LinuxQuestions.org - Slackware printer setup problem

NB: I realize your 1020 is not included in the list of HP printers in CUPS, but maybe the hp-laserjet_1022-hpijs-pcl.ppd.gz driver will work. Give it a try, and if not, just remove the printer with "Remove Device" in the hp-toolbox menu.

Even better than the CUPS web interface, IMO, is "hp-toolbox". From Slackware-12.1/CHANGES_AND_HINTS.TXT:

Code:

There is a minor problem with the HPLIP and CUPS versions in Slackware 12.1;

  hp-toolbox will not work unless LC_ALL is set to a UTF8 locale.

  An easy workaround is to start it with "LC_ALL=$LANG.UTF8 hp-toolbox" if

  you're not using a UTF8 locale.  Also, your user account must be a member

  of the "lp" group for hp-toolbox to work properly, and to use the scanner

  portion of some (all?) HP print/scan/copy units, you'll need to be a member

  of the "lp" group.  This is due to the fact that hplip's udev rules set

  the device with group "lp" ownership.

My results with hp-toolbox on several computers running Slack-12.1 has been better than CUPS web interface on all previous versions.

First, as a normal user (not root) on your box, check if you're in the lp group by issuing "id":

Code:

mingdao@silas:~$ id

uid=1000(mingdao) gid=100(users) groups=7(lp),10(wheel),11(floppy),17(audio),18(video),19(cdrom),83(plugdev),93(scanner),100(users)

If not, then su to root and issue "vigr" and add your normal user to the lp group.

Second, check to see if you are using a UTF-8 locale (you should know this) by issuing "echo $LANG":

Code:

mingdao@silas:~$ echo $LANG

en_US.UTF-8

If not, the easiest thing to do is to create the file .profile in your home directory with these settings:

Code:

mingdao@silas:~$ cat .profile

export LANG=en_US.UTF-8

Or, if you don't want a UTF-8 locale, as the guide says, start hp-toolbox with "LC_ALL=$LANG.UTF8 hp-toolbox".

Third, when you start hp-toolbox, if your printer is not found, you will need to scroll down in that dialog box and start it per the instructions.

There are quite a few command line tools for HP printers:

Code:

mingdao@silas:~$ hp-

hp-align      hp-clean      hp-fab        hp-info        hp-makecopies  hp-print      hp-scan        hp-setup      hp-testpage    hp-toolbox

hp-check      hp-colorcal    hp-firmware    hp-levels      hp-makeuri    hp-probe      hp-sendfax    hp-systray    hp-timedate    hp-unload

From the hp-toolbox dialog, you can also print, scan, fax, and adjust all the settings for your printer. IMO it is much better than the CUPS web interface.