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This chapter provides management information about using DCPS with specific printers. Printer-specific information that might be of interest to general users is in the DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS User's Guide rather than in this manual. The DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS Release Notes may also contain additional printer-specific information.
Check the documentation for your printer, network interface card, print
server, or terminal server to determine the correct TCP port number to
use. The TCP port number may also be listed in Table 3-2.
10.1 Apple LaserWriter Plus Printer
10.1.1 LPS$PERSISTENT_RESOURCES Not Supported
The DCPS feature to load the module LPS$PERSISTENT_RESOURCES outside
the PostScript server loop for desktop printers is not supported for
the LaserWriter Plus.
10.2 Compaq Laser Printer LN16 and GENICOM microLaser 170
10.2.1 Printer Configuration Setting
DCPS requires the printer's PERSONALITY be set to POSTSCRIPT. If the PERSONALITY is set to AUTO or PCL, DCPS jobs will remain in a Starting state and never print. This setting is in the printer console's CONFIG menu.
Setting the PERSONALITY to POSTSCRIPT will still allow PCL jobs coming
from Windows PCs to print correctly.
10.2.2 LAT and AppleTalk Configuration
To create a LAT device for use by a DCPS queue, you can use either of the following sets of values for LATCP qualifiers:
where nodename is the printer's NIC nodename and service is the name of a valid service on the printer. These values can be obtained from the printer NIC's status page or by logging in to the NIC via Telnet or LAT. For example, this command shows the printer NIC's nodename to be PRQ_00001F:
Local_4> show server
NET16 Version V1.0/1(990126) Uptime: 23:17:07
Hardware Addr: 00-50-27-00-00-1f Name/Nodenum: PRQ_00001F/ 0
Ident String: NET16
|
To create a DCPS queue using AppleTalk, you must use a service name. You can use one of the default services, modify a default service or create your own. The following is an example of a service that can be used by both LAT and AppleTalk. In this example, DCPS_LN16 is the AppleTalk name.
Local_4> list service dcps_ln16
Service: DCPS_LN16 Ident: DCPS Compaq Laser Printer LN16
Rating: N/A Ports: 1
Characteristics: Queueing Binary Rtel Connections AppleTalk
Lat
SOJ: <none> EOJ: <none>
Enabled Groups: 0
|
Create AppleTalk services with caution, as creating the same service name on more than one printer will result in multiple printers using the same AppleTalk name on your network.
Refer to the printer's Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC)
Reference Manual for more information about setting
characteristics of printer services.
10.3 Compaq Laser Printer LN32 and LNM40; GENICOM Intelliprint mL, LN and microLaser Series
This section does not apply to the GENICOM microLaser 170 printer. |
DCPS can print to these printers when the printer is in PostScript mode or automatic language-sensing mode. Make sure the INTERPRETER and FORMAT settings are set as described in Table 10-1. These values are set in the INTERFACE menu on the printer's console.
| Printer Settings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Printer Mode | Interpreter | Format |
| PostScript/PCL sensing | Auto Switch | Raw |
| PostScript | PostScript | Normal |
The factory default value for the printer's Delayed Output Close setting may cause DCPS queues to stall. The default value is OFF and is intended to improve performance by controlling how quickly the printer ends one job and starts another. However, if you also print from environments other than DCPS, this value may cause DCPS queues to stall. Therefore, if you also print from multiple environments, set the value to ON. If you print only from DCPS, you may leave the value of Delayed Output Close at OFF.
The setting for Delayed Output Close is found on the printer's console
as DELAY OUT CLOSE in the NETWORK section of the INTERFACE menu.
*
10.3.2 LAT and AppleTalk Configuration
Please see Section 10.2.2 for information about configuring LAT and
AppleTalk queues.
10.3.3 Queue Aborts When Using TCPware
When using TCPware with these printers, it is possible to receive numerous userdata messages on the screen and have the queue fail with an OPCOM message similar to the following:
%%%%%%%%%%% OPCOM 21-APR-1999 15:09:53.22 %%%%%%%%%%% Message from user SYSTEM on ZIPPY Queue LN32_RAW: %DCPS-F-EXQUOTA, process quota exceeded |
This problem occurs when running TCPware V5.3-3 and network firmware V1.0/4 (990323). To avoid this problem, the system manager should perform one of the following steps:
$ NETCU STOP /TCP
$ NETCU START /TCP /NOPATH_MTU_DISCOVERY
* This setting does not appear on LN32 and LNM40 printers with firmware earlier than version 3.03. |
10.4 DIGITAL Colorwriter LSR 2000 Printer
10.4.1 NIC Does Not Work with Raw TCP/IP
DCPS cannot communicate with the Colorwriter LSR 2000 NIC via a raw
TCP/IP connection because the NIC does not support raw TCP/IP
communication.
