# Compaq DECprint Supervisor (DCPS) for OpenVMS
System Manager's Guide

Previous | Contents | Index

# Chapter 10
Printer-Specific Information

This chapter provides management information about using DCPS with specific printers. Printer-specific information that might be of interest to general users is in the DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS User's Guide rather than in this manual. The DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS Release Notes may also contain additional printer-specific information.

Check the documentation for your printer, network interface card, print server, or terminal server to determine the correct TCP port number to use. The TCP port number may also be listed in Table 3-2.

# 10.1 Apple LaserWriter Plus Printer

## 10.1.1 LPS$PERSISTENT_RESOURCES Not Supported

The DCPS feature to load the module LPS$PERSISTENT_RESOURCES outside the PostScript server loop for desktop printers is not supported for the LaserWriter Plus.

# 10.2 Compaq Laser Printer LN16 and GENICOM microLaser 170

## 10.2.1 Printer Configuration Setting

DCPS requires the printer's PERSONALITY be set to POSTSCRIPT. If the PERSONALITY is set to AUTO or PCL, DCPS jobs will remain in a Starting state and never print. This setting is in the printer console's CONFIG menu.

Setting the PERSONALITY to POSTSCRIPT will still allow PCL jobs coming from Windows PCs to print correctly.

## 10.2.2 LAT and AppleTalk Configuration

To create a LAT device for use by a DCPS queue, you can use either of the following sets of values for LATCP qualifiers:

- /NODE=nodename /PORT=PORT_1
- /SERVICE=service

where nodename is the printer's NIC nodename and service is the name of a valid service on the printer. These values can be obtained from the printer NIC's status page or by logging in to the NIC via Telnet or LAT. For example, this command shows the printer NIC's nodename to be PRQ_00001F:

        Local_4> show server
           NET16 Version V1.0/1(990126)           Uptime:                 23:17:07
           Hardware Addr: 00-50-27-00-00-1f       Name/Nodenum:      PRQ_00001F/ 0
           Ident String: NET16

To create a DCPS queue using AppleTalk, you must use a service name. You can use one of the default services, modify a default service or create your own. The following is an example of a service that can be used by both LAT and AppleTalk. In this example, DCPS_LN16 is the AppleTalk name.

        Local_4> list service dcps_ln16

        Service:  DCPS_LN16         Ident:  DCPS Compaq Laser Printer LN16
          Rating: N/A               Ports:  1
          Characteristics:          Queueing  Binary  Rtel  Connections  AppleTalk
                                    Lat
          SOJ: <none>     EOJ: <none>
          Enabled Groups: 0

Create AppleTalk services with caution, as creating the same service name on more than one printer will result in multiple printers using the same AppleTalk name on your network.

Refer to the printer's Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC) Reference Manual for more information about setting characteristics of printer services.

# 10.3 Compaq Laser Printer LN32 and LNM40; GENICOM Intelliprint mL, LN and microLaser Series

Note This section does not apply to the GENICOM microLaser 170 printer.

## 10.3.1 Printer Configuration Settings

### 10.3.1.1 Language-Sensing Mode

DCPS can print to these printers when the printer is in PostScript mode or automatic language-sensing mode. Make sure the INTERPRETER and FORMAT settings are set as described in Table 10-1. These values are set in the INTERFACE menu on the printer's console.

Table 10-1 Valid Language Sensing Configurations
| Printer Settings
--- | ---
Printer Mode | Interpreter | Format
PostScript/PCL sensing | Auto Switch | Raw
PostScript | PostScript | Normal

### 10.3.1.2 Printer Setting May Cause Stalled Queues

The factory default value for the printer's Delayed Output Close setting may cause DCPS queues to stall. The default value is OFF and is intended to improve performance by controlling how quickly the printer ends one job and starts another. However, if you also print from environments other than DCPS, this value may cause DCPS queues to stall. Therefore, if you also print from multiple environments, set the value to ON. If you print only from DCPS, you may leave the value of Delayed Output Close at OFF.

The setting for Delayed Output Close is found on the printer's console as DELAY OUT CLOSE in the NETWORK section of the INTERFACE menu. *

## 10.3.2 LAT and AppleTalk Configuration

Please see Section 10.2.2 for information about configuring LAT and AppleTalk queues.

