Compaq DECprint Supervisor (DCPS) for OpenVMS
User's Guide


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18.2.3 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.

18.2.4 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 3.3 for more information.

18.3 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 


Chapter 19
Printer-Specific Information

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.

19.1 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+.

19.1.1 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.

19.1.2 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.

19.1.3 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 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.

19.2 DIGITAL DECcolorwriter 1000 Printer

19.2.1 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

19.3 DIGITAL DEClaser 1152 Printer

19.3.1 Printer Hangs After Deleting Jobs When Using AppleTalk

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.

19.4 DIGITAL DEClaser 3500 Printer

19.4.1 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.

19.4.1.1 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.

19.4.1.2 Setup Modules for Toner Saver Mode

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.

19.4.1.3 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:

19.4.1.4 Setup Module Example

The following example increases darkness for the specified print job:


$  PRINT/SETUP=(DL3500_RET_DARK) filename

19.4.2 Using the FAX Option

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.

  1. Create a fax settings file that includes fax information for a particular recipient. Use SYS$COMMON:[SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS]DL3500_SEND_FAX_PS.PS or DL3500_SEND_FAX_PS_SENDPS.PS as a template, depending on whether you are sending a fax to a standard CCITT fax machine or a PostScript fax device such as the DEClaser 3500.
  2. Have your system manager create a custom PostScript device control library if your site does not already have one:


    $ LIBRARY /CREATE /TEXT SYS$COMMON:[SYSLIB]library_name 
    

    where library_name is the name you have chosen for your library.

  3. The system manager should ensure that the DCPS_LIB logical name points to both the DCPS device control library (DCPS$DEVCTL) and your custom device control library or libraries. See the System Manager's GuideSystem Manager's Guide and the comments in the SYS$STARTUP:DCPS$STARTUP.COM command procedure for more information.
    If the definition of DCPS_LIB is changed, the DCPS queues that will be used for sending faxes must be stopped and restarted.
  4. The system manager then creates the fax settings module from the fax settings file:


    $ LIBRARY /INSERT /TEXT - 
    _$ SYS$COMMON:[SYSLIB]library_name fax_settings_file 
    

    where fax_settings_file specifies the file containing the fax information.

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.

19.5 DIGITAL DEClaser 5100 Printer

19.5.1 Printer-Specific Setup Modules

The following page-protection setup modules adjust the bitmap for the printed page.

Table 19-1 DEClaser 5100 Printer Page Protection Setup Modules
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.

Note

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.


 %%[ ConfigInfo: Insufficient printer resources. 
 Resolution set to [300 300] - Page-Protection ON ]%% 
 

The following example prints at 600 DPI and enables page protection:


$ PRINT/NOTIFY/SETUP=(DL5100_PAGEPROT_ON,RES_600X600) file

19.5.2 Errors from PCL Jobs on the LocalTalk Port

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 entire file has been printed, but the printer may hang. The front panel displays PS Localtalk as an indication of the hang. To restore normal operation, press the Reset button on the printer's front panel.

19.6 DIGITAL Laser Printer LN15+

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+.

19.6.1 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.

19.6.2 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.

19.6.3 Jobs with Errors May Not Complete

If you specify incorrect job parameters or your job gets a PostScript error, your job may never finish because the LN15 printer does not always send an error message to DCPS. Use the DELETE /ENTRY command to remove the job from the queue and make the printer available for other jobs. If the LN15 printer displays "PS Error 19" or the LN15+ displays "WAIT TIMEOUT / Press Continue", you must also press the CONTINUE button on the printer to resume printing. To avoid having to press the printer button, set the printer's PostScript timeout setting to a value of 0.

19.6.4 Jobs May Not Issue Failure Notifications

Jobs that are printed with the /NOTIFY qualifier and fail may not issue failure messages. You will, however, get a DCPS error page printed when such errors occur.

19.7 DIGITAL Laser Printer LN17+ps

The DIGITAL Laser Printer LN17+ps is an upgrade to the DIGITAL LN17ps printer. References in the DCPS documentation to the DIGITAL LN17ps printer also apply to the DIGITAL Laser Printer LN17+ps.

19.8 DIGITAL Laser Printer LNC02

19.8.1 Incorrect Sheet Count

The sheet count reported on the job trailer page and in the OpenVMS accounting file is incorrect due to a limitation with the LNC02 printer. There is no known workaround. The LNC02 has, however, an accounting feature that can be used to track printer utilization.

19.9 HP LaserJet Printers

19.9.1 Incomplete Printing of ANSI Text

The HP LaserJet IIID, LaserJet IIISi LaserJet 4M, LaserJet 4ML, LaserJet 4MX, and LaserJet 4SiMX printers have a slightly smaller printable area than other printers. As a result, if you print an ANSI text file that utilizes 66 lines per page, the bottom three points of the 66th line will not print.

You can work around this restriction by using layup options. One solution is to create and use a layup definition file with the following options:


     noborders 
     margins = 0, 3, 0, 0 

Or, you can provide those options directly on the command line:


$ PRINT/PARAMETERS=(LAYUP="(NOBORDERS;MARGINS=0,3,0,0)")

The LaserJet 5M printer has a similar restriction for 66 lines of ANSI text, except that you need to allow for an 11-point (versus 3-point) bottom margin.

19.10 HP LaserJet 4MV

19.10.1 Support for B5 Paper Sizes

The 4MV printer supports both the JIS and ISO standards for B5 paper sizes. For this printer, the JIS size is regarded as paper while the ISO size is regarded as an envelope. In DCPS, there is only one B5 option for specifying sheet size. DCPS handles the two B5 sizes as follows:
Parameter Config. Result
SHEET_SIZE=B5 ISO is loaded in tray xxx Pages print in tray xxx with ISO image area
SHEET_SIZE=B5 JIS is loaded in tray xxx DCPS reports "B5 medium not loaded in printer_name"
INPUT_TRAY=xxx, SHEET_SIZE=B5 (xxx is MANUAL_FEED) ISO or JIS is loaded in tray xxx Pages print in tray xxx with ISO image area, regardless of the B5 variant
INPUT_TRAY=xxx, SHEET_SIZE=B5 (xxx is anything but MANUAL_FEED) ISO or JIS is loaded in tray xxx Pages print in tray xxx with the correct image area for each B5 variant

19.11 HP LaserJet 5SiMX

19.11.1 Support for B5 Paper Sizes

The 5SiMX printer supports both the JIS and ISO standards for B5 paper sizes. DCPS handles the two B5 sizes as described in Section 19.10.1.

19.11.2 Optional Mailbox

DCPS numbers the optional mailbox bins on the HP 5SiMX printer from one through eight, which is consistent with the numbers molded into the plastic beside the bins. The 5SiMX console, in contrast, refers to these same bins as numbers two through nine.

19.12 HP LaserJet 8000, 8100 and 8150

19.12.1 Optional Mailbox

DCPS numbers the optional mailbox bins on the HP LaserJet 8000 printer from 1-5, 1-7 or 1-8, depending on the particular option installed. This is consistent with the numbers molded into the plastic beside the bins. The printer's console, in contrast, refers to these same bins as numbers two through nine. Refer to the HP LaserJet User Guide for your printer model for more information about the numbering and purpose of trays with different options and configurations.


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