Printer buffer
 

Hi

I have to print long documents and sometimes the printer grabs more than one sheet and cocks the system up. I can stop the process through the Print Manager but unfortunately its does not stop immediately and I am wasting lots of paper.

It struck me that surely someone has solved this problem and somewhere within Linux there is a script which will clear the print buffer. Does anyone know of such a script? Unfortunately I am not a programmer myself but if someone could explain how to acces the print buffer I would have a go myself at writing a bash script.

grabro

Which print server are you using CUPS or lprng? If using CUPS, the most common now, then you can delete print jobs by open the following page in your browser http://localhost:631. Then click on Jobs and delete the ones selected.

What is the make/model of the printer?
Does your printer have an offline button?

There are several different printer command languages and without knowing any technical information it is impossible to provide any help or if such a command exists for your printer.

In my case I have several HP laserjet 4s which use the printer control language PCL. It does have a reset command but I have never bothered to write a program since pressing the offline button is quicker. Once the printer is offline I can reset the unit via its control panel.

Edit:
The problem with deleting print jobs is that once several pages are already sent to the printer the spooler no longer has control. The printer will continue spitting out pages until its memory is empty.

Printer Buffer
 

Hi

Thanks for the replies.

I am using an HP Deskjet 930c via OpenOffice org, CUPS and Linux.

If there is a problem i can remove the print job via the KDE Print Manager. Perhaps the heading should have been Print Spooler because that my problem. It does not stop immediately.

I am intrigued by the idea that of a reset. My printer as a reset button, I've used it mainly if there has been a paper jam. So the next time I have a problem I will remove the print job via the Print Manager if I then switch off the printer and press Reset this hopefully will clear spooler.

I hope this works it will save me a lot of paper and ink cartridges.

Thanks for your help

grabro