topic Re: HP 9050 printer and multiple UNIX queues in Operating System - OpenVMS

HP 9050 printer and multiple UNIX queues

JDQ — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 14:31:08 GMT

Does anyone know how to create multiple queues in Unix all queues would point to the same printer.

We are trying to create multiple queues for the same printer and within each queue we want to direct the print job to a designated tray.

For example
Queue1 (PRT01) would go to tray 1
Queue2 (PRT01) would go to tray 2
Queue3 (PRT01) would go to tray 3

Thanks in advance

Re: HP 9050 printer and multiple UNIX queues

Mark Poeschl_2 — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 14:52:01 GMT

Not exactly an OpenVMS question, but we do it like this:

1. Create a file with the control sequence your print uses to select each tray.

2. Create a script that concatenates the control sequence file with the data to be printed:

/bin/cat /usr/spool/lpd/tray3esc - | lpr -h -PPFMA03

3. Use the script as the input filter in your printcap entry - e.g:

PUWFMIRX:\
:if=/usr/spool/lpd/PUWFMIRX-pcl3:\
:lf=/usr/spool/lpd/PUWFMIRX.log:\
:lp=@puwfmi/hplj:\
:mx#0:\
:pl#66:\
:pw#80:\
:of=/usr/lbin/hplaserof:\
:sd=/usr/spool/lpd/PUWFMIRX:\
:rw:\
:xf=/usr/lbin/xf:

/usr/spool/lpd/PUWFMIRX-pcl3 is the script with the 'cat' command shown above. (Note: this entry is for an HP LaserJet printer. Yours may well look a lot different. The key is the 'if' setting.)

Repeat as necessary for each tray.

Re: HP 9050 printer and multiple UNIX queues

JDQ — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 14:54:50 GMT

I'm going to try that. Thank you for your quick response.

Re: HP 9050 printer and multiple UNIX queues

JDQ — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 10:20:54 GMT

This scipt is to be tested today on our HpUx box.
If we have all print jobs starting and finishing in the order of the queues would we have an issue with the device(printer getting locked)? Thanks again for your help yesterday. I think this is our best shot.
I'll let you know how it goes.