I'm a Linux newbie so please be gentle here...

I have followed the instructions for setting up my parallel Laserjet 4000 printer as shown here:
linuxprinting.org/cups-doc.html

It was quite simple other than having the parallel port inactive by default... but that's fixed now.

The printer database located here: linuxprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=HP-LaserJet_4000

states that a postscript driver is recommened and there is a manufacturer supplied PPD file which I have downloaded to /usr/share/cups/model/ as instructed

All OK so far...

The linuxprinting.org site states that if a postscript driver is available then I don't need "foomatic", whatever that is, so I skipped the foomatic sections.

Step 5 instructs me to use the KDE add printer wizard which is simple enough however the question I have is as follows:

During the add printer wizard I select the manufacturer "HP" and the model as "Laserjet 4000 hpijs" however if I try to select "Postscript driver" then I receive an error that states "unable to find postscript driver" At the end of the wizard where I get to perform a test print the printer installation is summarised with the description being "HP Laserjet 4000 Foomatic/hpijs [English]" but I thought I didn't need foomatic and had skipped it ?

As the site above recommended using the postscript driver how do I utilise it and where does the PPD file get taken into account and is the foomatic part correct or have I messed up ?

Thanks

Murphy

I've never used the KDE Printer Manager to set up my printers to use CUPS. I always use the web "interface". Open your web browser and in the address bar type in http://localhost:631 (or just click on the link ). You will be asked for the root password and then you have a "point-n-click" webmin page for setting up your printer. When you get to the part to install the driver just use the one that is listed.

After that I go to the KDE PM to set that printer as the default and to make sure that the print system being used it CUPS.

HTH,
MMYoung

I would use foomatic,this is the driver you want to use:"HP Laserjet 4000 Foomatic/hpijs [English]
You can use the wizard,it is the same as using localhost:631 Just make sure you are in administration mode, Here is the guide I use,Its for gentoo but almost the same as slack,might give you some help; http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/printing-howto.xml

make sure you can read the ppd file you put there.

are you doing all of this as root?
check like this

ls -l /usr/share/cups/model/<filename>
-rw-rw-r-- 1 root root 2929 Dec 7 01:07 <filename>

this would be readable by everyone. and writeable by root:root

This was my output although I have no idea what permissions this represents...

root@angus:~# cd /usr/share/cups/model/
root@angus:/usr/share/cups/model# ls
C/ deskjet2.ppd epson24.ppd foomatic-ppds@ okidat24.ppd pxlcolor.ppd stcolor.ppd stphoto.ppd
deskjet.ppd dymo.ppd epson9.ppd laserjet.ppd okidata9.ppd pxlmono.ppd stcolor2.ppd stphoto2.ppd
root@angus:/usr/share/cups/model# ls -l laserjet.ppd
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 9460 2003-12-16 08:23 laserjet.ppd
root@angus:/usr/share/cups/model#


When I use the web interface for CUPS to add the printer there is nowhere to specify to use the postscript driver where as the KDE add printer wizard does give this option...

Thanks

Murphy

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 9460 2003-12-16 08:23 laserjet.ppd

-rw- user root can read and write to the file
r-- group root can read from the file
r-- everyone else can only read from the file

the file permissions are correct, so

when you go to http://127.0.0.1:631/admin
enter your user name and password

click add printer
enter name location and description
select what kind of device the printer is: usb, parallel, network, ...
select what the make is: select postscript

under make ( like what manufacturer the printer is ) select postscript

Excellent skog, this makes more sense to me however I have followed the steps however under make I have the following options listed:
Raw
Apple
Canon
Dymo
Epson
HP
Lexmark
Okidata

And no postscript as suggested ?

Thanks

Murphy

not sure .... what version of cups are you using?

if you go to 127.0.0.1:631 it should say on the title bar on your browser

mine says
printer on localhost - CUPS v1.1.20

The CUPS Software Version Description states the following so I guess I'm using version 1.1
http://127.0.0.1:631/svd.html

Scope
1.1 Identification
This software version description document provides release information for the Common UNIX Printing System ("CUPS") Version 1.1.

When I do a printer test page it states "Printed using CUPS v1.1.x"

Thanks

Murphy

Researching further I have just read a few articles about a conflict between CUPS and lprng, which I assume is an alternative print manager to CUPS.

I have read that the solution is to remove CUPS, remove lprng then reinstall CUPS...

I'll try and see how it goes.

Thanks

Murphy

ok yea that can cause a problem too ... install below before installing off the cd though i think the cd cups is old and has a remote exploit in it.

check your favorite slackware mirror for a cups package and install it.


ftp ftp.planetmirror.com
get pub/slackware/slackware-9.1/patches/packages/cups-1.1.21-i486-1.tgz
get pub/slackware/slackware-9.1/patches/packages/cups-1.1.21-i486-1.tgz.asc
get pub/slackware/slackware-9.1/patches/packages/cups-1.1.21-i486-1.txt

( you really only need the first one but get the other 2 just in case and for other things )

then install the package
/sbin/upgradepkg cups-1.1.21-i486-1.tgz

if it says the package is up to date dont worry about it ... but see if it upgrades it.