Previous | Contents | Index |
This chapter describes how to interpret messages and solve problems
with printing on PostScript printers. If the problem cannot be solved
without privileged authority, see your system manager for help.
19.1 Displaying and Saving Error Messages
To detect, understand, and solve problems with print jobs, gather information about the print job as it is processed. The following list describes some ways to gather the information:
$ PRINT/PARAMETERS=MESSAGES=PRINT MYFILE.PS |
$ PRINT/PARAMETERS=MESSAGES=KEEP MYFILE.PS |
Interpreting print job messages can help you to solve print job problems and to submit more successful and efficient print jobs.
You should try to determine the source of messages. Some messages come from the PostScript code in the printer (see Section 19.2.1).
Messages often come from the DECprint Supervisor software. The file you are printing or the OpenVMS system can send messages (see Section 19.2.2).
If you print to a PrintServer printer, you can receive messages from
the PrintServer Supporting Host software (see Section 19.2.3).
19.2.1 PostScript Errors
PostScript errors can be identified by the phrase "offending command is name".
The PostScript printer contains a PostScript interpreter that translates PostScript code into mechanical functions that transfer the data onto the physical page through marking functions.
Many applications generate PostScript files, and many types of printers print in PostScript. Files and printers are not always completely compatible.
You can solve some PostScript printing problems using the techniques described in Section 6.6.
If your application generates PostScript Level 2 files, you need a printer that supports PostScript Level 2. PostScript Level 1 files can be printed on both PostScript Level 1 and Level 2 printers.
If a PostScript error is generated from printing non-PostScript files, the application that generated the files should be modified.
Not all PostScript printers are capable of printing all PostScript images and documents. Depending on what type of printer you are using, certain PostScript files may or may not exceed the printer's virtual memory limitations. The success of printing these files depends largely on:
If your print job fails to print because of a virtual memory limitation, you receive the following error:
%DCPS-W-VMERROR, vmerror: PostScript virtual memory exhausted - offending command is string. |
You can do one of the following to fix the problem:
Messages from the DECprint Supervisor software start with the prefix DCPS. These messages and the actions you should take when they indicate problems, are described in Appendix A.
The OpenVMS system provides the queue manager for the OpenVMS
batch/print queuing system. When your print job stops or is terminated
by the queue manager, it sends OpenVMS messages to your terminal. When
you have enabled message notification by including /NOTIFY in your
PRINT command, you receive messages from both the OpenVMS queue manager
and the DECprint Supervisor software.
19.2.3 Solving PrintServer Software Problems
The PrintServer Software provides the management of PrintServer
printers and sends messages to indicate when print jobs encounter
problems. You can use the Remote Console facility or the Printer Status
monitor to check the current status of the printer.
19.2.4 Problems with Files Generated on a PC or Macintosh System
Files generated by PC or Macintosh applications may be incompatable
with your printer or DCPS. See Section 4.3 for more information.
19.3 Getting Help On Line
If you receive error messages about your PRINT parameters, use the HELP command to ensure that you are using valid values. You can get help about the PRINT parameters by entering the HELP PRINT_PARAMETER command.
For those parameters that control printer-specific features, the HELP file lists the acceptable parameters. Enter HELP PRINT_PARAMETER followed by the parameter name (such as INPUT_TRAY). Then enter the name of the printer model.
For example, to display a list of the input tray values for PrintServer printers, enter the following command:
$ HELP PRINT_PARAMETER INPUT_TRAY PRINTSERVER |
PRINT_Parameter INPUT_TRAY PrintServer_Printers +-------------------------------------+ | Input tray | PrintServer | | Values | 20 | 32 | 40 | 17 | +-------------------------------------+ | MANUAL_FEED | | | | X* | | NOMANUAL_FEED | | | | X* | +-------------------------------------+ | BOTTOM | X | X | | X | +-------------------------------------+ | TOP | X | X | X | X | +-------------------------------------+ | ENVELOPE_FEEDER | | | | X | +-------------------------------------+ | LCIT | X | X | X | X | +-------------------------------------+ | MIDDLE | X | X | X | | +-------------------------------------+ * With PrintServer Supporting Host V5.0 |
This chapter provides general user information about using DCPS with
specific printers. Refer to the System Manager's GuideSystem Manager's Guide and Release NotesRelease Notes for
additional printer-specific information.
