obtaining new printer model scripts.

[Mark Whittaker_2]

How do i obtain new printer model scripts. My hp machines do not connect to the internet so i cannot simply choose option 4 in jetadmin. isn't there just somewhare i can dl all of the latest scripts? it is rediculous how dificult it is to find this stuff

[Victor BERRIDGE]

Hi,
Since you can join the forum I dont see why you cannot get your updates, I also and suppose most of us have mos/all the boxes NOT connected to internet...
Theres nothing wrong downloading onto your PC which has a browser that can go through the firewalls and then do a FTP or use samba...
The latest versions I have are 3 MB big
(Too much for mail otherwise I would have sent it to you...)

All the best
Victor

[Mark Whittaker_2]

Thank you for your reply. What is the address for the ftp server that has these files on it? the address that jetadmin has is simply a list of the latest scripts with no instructions on whare to get them or anything. sorry i am still new to this type of job.
thanks

[Cheryl Griffin]

The updated model scripts are part of jetadmin, so download the latest jetadmin.

The latest print drivers, try the search at http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/support.html

Download it to your PC and transfer the software in binary mode using ftp to your HP-UX machine.

[Victor BERRIDGE]

Exactly,
Cheryl and I agree, the idea is : Most firewalls filter ftp( dont allow ftp by its usual port) but it can be done through http using port 80...
I can give you this extra information:
3737600 Oct 10 2003 HP11e134.SD this id the depot file I downloaded last (well some time ago)

If you still cant find it
I will have a look and do the manip with you

Good luck
Victor

[Victor BERRIDGE]

ok:
Here you are...
http://h20180.www2.hp.com/apps/Lookup?h_query=jet+direct+printer+installer&h_tool=software&h_lang=en

All the best

Victor

[Bill Hassell]

Are you using jetadmin or hppi? jetadmin was obsolete in 1999 and is known to have Y2K problems. You need to replace your jetadmin (/opt/hpnp) software with HP Printer Installer (hppi). NOTE: removing the old jetadmin and installing the new hppi (/opt/hpnpl) will not change your current spooler setup.

Unlike a PC where printing is done with a meta-language and the driver converts this intermediate language into the printer's language, HP-UX has no such concept. Instead, files are sent as is to the printer with the exception that ASCI files have their end-of-line character (LF) converted to CR+LF. So printer scripts just add a few ASCII formatting options like lines per inch and characters per inch as well as things like landscape and duplex.

What this means is that a brand new HP LaserJet like the 9500 or even the low cost 1300 will work just fine with a generic printer script such as PCL5 or net_lj5x. The codes for changing fonts and rotating to landscape haven't changed since the late 1980's.

I will agree that locating JetDirect software for HP-UX is quite tedious and new model scripts are not provided separately. You can download the latest HPPI software from: ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software1/ja243/ja-6671-1/

You can download this 3meg file to a PC, then transfer it to HP-UX using ftp in binary mode. Verify that it is correct by running a tar table of contents: tar tvf hp11e134.sd and if the table of contents has no error messages, feed that into swinstall and you'll have the latest model scripts for HP printers using JetDirect LAN cards.

[Victor BERRIDGE]

I forgot to mention,
You should notice by following the given URL that Jetadmin has been replaced and the new name is HP JD Printer Installer ....

All the best
Victor

[Mark Whittaker_2]

thanks for all the replys. i downloaded and installed jet direct from hp. and when i went to install the printer, the model script that i got from this page http://www.hp.com/pond/modelscripts/MSmatrix.cgl was not a choice. my two printer require 273 and 274 from that list.but i cant find them.

[Bill Hassell]

What model printers do you have? And where did the printer IDs 273 and 274 come from? Did hppi report this value?

[Mark Whittaker_2]

yes i followed the instructions found on this page
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=bpj06902&prodTypeId=18972&prodSeriesId=25302&locale=en_US

[Bill Hassell]

The ID number is nothing more than a reference that points to net_ljx000, You'll find that almost all the new printers use this model script. You can use addqueue to add the printer and use -i to specify an ID that is available in this version of hppi.

[Sam McKnight]

I wanted to pursue Bill Hassell's comments about applying a generic script for a printer. Several months ago, I looked at a Xerox b/w network copier/printer/fax demonstrator that was offered at a substantial reduction in price. It would print 11x17 double-sided. However, I lost interest when I learned that Xerox does not provide a ppd file for the printer.

As I understand it, if I were printing in pcl, I would have little trouble in using all the features of the printer. However, almost all my printing is in Postscript, and I only have hp-ux workstations. Could I use a generic script in Postscript and access the features of the printer such as double-sided printing and different trays? If not, is it reasonable to expect to be able to adapt or write scripts to do the work?

[Bill Hassell]

There is no such thing as a ppd file for HP-UX. Instead, all printers are expected to print ASCII 'cause that's all there is in Unix. PCL is nothing more than plain ASCII with a few escape sequences thrown in to change things like fonts and graphics (OK, a few million escape sequences...) The vast majority of printers worldwide support either plain ASCII or some version of PCL -- which is ASCII too. The 'generic' printer script is called dumb but it does nothing much except to cat the file to the printer.

Once you have a Postscript-only printer, you've left the mainstream world of printing. Postscript is not just a character set like EBCDIC or ASCII, it is a page definitiion language and there is no such thing as plain ASCII for this printer. A simple 'hello world' may require a dozen lines of code to send to the printer. Now the postscript model script is an ASCII-to-Postcript converter and it does work. It will take a plain ASCII file and encapsulate the text in Postscript level 1 code using option -a or -ascii. It has a few options such as few font choices, but don't expect to print a fancy newsletter with graphics and pictures. For that, you need a program that creates a compatible Postscript file which is then printed untouched by the poscript model script (no option -a or -ascii).

Beyond simple ASCII, there is a program called ghostscript and ImageMagick (http://www.imagemagick.org) tyhat can format more sophisticated jobs into Postscript.

[Bill Hassell]

Oh, just re-read your question: -d option will print double sided. But that's it for options. Now you get to read the printer technical reference manual, a Postscript manual and write a new postscript script to add more features. Just a simple matter of scripting.

[Mark Whittaker_2]

ok so i have it all configured but the lp command doesn't work. i can print a test page from jetdirect. but when i get out into a shell, the lp command returs my request id and nothing comes out of the printer.

anybody know how to fix this?

[Bill Hassell]

Start with the basics: ping the IP address. If OK, ping the printer's network name (if one exists). If one does not exist, you must add the printer by IP not by name to the spooler. Now check accessability with hpnpadmin as in:

/opt/hpnpl/hpnpadmin -v IP_address

If all looks OK, make sure that lpsched is running and the queue is enabled:

lpstat -r
enable my_printer

Use lpstat -omy_printer to see what's happening.

[Sam McKnight]

Bill Hassell, thanks for your response. Since I did not start this thread, it looks like I can't assign any points. Mark, please take that into account.