## 10.3.3 Queue Aborts When Using TCPware

When using TCPware with these printers, it is possible to receive numerous userdata messages on the screen and have the queue fail with an OPCOM message similar to the following:

      %%%%%%%%%%%  OPCOM  21-APR-1999 15:09:53.22  %%%%%%%%%%%
      Message from user SYSTEM on ZIPPY
      Queue LN32_RAW: %DCPS-F-EXQUOTA, process quota exceeded

This problem occurs when running TCPware V5.3-3 and network firmware V1.0/4 (990323). To avoid this problem, the system manager should perform one of the following steps:

- Issue the following TCPware commands:
  - $ NETCU STOP /TCP
  - $ NETCU START /TCP /NOPATH_MTU_DISCOVERY
- Upgrade TCPware to a version later than V5.3-3
- Apply TCPware patch kit DRIVERS_V533P020
- Upgrade the printer's network firmware

Note #### * This setting does not appear on LN32 and LNM40 printers with firmware earlier than version 3.03.

# 10.4 DIGITAL Colorwriter LSR 2000 Printer

## 10.4.1 NIC Does Not Work with Raw TCP/IP

DCPS cannot communicate with the Colorwriter LSR 2000 NIC via a raw
TCP/IP connection because the NIC does not support raw TCP/IP communication.

AppleTalk is the only network protocol that DCPS can use to communicate with the Colorwriter LSR 2000 printer.

# 10.5 DIGITAL DECcolorwriter 1000 Printer

## 10.5.1 Printer-Specific Setup Files

You can use the files listed in the table below to alter the persistent state of the printer, affecting all subsequent jobs that the printer receives from your system and from other systems in the network until the printer is turned off and back on. The files are located in the SYS$COMMON:[SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.DCPS] directory.

Setup File | Description
--- | ---
DCW1000_CONFIG.PS | Sets the printer timeouts
DCW1000_DEVPARAM.PS | Changes configuration of the serial port
DCW1000_STARTPG.PS | Enables the start page
DCW1000_NOSTRTPG.PS | Disables the start page
DCW1000_PRNTCNFG.PS | Enables a software-selected information page
DCW1000_PSCRIPT.PS | Changes the port to PostScript and default on all ports

Notes:

- When you send the DCW1000_DEVPARAM.PS file to the printer, the communications settings change and the queue hangs. You must STOP/RESET the queue and change the corresponding settings on the DECserver or other LAT device to which the printer is connected. Also, be sure that the printer is running in PostScript mode.
- By default, the DIP switches on the back of the printer are in the down position, indicating that the serial interface can be adjusted and that no color correction is set. The factory default is 9600 baud, 8 bits, and no parity. See the DECcolorwriter 1000 documentation for further information on how setup files and DIP switches interact.
- To check the current configuration of the printer, toggle DIP switch 4 from down to up, then to down (with the other three DIP switches in the down position). The printer prints a configuration page. Make sure that the printer is running in PostScript mode.

# 10.6 DIGITAL DEClaser 3500 Printer

## 10.6.1 Job Remains in Starting State

When using DCPS with the DEClaser 3500 printer with the optional serial port, the job may remain in a starting state. If this is the case, you must choose one of the following options:

1. Lock the printer to PostScript mode. (On the front panel: Serial, Printer Type = STD PostScript). Do not use the DCPS$queuename_NO_SYNC logical name. In this mode, native PCL is not available because the printer does not respond to PJL sequences. You should use the workaround described in Section 10.7.1 to force use of the PCL 4 translator.
2. Set the serial port language sensing mode to Automatic. (On the front panel: Serial, Printer Type = PS/PCL Sensing) and define the DCPS$queuename_NO_SYNC logical name as described in Section 3.4.3. In this mode, the printer responds to PJL sequences and switches to native PCL 5 or PostScript as indicated by the datastream.

## 10.6.2 Interaction Between Communication Protocol and Native PCL Support

The optional network card supports switching to native PCL; however, the protocol must be set to autosensing.

## 10.6.3 NIC Does Not Work with Raw TCP/IP

DCPS cannot communicate with the printer via a raw TCP/IP connection because the NIC does not support bidirectional TCP/IP communication.

As an alternative, you can connect the printer to a print server (for example, the Rapidprint 500) or a terminal server, or use a LAT connection instead.

