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10.6 DIGITAL DEClaser 3500 Printer

10.6.1 Job Remains in Starting State

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:

  1. Lock the printer to PostScript mode. (On the front panel: Serial, Printer Type = STD PostScript). Do not use the DCPS$queuename_NO_SYNC logical. In this mode, native PCL is not available because the printer does not respond to PJL sequences. You should use the workaround described in Section 10.7.1 to force use of the PCL 4 translator.
  2. Set the serial port language sensing mode to Automatic. (On the front panel: Serial, Printer Type = PS/PCL Sensing), and define the DCPS$queuename_NO_SYNC logical. In this mode, the printer responds to PJL sequences and switches to native PCL 5 or PostScript as indicated by the datastream.

10.6.2 Interaction Between Communication Protocol and Native PCL Support

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 Raw TCP/IP Port Number

When creating a DCPS queue for the LN15 using the Raw TCP/IP protocol, specify port number 3001.

10.8.2 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.

Table 10-2 LN15 Configuration Settings
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

10.9 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.

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 system logical for the associated queue.

10.9.2 Raw TCP/IP Port Number

When creating a DCPS queue for the LN17ps using the Raw TCP/IP protocol, specify port number 2501.

10.9.3 Incorrect Sheet Count

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.

10.9.4 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.

10.9.5 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

10.10 DIGITAL Laser Printer LN20

10.10.1 Raw TCP/IP Port Number

When creating a DCPS queue for the LN20 using the Raw TCP/IP protocol, specify port number 6869. This bidirectional port is not the same as the unidirectional port that is configured with the printer console.

10.10.2 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 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 Raw TCP/IP Port Number

When creating a DCPS queue for the LN40 using the Raw TCP/IP protocol, specify port number 6869. This bidirectional port is not the same as the unidirectional port that is configured with the printer console.

10.11.2 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 LN40 printers. There is no known workaround. The LN40 has, however, an accounting feature that can be used to track printer utilization.

10.11.3 First Job May Be Offset Incorrectly

The first DCPS job to print to the LN40 after the printer is powered on may jog incorrectly. This occurs only if the LN40 is configured with OFFSET STACKING set to ON and COLLATION set to OFF.

10.12 DIGITAL Laser Printer LNC02

10.12.1 Minimum Firmware Version

To use the DIGITAL Laser Printer 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.

If your LNC02 printer is running an older version of firmware, you can download the newer version from the DIGITAL Printers Web site at

http://www.digital.com/printers/sofwar/prt_sofwar.html

You can also use the online help from the Web page on the LNC02 to be directed to the location of the firmware update.

10.12.2 Raw TCP/IP Port Number

When creating a DCPS queue for the LNC02 using the Raw TCP/IP protocol, specify port number 6869. This bidirectional port is not the same as the unidirectional port that is configured with the printer console.

10.12.3 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:

  1. Edit LPS$SUPPORT:LPSDEFAULTS.<printer name>
  2. Search for the /TraySwitch parameter:


      /TraySwitch true  % Controls input tray failover. 
                        % false = disable 
                        % true = enable 
    

  3. Change the value of the TraySwitch parameter from "true" to "false". PostScript is case sensitive; the only valid values are "true" or "false".


      /TraySwitch false % Controls input tray failover. 
                        % false = disable 
                        % true = enable 
    

  4. Enable the changes by issuing the reconfigure command from the remote console facility.


    $ MCR LPS$CONSOLE <printer name> 
    LPS> PRIV 
    Password: <password> 
    LPS> RECONFIG 
    LPS> EXIT 
    

Refer to the DEC PrintServer Supporting Host Software for OpenVMS Management Guide for additional information.

10.14 Hewlett-Packard LaserJet IIID Printer

10.14.1 Job Remains in Starting State

The DCPS$queuename_NO_SYNC logical can be used to solve reported problems printing to Hewlett-Packard 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 Hewlett-Packard LaserJet IIID and several other Hewlett-Packard 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 Hewlett-Packard LaserJet IIISi Printer

10.15.1 Incorrect Sheet Count on Native PCL Jobs

The Hewlett-Packard 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 Hewlett-Packard LaserJet IIISi printer exhibits the same behavior with sheet count as mentioned in Section 10.14.2.

10.16 Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 4SiMX Printer

10.16.1 Incorrect Sheet Count on Duplex Jobs

The Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 4SiMX printer exhibits the same behavior with sheet count as mentioned in Section 10.14.2.

10.17 Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 5M Printer

10.17.1 Problems Selecting an Input Tray

DCPS may ignore explicit INPUT_TRAY parameter values for the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 5M printer, instead utilizing paper from another input tray. DCPS may also report that TRAY_1 is not available, even though the tray is a standard tray, when tray 1 is empty.

Both classes of problems are related to the printer attempting to select an alternate input tray if the desired tray is empty or otherwise not satisfactory. To avoid these problems, use the HP 5M console to specify that tray 1 is a "cassette" and to lock out all but one of the available input trays. Refer to the printer's user manual for more information.

10.17.2 Incorrect Sheet Count on Duplex Jobs

The Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 5M printer exhibits the same behavior with sheet count as mentioned in Section 10.14.2.

10.18 Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 5SiMX Printer

10.18.1 Job Trailer Pages Print in Next Bin

If the network manager has placed the mailbox bins into "job separator mode" using the administration software supplied with the printer, the DCPS job log and trailer pages print in the next bin, separated from the rest of the job.

10.18.2 Tray is Not Available due to Lack of Memory for Loaded Paper

If an input tray is loaded with a paper size that cannot be printed with the current memory configuration, DCPS reports the tray as not available. (Refer to the HP5SiMX users's guide for memory requirements.)

10.18.3 Duplex Not Supported Due to Lack of Memory for Loaded Paper

If an input tray is loaded with a paper size which cannot be printed in duplex mode with the current memory configuration, DCPS reports that duplex is not supported. (Refer to the HP5SiMX users's guide for memory requirements.)

10.18.4 Incorrect Sheet Count on Duplex Jobs

The Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 5SiMX printer exhibits the same behavior with sheet count as mentioned in Section 10.14.2.

10.19 Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 4000 and 5000 Series

10.19.1 Minimum Firmware Version

To use a Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 4000 or 5000 Series printer from DCPS, the printer must be running a minimum firmware version of 19980714 MB3.68. This firmware version number is displayed as Firmware Datecode on the printer's configuration page.

If your printer is running an older version of firmware, contact Hewlett-Packard and request the proper version. The new firmware will be sent on a SIMM to be installed in your printer.

10.19.2 Raw TCP/IP Port Number

When creating a DCPS queue for the HP LaserJet 4000 or 5000 using the Raw TCP/IP protocol, specify port number 9100.

10.20 Hewlett-Packard XL300 Printer

10.20.1 Communication Problem

If a file printed to the XL300 printer contains multiple userdata messages that are returned in quick succession, some messages may be lost, and others returned incorrectly. Also, occasionally, messages that the DECprint Supervisor wants returned to it will get garbled. This will result in spurious messages to the user's terminal (if /NOTIFY is set). Otherwise, the job prints correctly.

10.21 Lexmark Optra Rt+ Printer

10.21.1 Tray Linking and INPUT_TRAY

If tray linking is enabled by the printer console, the linked trays cannot be selected individually using the INPUT_TRAY parameter. Specifying any linked tray in the INPUT_TRAY parameter causes the printer to select among the linked trays in accordance with it's own algorithm.

10.22 Lexmark Optra S

10.22.1 Raw TCP/IP Port Number

When creating a DCPS queue for a Lexmark Optra S printer using the Raw TCP/IP protocol, specify port number 9100.


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