20.1 DIGITAL Colorwriter LSR 2000+ Printer
The DIGITAL Colorwriter LSR 2000+ printer is an upgrade to
the DIGITAL Colorwriter LSR 2000. References in the DCPS documentation
to the DIGITAL Colorwriter LSR 2000 also apply to the DIGITAL
Colorwriter LSR 2000+.
20.1.1 Requests for Unloaded Sheet Sizes
If you specify a sheet size that is supported by the printer but not
currently loaded in any of its input trays, the printer will request
that you load the specified sheet size. In other printers, the request
is rejected with a SIZNOTAVL error.
20.1.2 INPUT_TRAY and PAGE_SIZE or SHEET_SIZE Parameters
DCPS does not allow you to specify both a paper size and an input tray
when using the Colorwriter LSR 2000, due to a printer restriction. If
you attempt to do so, you will get a NOSHEETANDTRAY error. You can,
however, specify one as long as you omit the other.
20.1.3 ANSI Translator Limits Output to 64 Lines
The Colorwriter LSR 2000 printer has a minimum top margin of a half-inch, which limits the imageable area to less than the 66 lines required to display text at the default font size on A-size sheets. To prevent the top lines of each page from overlapping the nonimageable area, the ANSI translator reduces the normal output to 64 lines.
If you wish to use 66 lines and you have the DCPS-PLUS license, you can
do so by specifying parameters of (NUMBER_UP=1) or
(LAYUP=COLORWRITER-2000-FULL-PAGE). These parameters cause DCPS to
scale the image to the imageable area.
20.2 DIGITAL DECcolorwriter 1000 Printer
20.2.1 Printer-Specific Setup Modules
You can use the setup modules listed in the table below to change various printer attributes for your print job.
Setup Module | Description |
---|---|
DCW1000_STANDARD | 300 x 300 dpi; fastest printing at 2 ppm |
DCW1000_ENHANCED | 300 x 300 dpi with dither enhance at 1.5 ppm |
DCW1000_HIGHRES | 300 x 600 dpi with dither enhance at 1 ppm |
DCW1000_VIVDBLUE | More blue than purple |
DCW1000_DISPLAY | Picture light; monitor display simulation |
DCW1000_SIMPRESS | Printing press simulation |
DCW1000_NOCORECT | No color correction; DEFAULT |
For example, the following command prints at 300 x 600 DPI and specifies vivid blue colors:
$ PRINT/NOTIFY/SETUP=(DCW1000_VIVDBLUE,DCW1000_HIGRES) file |
Deleting a job printing on the DEClaser 1152 printer can cause the next job to hang when all of these conditions exist:
This next job does not print, but remains in the queue as printing, and
the queue eventually stalls. The problem occurs because the printer has
accepted an AppleTalk connection before it is ready. The hung job must
be deleted and submitted again. The job may take some time (up to 90
seconds) to delete.
20.4 DIGITAL DEClaser 3500 Printer
20.4.1 Printer-Specific Setup Modules
The modules described in this section apply to the DEClaser 3500
printer only. They allow you to enhance resolution, enable toner saver
modes, and download a version of the DECimage-Lite image enhancement
technology to the printer.
20.4.1.1 Setup Modules for Resolution Enhancement
The resolution enhancement setup modules perform smoothing to both text
and graphics. The level of smoothing is increased in the DARK setup
module and decreased in the LIGHT setup module. The dark setting makes
thin lines a little thicker and may not be desirable. The factory
default setting for the printer is medium.
The toner saver setup module DL3500_TSAVER renders all characters as
outlines and outlines dark areas of any graphics as well. This feature
is useful for draft copies of documents and provides a medium level of
resolution enhancement to the page.
20.4.1.3 Setup Modules for DECimage-Lite
The DECimage-Lite modules provide five different contrast (punch) settings:
DL3500_DI_HC | Increase contrast by 20% |
DL3500_DI_LC | Decrease contrast by 20% |
DL3500_DI_BRIGHTER | Increase brightness by 10% |
DL3500_DI_DARKER | Increase darkness by 10% |
DL3500_DI_FLAT | Apply the special halftone without gray level adjustment |
Notes:
The following example increases darkness for the specified print job:
$ PRINT/SETUP=(DL3500_RET_DARK) filename |
You can use four example files in [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] to help you send FAX messages with the DEClaser 3500 printer, and may freely distribute these files to driver developers and end users. These files may be used on OpenVMS, UNIX, or DOS operating systems that do not have an application for using the DEClaser 3500 as a FAX sender. For Microsoft Windows 3.1 and Macintosh systems, drivers are available for sending a FAX and should be used instead of these files.
