[COLUG] Printing under Ubuntu

[Vince Herried]

On Monday 26 February 2007 11:13, Mark Erbaugh wrote:
> I'm using Ubuntu Dapper and have a Brother MFC-8820D connected via USB.
> I'm using the Brother supplied PPD file and CUPS to print.
>
> I have noticed that when I send multiple copies of a single page
> document to the printer (doesn't matter which program), under Ubuntu /
> CUPS, it seems that the computer sends the document multiple times (i.e.
> The data light flashes for a while and the page prints, then the light
> flashes some more and a second copy of the page prints). However, under
> Windows, printing the same document seems to result in a single copy
> being sent to the printer and the printer being told to print it
> multiple times (i.e. the second and later pages come out as fast as the
> printer can print with no data light activity).
>
> I don't know the details of CUPS, but I wonder if the PPD file doesn't
> tell the computer that the printer can handle a print multiple copies
> command.  Can this be added to a PPD file?  If so, how?
>

One possible solution might be to try to use the windows ppd on cups.

At http://www.cups.org/ddk/cupsddk.html is the documentation on a package
that is supposed to allow one to develop their own ppd.

I used wine to execute the windoz printer drive, then used the ddk tools to 
debug the created  ppd file.  It grumbled about a paragraph, so I deleted the 
paragraph.  It then said it had warnings but that the ppd passed so I copied
it into cups and it seems to work OK.  The printer I've got has a huge number
of options (a GCC Elite 21n).

When I mess with the multiple copies the kde print tool complains that that
the option is disabled and it wines and says turn off in application
I've turned on the built in collate option inside the printer.

v