Why in HPPI there is no Duplex Print option

[Mei Jiao]

On printer lj8150:
Modifiable Printer Parameters
-----------------------------
Settings may be changed by selecting the corresponding numbers. You
can make as many changes as you want until 'q' is selected.


Options: Current Settings:
-------- -----------------
1) Job Recovery [OFF]
2) True End-of-Job [OFF]
3) Banner Page [ON]
4) Default Printing Language [AUTO]
5) PostScript Level [Level 2]
6) Banner Tray [default]
7) Banner Paper Size [default]
8) Duplex print [default] <----------

Select an item for change, or q when done:

On printer lj2100:
Modifiable Printer Parameters
-----------------------------
Settings may be changed by selecting the corresponding numbers. You
can make as many changes as you want until 'q' is selected.


Options: Current Settings:
-------- -----------------
1) Job Recovery [OFF]
2) True End-of-Job [OFF]
3) Banner Page [OFF]
4) Default Printing Language [AUTO]
5) PostScript Level [Level 2]

Select an item for change, or q when done:

What makes the above difference, 1 has 8) Duplex print option and another not? Modelscript? Printer model?

[Bill Hassell]

HPPI apparently missed the duplex option. Note that each year or two, HPPI (and it's predecessor JetAdmin) adds additional model script options it knows how to change. This is really nothing more than a fancy script editor so you can fix the default option(s) yourself (like in the old days). To edit the printer's script, edit the file /etc/lp/interface/model.orig/

In the file, search for Init_variables() then duplex=def and change it to either:

duplex=vduplex
duplex=hduplex

Now typically you'll want to choose vduplex for portrait mode pages. However, this will be true for all print jobs, even those printed in landscape mode. This may be OK...you can ALWAYS override the default setting on the lp command line as in:

lp -ohduplex ...
lp -osimplex ...

modelscript: found in /usr/lib/lp/model and is the template directory
printerscript: copies of modelscripts are renamed for printers and can be modified for different defaults. Printer scripts are found in /etc/lp/inteface/model.orig

[Mei Jiao]

Btw, the printer is HP LaserJet 2200D. This printer supports duplex printing right?

Is there any default model script should be used by this printer model?
Is net_lj4x okay? Is net_ljx000 okay?

Also, is the DUPPRINT="yes" the one that we should set in the /etc/lp/interface/model.orig/ file?

[Mei Jiao]

I have tested the duplex=vduplex method, it works. Thanks.

However, when we print through application in Unix, it's not printing in Duplex, why?

[Bill Hassell]

Almost all HP LaserJets that have duplex capability require an optional duplexing module. Since there are dozens of models and all are quite different, print a selftest page from the front panel of the printer and it will list the installed options.

However, since you tried -ovduplex (may also be -oduplex and -ovd) and it printed on both sides, the printer has the duplex option installed. As far as your program goes, just rewrite the printing section of the program to include the duplex option when printing. OK, you probably can't change anything in the program, so there are two ways to do this on HP LaserJets. Change the default settings in the printer to always print duplex or change the default duplex mode as I mentioned above. Unfortunately, your printer is a low cost LaserJet so it does not have a front panel so that option is out. Just change the printer script as mentioned above.

Your questiuon about DUPPRINT is a good one. There are two places to set the script defaults. HPPI uses the small set of UPPERCASE options at the beginning of the script (TEOJ, BANNER, DUPPRINT, etc) as a simple way to set the option. You can set DUPPRINT=vduplex and it will default all printing to duplex. The more classic way (found in the majority of printer scripts, especially non-JetDirect ones) is to find duplex="def" or duplex="" and change it to duplex="vduplex". The scripts are not consistent as far as location but the duplex default setting is always among a long list that includes banner= and orientation=, etc. And they will either be set to "def" or "". ALWAYS modify the script in model.orig, not /usr/lib/lp/model where the unmodified teamplates reside.

As far as the model script to use, any of the JetDirect scripts will work fine (net_lj4x, net_lj5x or net_ljx000). Any option that does not apply to your printer will be silently ignored.

[Bill Hassell]

CORRECTION: I said DUPPRINT=vduplex, that should be DUPPRINT=yes as you mentioned above. It is the duplex= that can be set to hduplex or vduplex.

[Armin Feller]

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=291847

Regards,
Armin