AppleTalk is the only network protocol that DCPS can use to communicate
with the Colorwriter LSR 2000 printer.
10.5 DIGITAL DECcolorwriter 1000 Printer
10.5.1 Printer-Specific Setup Files
You can use the files listed in the table below to alter the persistent state of the printer, affecting all subsequent jobs that the printer receives from your system and from other systems in the network until the printer is turned off and back on. The files are located in the SYS$COMMON:[SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] directory.
| Setup File | Description |
|---|---|
| DCW1000_CONFIG.PS | Sets the printer timeouts |
| DCW1000_DEVPARAM.PS | Changes configuration of the serial port |
| DCW1000_STARTPG.PS | Enables the start page |
| DCW1000_NOSTRTPG.PS | Disables the start page |
| DCW1000_PRNTCNFG.PS | Enables a software-selected information page |
| DCW1000_PSCRIPT.PS | Changes the port to PostScript and default on all ports |
Notes:
When using DCPS with the DEClaser 3500 printer with the optional serial port, the job may remain in a starting state. If this is the case, you must choose one of the following options:
The optional network card supports switching to native PCL; however,
the protocol must be set to autosensing.
10.6.3 NIC Does Not Work with Raw TCP/IP
DCPS cannot communicate with the printer via a raw TCP/IP connection because the NIC does not support bidirectional TCP/IP communication.
As an alternative, you can connect the printer to a print server (for
example, the Rapidprint 500) or a terminal server, or use a LAT
connection instead.
10.7 DIGITAL DEClaser 5100 Printer
10.7.1 Native PCL Is Unavailable with EtherTalk Protocol on NIC
Because of a problem with the Network Interface Card (NIC), DCPS cannot switch the printer into native PCL when using the EtherTalk protocol. Users will see the error:
%DCPS-W-UNDEF, undefined: Name not known - offending command is <1B> %DCPS-E-FLUSHING, Rest of Job (to EOJ) will be ignored |
A partial workaround is possible by specifying a default print job
parameter of
PAGE_LIMIT=999999
for the queue when you create it in DCPS$STARTUP.COM. This parameter
forces any PCL files to be printed through the PCL translator.
Remember, though, that the PCL translator is PCL 4 rather than PCL 5.
10.7.2 NIC Does Not Work with Raw TCP/IP
DCPS cannot communicate with the printer via a raw TCP/IP connection because the NIC does not support bidirectional TCP/IP communication.
As an alternative, you can connect the printer to a print server (for
example, the Rapidprint 500) or a terminal server, or use a LAT
connection instead.
10.7.3 Downloading and Deleting Fonts
You may download or delete fonts from the DEClaser 5100 printer's
optional hard drive using the FONT_DOWNLOADER.COM procedure described
in Appendix C.
10.7.4 Error Page Feature
The DEClaser 5100 printer has a feature that ejects the current sheet and then prints a PostScript Error information sheet when a PostScript interpreter error occurs. While this feature provides a powerful means for analyzing PostScript problems, it is not recommended for everyday use with the DCPS software for the following reasons:
You should disable the feature called "Print Errors" through the DEClaser 5100 front panel before starting print queues with DCPS. Enable the feature only when you are interested in analyzing PostScript problems.
If a job fails to print because of a "Limitcheck" error, also
see if "page protection required" is part of the error
message. Presence of this error means the job failed because of a
banding failure.
10.8 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+.
10.8.1 Printer Configuration Settings
DCPS requires certain LN15 printer characteristics to be set. If these values, described in Table 10-2, are not set, DCPS jobs will remain in a Starting state and never print.
| Setting | Value | Where Set | Documentation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PERSONALITY | PS | Printer console CONFIG menu | LN15 User Manual |
| NPAP MODE | OFF | Printer console PARALLEL menu | LN15 User Manual |
| PORT 1 BITRONICS | ENABLED | Ethernet card management | RapidPrint 600 Print Server Installation Guide |
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.
