topic LPR printers requiring department codes in Operating System - OpenVMS

LPR printers requiring department codes

charlie watkins — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:41:11 GMT

We've recently received requests to include department code in our lpr output to multifuntion printers like the Toshiba estudio 451c. How do we pass this through LPR/LPD. We are running OVMS 8.2 on Aplha with TCP/IP V5.6 - ECO 2.

Re: LPR printers requiring department codes

Hoff — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:30:35 GMT

AFAIK, you'll need to find an lpr client (port) for OpenVMS with support for the associated syntax for this printer, and AFAIK the TCP/IP Services does not offer this capability within the lpr tools. Another stack might. Or you'll need some sort of a pass-through host. Or some sort of a blanket authorization set on the printer for the OpenVMS host.

Here's an example of the required syntax over on a Linux box:

lpr -P 358c -o DeptCode=True -o DCDigit1=1 -o DCDigit2=0 -o DCDigit3=2 -o DCDigit4=0 -o DCDigit1=5 filename

This is for department code 10203.

This from:

http://zzz.physics.umn.edu/computing/department/unix/printing

A local port of lpr may be feasible, though many Unix boxes are using CUPS for printing these days.

Re: LPR printers requiring department codes

Hakan Zanderau ( Anders — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 05:06:37 GMT

I will be away for a week......on vaccation,
so I can't get involved.
But if you haven't solved it by then, send me a mail.......and I will take a look at it.

Hakan
AKA The Diplomead Printerguru

hakan(dot)zanderau(at)ha-solutions(dot)se

Re: LPR printers requiring department codes

Verne Britton — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:21:46 GMT

might depend on the printer and how it wants the data passed (is there a standard ??) ... last August I was asked to make a Lanier work ...

First I created a setup module containing just (all one line)

P%-12345X@PJL SET USERCODE="6721"\

then the form (may wrap, one long DCL cmd line):

$ def/form lanier_p 1201 /mar=(top=0,bott=0) /nowrap/notrun /wid=133 /SETUP=(RESET,LANIER-USER) /len=60

Then the user prints using this form

PRINT/FORM=LANIER_P/QUE=xxx filename.LIS
Naturally there are all kinds of security issues with using a TLB library in this way ...

For my requirements, it was enough to use a special dedicated Library for this individual queue and have that queue have ACLs to control who could print to it.

Verne

Re: LPR printers requiring department codes

charlie watkins — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:30:55 GMT

Thanks for the input, all. Since this is for Oracle/Banner student transcripts, standardization it the key. We have about 2 dozen print queues for this so we need to standardize processes, queues and form setup.
Looks like I'll be sticking with my first response to the client, "No, I don't think we'll be able to do that."

Re: LPR printers requiring department codes

Hakan Zanderau ( Anders — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:37:57 GMT

Charlie,

I have looked at the PC-driver, and the departmentcode is set on the queue.

( output from PC )
.
.
@PJL SET HOLDKEY = ""
@PJL COMMENT EFIPJL SET UNAME = "Gandalf"
@PJL COMMENT EFIPJL SET DEPARTMENTCODE = "13579"
@PJL SET HOLDTYPE = PUBLIC
@PJL SET HOLD = OFF
.
.

You could add a couple of queues on a windowsserver, with different departmentcodes
and then relay your LPD-queues through the windowsserver.

That's the fast answer.......and bypasses most problems in VMS.

I have located a Toshiba eStudio45 nearby where I think I could get access to connect my OpenVMS system.......

I have worked as PrintProblemSpecialist in the VMSsupportteam at Digital/Compaq/HP in Stockholm, Sweden.
I will try to solve this, even if you don't need this function anymore.

regards,

Hakan Zanderau