort required to print, or FAX, or Scan or Copy a document. I have used Brother printers for years and generally like them far better than HP or other manufacturers, but that is a personal preference. In cases where 'Brother' does supply a PPD, I, unfortunately, have to use 'cups' to utilize that file. If there is no readily available PPD via Brother for a particular printer, I extract it from the 'printer driver' cd supplied by Brother for the device or download the driver from Brother and extract the PPD from it. Obviously, that requires a Windows machine. If you don't happen to have on handy, I am sure you must know a friend or two who does and is willing to help you out. In any case, this will only assist you with printing. All of the other functions that are readily available on a Windows machine are usually cloaked away from FreeBSD operators. Brother does supply some utilities for Linux and Debian, but not FreeBSD. I had a telephone conversation several years ago with a Brother technician. I asked him directly why they did not support FreeBSD more aggressively. He stated that he used Linux on his home machine. He went on to say that FreeBSD does not adhere to common standards. I assume he meant 'Linux' standards. He claimed that writing drivers for FreeBSD were not cost-effective since they would require constant maintenance and that the market share for FreeBSD did not justify the cost. He also claimed that ripping the PPD from a Windows driver was probably the best idea if Brother did not supply a PPD for the product. He also stated that Brother did supply PPD's for their better model printers. Of course, that doesn't help with the other functions. I know you are going to tell me that there are programs available that will allow faxing or scanning, but they are way more trouble than I am willing to put up with. Plus, they are usually separate programs that typically do not work well together. I have not seen any that would enable me to do a copy and attach it to email or convert to another format easily, if at all. The bottom line is 'time is money,' and I am not at all interested in writing a 'conf' or XML file to perform a function that I can already do on a Windows machine without any of the aggravation. Now with the advent of 'cloud printing,' I can see things only getting more perverse. In my opinion, the FOSS community has never put any real effort into creating an environment where 'printing' and the olla podrida of other functions that a modern printer can perform, are not considered of any real importance. I find it troublesome that the concept of "It should just work" has never entered the lexicon of so many users. --=20 Jerry --Sig_/mHHMn6+I6KntCT8hx+=KKCm Content-Type: application/pgp-signature Content-Description: OpenPGP digital signature -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- iQEzBAEBCAAdFiEEIQb/tTwl6I1ueEVtOHMGOIfexWQFAl6xNjEACgkQOHMGOIfe xWQZEwf9H14LVPerb6ZMVFaDG4mpiErPnS21kIBQBLgC936NvlMyls8hceBiD2gu Q2x1fp72XOwTvV/j2KkeguJ0/RWABgTSC3YSwKp/wL1KOGlQrj8Krl12igW/nxes 5fDT5umVnIhRt2lDd5nfXvLthVpVx0f4QQxGkS0nm41k7VDZgY/7I+joTU4jmYa7 BXU+Fw/8pc0/iXN2/3zS/WHRRJDXlCgbd2sDHbNL7bnKHd+uPfu5AVtoDEGLluNl XcP/t0HyRBsXoe6oO/kZ9nL5w5nv5j5HoeU6yJXJdR8Gbe3BrrkRiXmaGYRevBYI kPdsw0BR8dTFjjERTS6Ee615+J7CAQ== =NXsm -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- --Sig_/mHHMn6+I6KntCT8hx+=KKCm--
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