Slackware 12, CUPS and OpenOffice 2.3 [SOLVED]
 

As explained in this thread I'm having some weird problems with OpenOffice 2.3 freezing when being used.

This morning, by total luck, I figured out why it happens: When CUPS is running AND there's a printer configured (in my case a socket:// printer), OpenOffice 2.3 hangs. If CUPS is running with NO printer configured, OpenOffice 2.3 works like a charm.

I'm baffled..

What can I do to fix this very odd behavior? I haven't been able to find any other programs that exhibit similar behavior, so this problem is apparently tied to CUPS and OpenOffice.

I have tried both OpenOffice 2.3 and 2.2.1 - both hang when CUPS is running and there's a printer configured. Stop CUPS or remove the configured printer, and OpenOffice works once again.

I'm running stock Slackware 12 packages (not -current, just the regular stuff with the official patches applied). The OpenOffice packages are from slackbuilds.org, though I have tried both the linuxpackages.net package and I've tried downloading OpenOffice from openoffice.org and from that build my own "package" using rpm2tgz. They all exhibit the same behavior.

This is actual a make or break situation for me, as these machines are running in a corporate enviroment. We need to be able to print. :)

Hope someone can help,
Thomas

I've just tried downgrading to cups package cups-1.2.11-i486-1.tgz from package cups-1.2.11-i486-2_slack12.0.tgz, but with no success. OpenOffice 2.3 still hangs.

So apparently this problem has nothing to do with the patched CUPS version.

:)
Thomas

You have my sympathy, but with my setup I am experiencing no problems.
OpenOffice 2.3 built from Slackbuild.org on Slackware-current.
CUPS is latest from Slackware-current.

My only suggestion is the printer driver that you are using within CUPS.

I'm not using anything from -current, but I will try the CUPS package. I can see it's quite a bit newer.

I'm not using any driver either, or rather I'm using either RAW or PostScript level 1. I'm fairly certain these two drivers shouldn't mess anything up.

Also worth noting is that it's ONLY OOo that craps out on me. All other programs print like there's no tomorrow! :)

Thomas

Installing the -current cups-1.3.4-i486-1.tgz package does not fix the problem.

:o/

Thomas

SOLVED!

Ok, this is what I had to do to get Open Office 2.3 to print:

Configure a printer in CUPS and make sure it works.
Start the OOo Printer Adm. tool.
Select the CUPS printer and click Properties.
Click the Device tab.
Select Postscript Level 1.
Select Color Grayscale.
Click OK.
Click Test Page.
If the Test Page is successfully printed, go back to the Device tab and reset Postscript Level and Color to From Driver.

That's it. I can now FINALLY print using OOo without crashing the whole damn thing.

Why this is necessary I don't know. Perhaps it's because all my printers are networked using socket://ip:9100? Oh well, as long as things are working.. :)

Thomas

I'm sorry I made you re-install an entire OS for nothing (at least you found the real problem :)), but I've seen some CUPS printing slowness issues on Slackware 11.0 with the HPIJS drivers on a LaserJet 2420.

An installation of Slackware 12.0 didn't have that problem the last time I briefly tried, but I'll have a look at it soon too. It's annoying that a CUPS issue can bring an entire machine to its knees, even using the best distribution available.

I've never had any issues either with Slackware 11.0 or 12.0 with my HP LaserJet 4Plus on a JetDirect Ex print server, so it must be a problem with the particular PPD driver and/or Ghostscript too.

You have nothing to be sorry about. Your help help was what kept me going, and kept me from giving in and installing OpenSuse. :)

It's people like you who make the Slackware community so special.

Thank you,
Thomas