lprsetup parameters to print to HP Laserjet

[Antoniov.]

Hi,
I tryed to installa HP LJ form my customer (I think is like 1012) without success.
HP LJ 101x family doesn't use PCL so you can't drive directly.
This family use USB and parallel port, not RJ45 (network) connection so you need connect to a PC and this is not a good idea for system printer.
You could use JetAdmin printer server but I think you have yet problem due no PCL standard.
For my experience, HP Laserjet work right only for 2000/3000/4000 family.

Antonio Vigliotti

[Hakan Zanderau ( Anders]

Thanks Anton !

But I wonder if the problem is big enough to buy extra stuff to solve.
The USB-Parallell cable I borrowed yesterday cost $100 and I think the HP lj1012 cost $199.99

It's not a lot of money, but if you buy a printer for $200 and need to spend another $100.

A bell just rang in my head !!!!
The language of the printer is PCL-XL nor PCL nor PS.....does it understand plain text. If not, it's useless to put it on the network for use from other sources than PC:s with proper drivers.

[Anton van Ruitenbeek]

Hey,

The HP External JetDirect works very fine on HP printers, Canon Printers, Kyocera and I think also Epson and more.
The JetDirect doesn't understand anything about PCL. It just interfaces between an IP adres on one site and the Paralell or USB on the other site.
I'm was using it till last month on a Canon LBP3/II and on HP LJ4. Now I'm using it on an HP OfficeJet G85 (realy, scanning al on my pc's in the network!) . So, I think there is no limit there.

AvR

[Ian Miller.]

bear in mind DCPS is getting better at talking to printers over a network link and does not require and addtional licence.

http://h71000.www7.hp.com/doc/732final/dcps_mguide/dcps023_mguide.html

[Hakan Zanderau ( Anders]

Anton and Ian,

I think you miss the point.
HP laserjet 1012 ONLY understand the language PCLXL. It's different from PCL. I tried to use a PCLXL-formatted file on a HP laserjet 4100, but only got a blank page.

If you can't convert/format the file to PCLXL, it will not be printed.
( still don't know if plain text is ok, but I doubt it )

I can be off track.....but
If we can't solve the original problem we have a complete new ballgame. In that case we need to know
- what kind of files they print today
- what kind of files they want to print in the future
- all used plattforms
to get the whole picture before making any suggestions.

[Anton van Ruitenbeek]

Hakan,

A possibility is to look on Ebay or something for second hands. Also older External JetDirects are correct. But be aware you need the IP version. Older ones can also be IPX/SPX only.
For USB I think the first one is the 175x, sorry.
Again there are more suppliers as HP.

AvR

[Anton van Ruitenbeek]

Hakan,

As far I know most printers accept plain ASCII (although they never mention this). This should be far enough for VMS. The VMS applications can maybe use the DCPS functionality. For full function DCPS there is licensing needed.
Even, the text-library containing the PCL setupmodules can be modified to PCLXL setupmodules. As far as I know all the text and setup are plain ASCII (even in PCL) and the printer creates an image of all the send text. When page is ready, it is printed. PS is working the same way (did you ever see the overhead that is created by PS..) .

For AdvancedServer (PathWorks on OpenVMS) I also use only the VMS printerqueues. So I'm printing from Windows (NT/2000/XP/98) to VMS and VMS handles the queues. This is for management much easier. I can stil use my 9600 baud modem to manage externaly the system. (Anywhere, anyplace. I only need a telco connection if there is a problem at the office!)

AvR

[Hakan Zanderau ( Anders]

As mentioned earlier PRINT/PASSALL from VMS bypasses the 1012-driver so if the 1012 accepts ASCII......we're home !

[Ian Miller.]

Anton - re yr comment "For full function DCPS there is licensing needed."
This is no longer true for DCPS since around V2.0 - there is no licence required except for VMS.