# 10.7 DIGITAL DEClaser 5100 Printer

## 10.7.1 Native PCL Is Unavailable with EtherTalk Protocol on NIC

Because of a problem with the Network Interface Card (NIC), DCPS cannot switch the printer into native PCL when using the EtherTalk protocol. Users will see the error:

    %DCPS-W-UNDEF, undefined: Name not known - offending command is <1B>
    %DCPS-E-FLUSHING, Rest of Job (to EOJ) will be ignored

A partial workaround is possible by specifying a default print job parameter of PAGE_LIMIT=999999 for the queue when you create it in DCPS$STARTUP.COM. This parameter forces any PCL files to be printed through the PCL translator. Remember, though, that the PCL translator is PCL 4 rather than PCL 5.

## 10.7.2 NIC Does Not Work with Raw TCP/IP

DCPS cannot communicate with the printer via a raw TCP/IP connection because the NIC does not support bidirectional TCP/IP communication.

As an alternative, you can connect the printer to a print server (for example, the Rapidprint 500) or a terminal server, or use a LAT connection instead.

## 10.7.3 Downloading and Deleting Fonts

You may download or delete fonts from the DEClaser 5100 printer's optional hard drive using the FONT_DOWNLOADER.COM procedure described in Appendix C.

## 10.7.4 Error Page Feature

The DEClaser 5100 printer has a feature that ejects the current sheet and then prints a PostScript Error information sheet when a PostScript interpreter error occurs. While this feature provides a powerful means for analyzing PostScript problems, it is not recommended for everyday use with the DCPS software for the following reasons:

- PostScript error pages are printed when a user enters DELETE/ENTRY to abort a print job.
- PostScript error pages are printed after a not ready condition is cleared (paper supplied, jam corrected, etc.) if a job was submitted on the serial port while the printer was not ready to print.

You should disable the feature called "Print Errors" through the DEClaser 5100 front panel before starting print queues with DCPS. Enable the feature only when you are interested in analyzing PostScript problems.

If a job fails to print because of a "Limitcheck" error, also see if "page protection required" is part of the error message. Presence of this error means the job failed because of a banding failure.

# 10.8 DIGITAL Laser Printer LN15+

The DIGITAL Laser Printer LN15+ is an upgrade to the DIGITAL Laser Printer LN15. References in the DCPS documentation to the DIGITAL Laser Printer LN15 also apply to the DIGITAL Laser Printer LN15+.

## 10.8.1 Printer Configuration Settings

DCPS requires certain LN15 printer characteristics to be set. If these values, described in Table 10-2, are not set, DCPS jobs will remain in a Starting state and never print.

Table 10-2 LN15 Configuration Settings
Setting | Value | Where Set | Documentation
--- | --- | --- | ---
PERSONALITY | PS | Printer console CONFIG menu | LN15 User Manual
NPAP MODE | OFF | Printer console PARALLEL menu | LN15 User Manual
PORT 1 BITRONICS | ENABLED | Ethernet card management | RapidPrint 600 Print Server Installation Guide

# 10.9 DIGITAL Laser Printer LN17+ps

The DIGITAL Laser Printer LN17+ps is an upgrade to the DIGITAL LN17ps printer. References in the DCPS documentation to the DIGITAL LN17ps printer also apply to the DIGITAL Laser Printer LN17+ps.

## 10.9.1 Job Remains in Starting State

If you use a raw TCP/IP or LAT-connected LN17ps printer with DCPS, the associated DCPS print job may remain in a Starting state.

You must either set the Ethernet port to use the PostScript language and disable automatic language sensing, or define a DCPS$queuename_NO_SYNC logical name for the associated queue as described in Section 11.1.1.

- If all the print jobs that the printer receives from its Ethernet port come from DCPS, including PCL jobs that use the printer's native PCL 5e interpreter, do the following:
  Set the printer's Ethernet port System Language to PostScript and turn off Language Sensing. You change these settings from the interface menu on the printer console, as described in the LN17ps User Guide.
- If any of the print jobs that the printer receives from its Ethernet port do not contain PostScript data (for example, they contain PCL or ASCII data) and DCPS is not the source of such data, do the following:
  Enable Language Sensing on the the printer's Ethernet port. Define a DCPS$queuename_NO_SYNC logical name for the associated queue as described in Section 11.1.1.

## 10.9.2 Incorrect Sheet Count

The sheet count reported on the job trailer page and in the OpenVMS accounting file may be several sheets too few due to a limitation with the LN17ps printer. There is no known workaround.

## 10.9.3 Downloading and Deleting Fonts

You may download or delete fonts from the LN17ps printer's optional hard drive using the FONT_DOWNLOADER.COM procedure described in Appendix C.