Send these header files ahead of the actual PostScript or text file that is to be faxed from the DEClaser 3500 printer and modify the header files for each application. Each of the files is heavily commented and contains additional information on how to edit and use the files. In addition, the file [SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS]FAX_3500_PRINTME.PS explains how to use the header files.
You can also fax ANSI documents using the DEClaser 3500 fax option, in addition to PostScript and text files as described above. Documents consisting only of lines of printable ASCII characters can be sent as a text file following the instructions in SYS$COMMON:[SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS]FAX_3500_PRINTME.PS, or as an ANSI document as described below. Documents containing tabs, form feeds, other control characters, or ANSI escape sequences must be sent using the instructions below.
To fax an ANSI document, a privileged OpenVMS user must first create a fax setup module which contains information about the fax recipient. Once the setup module exists, you use the PRINT/SETUP command to send ANSI documents to the recipient.
$ LIBRARY /CREATE /TEXT SYS$COMMON:[SYSLIB]library_name |
$ LIBRARY /INSERT /TEXT - _$ SYS$COMMON:[SYSLIB]library_name fax_settings_file |
Now, you can fax ANSI documents with the following command:
$ PRINT /PARAMETERS=DATA_TYPE=ANSI - _$ /SETUP=fax_settings_module fax_file |
where fax_settings_module is the name of the setup module that
your system manager created and fax_file is the ANSI document
that you want to fax.
20.5 DIGITAL DEClaser 5100 Printer
20.5.1 Printer-Specific Setup Modules
The following page-protection setup modules adjust the bitmap for the printed page.
Setup Module | Description |
---|---|
DL5100_PAGEPROT_ON | Full page bitmaps |
DL5100_PAGEPROT_OFF | Partial-page bitmaps and banding |
Using the full-page bitmap is referred to as page-protection, and allows complex pages to print. However, the requested resolution may not be possible if memory resources are low.
Page-protection settings take priority over resolution settings. If low memory resources cause a conflict, the requested page-protection mode takes precedence. Add the /NOTIFY switch on the print command line when using these modules so that you can see any messages reported by the printer.
The modules have no order dependency on the print command line.
If the printer does not have sufficient memory resources to comply with the request, and the parameters change to successfully print the job, you receive a message containing that information. The message also contains the modified parameters. The following is an example of this message; the data varies according to the specific situation.
|
The following example prints at 600 DPI and enables page protection:
$ PRINT/NOTIFY/SETUP=(DL5100_PAGEPROT_ON,RES_600X600) file |
When you print PCL files using the native PCL interpreter through the LocalTalk port, you may see the following error when the PCL job ends:
%DCPS-W-UNDEF, undefined: Name not known - offending command is <1B>E<1B> %DCPS-E-FLUSHING, Rest of Job (to EOJ) will be ignored |
The DIGITAL Laser Printer LN15+ is an upgrade to the DIGITAL Laser
Printer LN15. References in the DCPS documentation to the DIGITAL Laser
Printer LN15 also apply to the DIGITAL Laser Printer LN15+.
20.6.1 Extraneous USERDATA Messages Appear
USERDATA messages from the job currently printing on the LN15 may
appear when your DCPS job is waiting to print. For example, such
messages will appear on your screen if you used the /NOTIFY qualifier
when printing. These messages should be ignored, as they have no affect
on your job.
20.6.2 Choosing Input Trays
You will get erroneous output or receive an error message when trying to print to the optional lower tray if the lower tray contains paper of a different size than the top tray. If both input tray and and paper size are specified using INPUT_TRAY=BOTTOM and either PAGE_SIZE or SHEET_SIZE parameters, you will get a SIZNOTRAY error. Specifying INPUT_TRAY=BOTTOM without specifying paper size will result in improperly positioned or truncated output. To avoid this problem, select the bottom tray by paper size only.
Previous | Next | Contents | Index |