Location of printer driver files identified by Gnome
 

I notice that when I install a printer driver from the cd-rom, this file is extracted to /usr/share/cups/model.

I would like to move this file to the directory containing all the files pointed to by Gnome when you go through the GUI to set up a printer. I need to do this (I think) because Gnome does not allow me to select the printer driver I need (a Samsung Color Laser driver) from the available lists. Now that I have installed the file to the directory listed above, I can neither select the file upon setup nor-- and this is frustrating-- reinstall it. When I attempt the latter action, I get the message that the file is already installed. So where are those files that Gnome brings up? I have found the right file in /usr/share/ppd/Samsung, but all the files in this directory are zipped files. Where are the extracted files?

I am perplexed.

/etc/cups/ppd/???.ppd?

or...

/usr/share/foomatic/db/source/PPD (maybe)

just a guess...

Location of printer driver files identified by Gnome
 

Thanks, Okie. I have looked in both places, but this leads to two questions. Some of the directories appear to have nothing in them. Question 1: are some files "hidden"? Question 2: in /usr/share/foomatic/db/source/driver I find only .xml files. When I view these with "text editor" I see that a specific printer is identified in each. Could it be that the printer driver I am looking for needs to be a part of an .xml file in order to be recognized by Gnome? This is getting complicated. I thought I could simple move files around, the way you do in Windows. I want to use Linux, but I am having trouble understanding the file system.

i am not exactly sure how it works but i believe when you configure your printer through a web browser @ http://localhost:631 Foomatic uses those .xml files to create a .ppd file and puts it in /etc/cups/ppd (or something similar along those lines)

i have no clue how gnome's printer GUI config tool does it...