## 10.9.4 Colored Separator Pages and Tray Switching

The LN17ps can switch between input trays when a specified tray becomes empty. By default, tray switching is disabled. If you currently specify colored separator pages by using the DCPS$queuename_SEPARATOR_PAGE logical, you may want to ensure that tray switching is disabled.

You disable tray switching from the printer console, under the PostScript menu. See the LN17ps User Guide for more information.

Use one of the following PostScript tray numbers as the value of the DCPS$queuename_SEPARATOR_PAGE logical:

| 0 | Main tray
| 1 | Front tray
| 2 | Lower 1 tray
| 3 | Lower 2 tray

# 10.10 DIGITAL Laser Printer LN20

## 10.10.1 Incorrect Sheet Count

The sheet count reported on the job trailer page and in the OpenVMS accounting file is incorrect due to a limitation with the LN20 printer. There is no known workaround. The LN20 has, however, an accounting feature that can be used to track printer utilization.

# 10.11 DIGITAL Laser Printer LN40

## 10.11.1 Incorrect Sheet Count

The sheet count reported on the job trailer page and in the OpenVMS accounting file is incorrect due to a limitation with the LN40 printers. There is no known workaround. The LN40 has, however, an accounting feature that can be used to track printer utilization.

# 10.12 Compaq and DIGITAL Laser Printer LNC02

## 10.12.1 Minimum Firmware Version

To use the LNC02 with the Raw TCP/IP protocol from DCPS, the printer must be running a minimum firmware version of System Release 1.1.1, Revision 3.11. This firmware version number is displayed on the printer's startup page.

## 10.12.2 Incorrect Sheet Count

The sheet count reported on the job trailer page and in the OpenVMS accounting file is incorrect due to a limitation with the LNC02 printer. There is no known workaround. The LNC02 has, however, an accounting feature that can be used to track printer utilization.

# 10.13 DIGITAL PrintServer 17 Printer

## 10.13.1 Colored Separator Pages and Tray Switching

PrintServer Software, Version 5.0, adds input tray failover to the PrintServer 17 series printers. This feature allows the printer to automatically switch to another input tray containing the same size media when the current tray becomes empty. This feature is enabled by default.

If you currently use colored flag pages, you may want to disable this feature. To disable input tray failover, perform the following steps:

1. Edit LPS$SUPPORT:LPSDEFAULTS.<printer name>
2. Search for the /TraySwitch parameter:

         /TraySwitch true  % Controls input tray failover.
                           % false = disable
                           % true = enable

3. Change the value of the TraySwitch parameter from "true" to "false". PostScript is case sensitive; the only valid values are "true" or "false".

         /TraySwitch false % Controls input tray failover.
                           % false = disable
                           % true = enable

4. Enable the changes by issuing the reconfigure command from the remote console facility.

       $ MCR LPS$CONSOLE <printer name>
       LPS> PRIV
       Password: <password>
       LPS> RECONFIG
       LPS> EXIT

Refer to the DEC PrintServer Supporting Host Software for OpenVMS Management Guide for additional information.

# 10.14 HP LaserJet IIID Printer

## 10.14.1 Job Remains in Starting State

The DCPS$queuename_NO_SYNC logical name can be used to solve reported problems printing to HP LaserJet IIID printers with HP-supplied PostScript Level 2 cartridges. Those cartridges have a known problem where they corrupt status messages they send to a host. This can cause jobs to get stuck in the "starting" state when DCPS tries to use its synchronization sequence. See Section 3.4.3 for more information.

## 10.14.2 Incorrect Sheet Count on Duplex Jobs

The HP LaserJet IIID and several other HP LaserJet printers do not internally count physical sheets but instead count pages imaged. Therefore the "Sheets printed" data of the trailer page will reflect the number of images processed. For example, a six-page print job with burst and trailer pages enabled and /PARAMETERS=(SIDES=2) specified will show "Sheets printed" as eight when only five sheets are printed.

# 10.15 HP LaserJet IIISi Printer

## 10.15.1 Incorrect Sheet Count on Native PCL Jobs

The HP LaserJet IIISi printer does not keep track of the sheet count while printing native PCL files. The sheet count reported at the end of the job, both on the trailer page and to the OpenVMS accounting system, includes only those sheets printed in PostScript mode, such as the job separation pages. There is no known workaround for this problem.

## 10.15.2 Incorrect Sheet Count on Duplex Jobs

The HP LaserJet IIISi printer exhibits the same behavior with sheet count as mentioned in Section 10.14.2.

Previous | Next | Contents | Index