Baslinux mailing list

["Anthony Albert" <albert AT umpi.maine.edu>]

On 6 Dec 2005 at 17:26, sindi keesan wrote:
>>> No menus until the OS is installed.  There is a menu button.
>>
>> This is very strange - normally, the OS is built-in in EPROM, never
>> need to install it to get the menus on the printer LCD.
>
>
>Thanks.  That explains why support suggested that I have to replace the 
>'flash ROM' after copying 10MB of 'operating system' to hard disk. 
>You can either upgrade an existing OS or install it from scratch on a new 
>hard drive.  The board was able to format the hard drive, and only 
>complained after I sent it the OS.  Must be in two pieces, most of it on 
>hard drive, like a computer.

Could be that this is how the upgrade process works...  I haven't seen 
one, myself, but there are odder things out there...

[SNIP]

>>> I would prefer to avoid printcaps and spools, and just send files to the
>>> printer with cat (parport) or ftp (ethernet), either of which can be used
>>> for QMS to upgrade the operating system.  copy /b to lpo1 for DOS - to
>>> install or upgrade.  cat filename.ps > /dev/lp0 or ftp filename.ps 'IP
>>> number' after assigning the IP number via the menu?
>>
>> Sure, if you're going to hook it up to just one computer, then you can
>> certainly use the parallel port of the printer, and use cat to lp0
>> You will will need to set up the printcap, though, as that's how Linux
>> figures out what kind of printer it is, and what commands to use to
>> print to it.  You might be able to use just a very generic one, though.
>
>I print with cat and gs to > /dev/lp0, with no printcap.  Steven explained 
>how to use print filters to print from CLI.  Insmod lp, and run the script
>printdj filename.pdf (or .ps), which consists of
>deskjet.filter < $1 > /dev/lp0
>
>I have not figured out how to just use CLI gs for this:
>gs -q -dSAFER -sDEVICE=deskjet -r300x300 -sPAPERSIZE=letter filename.ps
>-sOutputFile=- - > /dev/lp0 ????  I could not get various permutations of 
>this to work.  With a ps printer I should not need any of this but I would 
>need some way to set resolution.  Maybe the menu will do this for me.
>
>First I need an EEPROM.  They sent me an 800 number that did not work and 
>just wrote again.

This I can't help you with - I haven't really worked with printers 
under Linux, except for dot-matrix, and that only in the most minor 
way.

[SNIP]
>> I, too, get annoyed at ink-jet printers which continually dry up before
>> I need to use them again.
>
>The trick is to put them for 30 sec in some superhot water (microwave a 
>small dish of it).  Rather a nuisance.  The older Epsons have the 
>printhead built in and that is worse.

Thanks for the tip!

Anthony Albert
===========================================================
Anthony J. Albert                     albert AT umpi.maine.edu
Systems and Software Support Specialist          Postmaster
Computer Services - University of Maine, Presque Isle
        "This is only temporary, unless it works."
                        --- Red Green