If you wish to thank
or forsten me...
A little piece of CUPS...
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... or how to connect an Apple LaserWriter 8500 under X.2.6 (and most probably previous releases)... and to gain access to to its differents print options [This tutorial can also be helpfull with other laserwriter printer and for some inkjet ones] (21 August 2003)
New, easier (22 Agust 2003 update)
As usual, I cannot be responsible for any damage to your machines when you will experiment the following tutorial.
Why this manipulation ? Because, without it:
a) no way yo physically print; the sent page disappears from the spooler...but does not come out from the printer itself.b) no way to reach printer options (sheet feeder tray,..)
1)
(This screenshot has been done with Freesnap , a good discovery on gete.net)
2)
We start by deleting the printer from the Print Center to be ready to re-install a fresh one.
3)
Cilck on "Add"
4)
But instead of allowing OsX to set up all the things by itself, we select our correct PPD (Postscript Printer Description) by navigating to the directory where such a file has been stored
In my case, I navigate to the... OS 9 Printer Description directory to retrieve a old... but still valid... PPD for my printer!
5)
Our PPD has well been taken into account.
6)
But, still imposible to enable the "Configure" tab
Marvellous OS :-(
7)
Fortunately, there are other tools.
In your web browser, type the following (local) adress: http://localhost:631/.
We arrive in the CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) which handles all the printing facilities on your machine.
Select "Manage Printers".
8)
In the displayed of all the printers which has been installed, select our LaserWriter printer and click on "Configure Printer".
9)
Alleluiah! All the options can be set: memory, sheets feeder trays, recto/verso switch,...
By the way, set the A4 format instead of the US one: this would avoid unpleasant surprises!
10)
Modifications have been set...(and yes, the french accentuate localization bug on the "mémoire" keyword)...
11)
... and registered...
12)
Back to the OsX Configure Printer utility, we can see that all the options are back.
Two watchful readers (Laurent Pertois and Hervé Bizeul) suggest me a easier solution. Thanks to these guys!
13)
In Print Center, select the printer and type command-I
14)
You're jump here.
15)
Through the pop-up menu, you can reach the "Install Options".
16)
Well, the french accentuate localization bug is still present.
Less funny, we still have to manually retrieve an valid PPD from our 9 system...
