Date: 20 Apr 2003 11:59:08 -0400 From: Adam <blueeskimo@gmx.net> To: doc@FreeBSD.org Cc: FreeBSD Mailing List <freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG> Subject: Inaccuracy in 'The Handbook' printer setup manual Message-ID: <1050854348.68562.20.camel@jake>
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[-- Attachment #1 --] http://www.freebsd.org/doc/handbook/printing-intro-setup.html#PRINTING-TESTING It says: ******************************************************************************* 11.3.1.3.2.1 Checking a Parallel Printer This section tells you how to check if FreeBSD can communicate with a printer connected to a parallel port. To test a printer on a parallel port: 1. Become root with su(1). 2. 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. * If the printer understands PostScript or other printer language, then send 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. You should see something print. Do not worry if the text does not look right; we will fix such things later. ******************************************************************************* That last part is not entirely true (where is says you should see something print if you pipe to /dev/lptN). This does *NOT* work with some printers (including my Canon S600). However, once apsfilter+ghostscript are installed, the printer works fine. But piping to /dev/lpt0 (or whatever device you are set up for) does not print anything. On my printer in particular, the light blinks when I write to /dev/lpt0, but nothing comes out. This inaccuracy cost me a good day's worth of troubleshooting, because the handbook strongly advised getting this part working before moving on to config'ing printcap and apsfilter. I eventually gave up on this part and decided to move on, at which point I was amazed when it actually worked. I hope this clarification saves someone some heartache in the future. -- Adam <blueeskimo@gmx.net> [-- Attachment #2 --] -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.2.1 (FreeBSD) iD8DBQA+osPMu3o4GBMSDL4RAjmwAJwLE9BaJ6P0CcTmm5XUUFkvpjKG1QCfQFsA 429mlMdFAy8Vm3fpYn5Gx3I= =8OHT -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----help
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