HP Deskjet 1000 page run-on problem

dafydil · 09-19-2011, 11:53 AM

When I print a text file of less than about 60 lines, "lp" does it right. For one of say 80 lines, after the feed the second page is mangled, with repetitions of the remaining material and parts of the first page overstriking each other.

With Linux 13.37 I use the command:

@args=("lp",
"-o","cpi=14",
"-o","page-top=72",
"-o","page-left=100",
"-o","page-right=98",
"-o","page-bottom=20",
"-o","media=letter",
$ofile);

Ignore the peculiar formatting; this is just the "lp" command. I had to write a Perl program to break the file into pages and issue each as a separate job. This is clumsy. Why will "lp" not print text files of longer than one page correctly?

lisle2011 · 09-19-2011, 12:46 PM

As I understand it we are to ignore the options (peculiar formatting).
lp does print text files longer than one page with or without formatting.

Try piping through lpr and put some of the details thereafter and see if there is an improvement.

tronayne · 09-19-2011, 01:15 PM

I'm not too sure that your arguments are quite right (and I'm not too sure how to correct them, either) but perhaps I can suggest that you try a2ps?

The only configuration file you need to fiddle with for a2sp is /etc/a2ps-site.cfg; you'll want to define, at the top of the file,

Code:

#################################################################
# 1)    System dependent parameters                             #
#################################################################

# Default encoding
Options: --encoding=latin1

# Default medium
# Options: --medium=letter
Options: --medium=letterdj

This is because Deskjets need a slightly larger margin than plain Letter. In the corresponding file,
/etc/a2ps.cfg, the settings for Letter and Letterdj are

Code:

# Medium: name,    width height   [llx     lly      urx     ury]
Medium: Letter      612     792
Medium: Letterdj    612     792     24      40      588     752

Those extra numbers on the Letterdj line are what makes things work properly. It might also be useful to note the width and height values.

It's also a Real Good Idea to configure HPLIP (if you have it, get it from you distribution software library or from Hewlett-Packard if you don't).

HPLIP will create correct entries for your printer for use with lp, a2ps, and CUPS. Hewlett-Packard provides complete "drivers" for all the printers they make (well, pretty much) and if you set up HPLIP and CUPS your life will be much, much easier when you're printing with lp or a2ps or any applications you use.

Hope this helps some.