Printing problem with large postscript files

[Jan Hawes_3]

Hi,

we have with printing large postscript files on a S-Class (HP-UX 10.01/ SPP-UX 5.3 :-) ).

We can print textfiles an small postscript files without problem. But large files disappear without any error.

It is not a printer problem, he works fine on other workstations.

Do you have an idea to discover or solve the problem?

thanks

jan

[Bill Hassell · Accepted solution]

You'll have to eliminate as much software as possible. Start by saving the Postscript file to disk (don't print from your application). Then turn on Postscript error reporting on your printer (front panel setting). Examine Postscript file with head to see if the headers contain a version (Postscript version 1, 2, 3, etc) and that the file is plain ASCII. Now use lp -oraw to print the file. What's the result? If OK, your application probably needs rewriting.

How is the printer connected to your Convex machine? Is the printer remote (ie, on a server such as NT or Linux) or does the printer have it's own network card? To avoid remote print server compatibility issues, change the printer to an HP JetDirect card and use JetAdmin to configue the printer. Then you can print direct to the printer with hpnpf.

[Jan Hawes_3]

> ...
> Now use lp -oraw to print the file. What's
> the result? If OK, your application
> probably needs rewriting.
it is our own software, it creates a ps file and prints it via a shell script. If I add "-oraw" it works.
We have these configuration (convex + workstation + printer) six times and only one needs these option do you know why?


> How is the printer connected to your Convex
> machine?
It is a remote printer on a HP-UX 10.20 Workstation which is directly connected to the printer.

[Bill Hassell]

-oraw is an option to all printer model scripts that tells the script not to change anything in the file. I would delet the printer and add it back again (thru SAM) because it sounds like the local system may be adding something. Since the remote print server is HP-UX, any -o options to lp are interpreted at the print server location. Not sure why the remote server interprets your local machine differently than others. If all your printing is done with lp, you could create a a special script called lps which just runs lp but adds the -oraw option.