10.9.1 Job Remains in Starting State
If you use a raw TCP/IP or LAT-connected LN17ps printer with DCPS, the associated DCPS print job may remain in a Starting state.
You must either set the Ethernet port to use the PostScript language and disable automatic language sensing, or define a DCPS$queuename_NO_SYNC logical name for the associated queue as described in Section 11.1.1.
The sheet count reported on the job trailer page and in the OpenVMS
accounting file may be several sheets too few due to a limitation with
the LN17ps printer. There is no known workaround.
10.9.3 Downloading and Deleting Fonts
You may download or delete fonts from the LN17ps printer's optional
hard drive using the FONT_DOWNLOADER.COM procedure described in
Appendix C.
10.9.4 Colored Separator Pages and Tray Switching
The LN17ps can switch between input trays when a specified tray becomes empty. By default, tray switching is disabled. If you currently specify colored separator pages by using the DCPS$queuename_SEPARATOR_PAGE logical, you may want to ensure that tray switching is disabled.
You disable tray switching from the printer console, under the PostScript menu. See the LN17ps User Guide for more information.
Use one of the following PostScript tray numbers as the value of the DCPS$queuename_SEPARATOR_PAGE logical:
| 0 | Main tray | |
| 1 | Front tray | |
| 2 | Lower 1 tray | |
| 3 | Lower 2 tray |
The sheet count reported on the job trailer page and in the OpenVMS
accounting file is incorrect due to a limitation with the LN20 printer.
There is no known workaround. The LN20 has, however, an accounting
feature that can be used to track printer utilization.
10.11 DIGITAL Laser Printer LN40
10.11.1 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 LN40
printers. There is no known workaround. The LN40 has, however, an
accounting feature that can be used to track printer utilization.
10.12 Compaq and DIGITAL Laser Printer LNC02
10.12.1 Minimum Firmware Version
To use the LNC02 with the Raw TCP/IP protocol from DCPS, the printer
must be running a minimum firmware version of System Release
1.1.1, Revision 3.11. This firmware version number is
displayed on the printer's startup page.
10.12.2 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.
10.13 DIGITAL PrintServer 17 Printer
10.13.1 Colored Separator Pages and Tray Switching
PrintServer Software, Version 5.0, adds input tray failover to the PrintServer 17 series printers. This feature allows the printer to automatically switch to another input tray containing the same size media when the current tray becomes empty. This feature is enabled by default.
If you currently use colored flag pages, you may want to disable this feature. To disable input tray failover, perform the following steps:
/TraySwitch true % Controls input tray failover.
% false = disable
% true = enable
|
/TraySwitch false % Controls input tray failover.
% false = disable
% true = enable
|
$ MCR LPS$CONSOLE <printer name> LPS> PRIV Password: <password> LPS> RECONFIG LPS> EXIT |
The DCPS$queuename_NO_SYNC logical name can be used to solve
reported problems printing to HP LaserJet IIID printers with
HP-supplied PostScript Level 2 cartridges. Those cartridges have a
known problem where they corrupt status messages they send to a host.
This can cause jobs to get stuck in the "starting" state when
DCPS tries to use its synchronization sequence. See Section 3.4.3 for
more information.
10.14.2 Incorrect Sheet Count on Duplex Jobs
The HP LaserJet IIID and several other HP LaserJet printers do not
internally count physical sheets but instead count pages imaged.
Therefore the "Sheets printed" data of the trailer page will
reflect the number of images processed. For example, a six-page print
job with burst and trailer pages enabled and
/PARAMETERS=(SIDES=2)
specified will show "Sheets printed" as eight when only five
sheets are printed.
10.15 HP LaserJet IIISi Printer
10.15.1 Incorrect Sheet Count on Native PCL Jobs
The HP LaserJet IIISi printer does not keep track of the sheet count
while printing native PCL files. The sheet count reported at the end of
the job, both on the trailer page and to the OpenVMS accounting system,
includes only those sheets printed in PostScript mode, such as the job
separation pages. There is no known workaround for this problem.
10.15.2 Incorrect Sheet Count on Duplex Jobs
The HP LaserJet IIISi printer exhibits the same behavior with sheet count as mentioned in Section 10.14.2.
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