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[sindi keesan <keesan AT sdf.lonestar.org>]

Looking for a way to print double sided with netpbm's pbmtolj or gs.

> All suggestions welcome, even if they require gs or xpdf to print.
Sindi

Several ways to print double-sided in linux, none of which I want to use:

gimp_print_cups - big X11 image viewer
gv - ghostview, needs to be compiled, X11
mpage - for printing text as ps on a ps printer (you can print 8 pages on 
1 page, or just odd or just even pages)
libppd and a new lpr (requires a ps printer or ghostscript)

In the Linux Ecology HOWTO I found a link to 'duplex', a set of shell 
scripts for printing postscript, below.  I think it uses gs, lpr, and 
printcap (add a couple of lines to do odd and even printing).

I am hoping for something much simpler, to use with pbmtolj.

The 'ecology' people are trying to save trees and space.  This script 
uses plenty of space.  They are debating whether to use LCD monitors 
because they come in less packing but use more toxic materials, and 
whether to use smaller monitors to save materials and energy, but they 
might cause more people to print out things they can't view as clearly.

dplx script for Deskjet

#!/bin/sh
###################################################
## dplx v0.1                                     ##
## Emulates duplex printing for dedicated HP     ##
## Deskjet printer on a workstation              ##
## Calling sequence:                             ##
##  dplx [-opt "<lp common parameter list>"]     ##
##       [<print-file>|<->]                      ##
##                                               ##
## Copyright (c) 02 May 2004 Joseph J. Pollock   ##
##   JPmicrosystems - josephj at main.nc.us      ##
[stuff on GNU license omitted here]

function max() {
  # max - return the maximum of an arbitrary list of
  #       unsigned 8-bit numeric arguments
  #       nonnumerics and nulls treated as 0
  local i rc
  typeset -i i rc

  rc=0
  for i in $*
  do
    if [ "$i" -gt "$rc" ]
    then
      rc=$i
    fi
  done

  return $rc
}

name=$(basename $0) # path stripped name of this script
usage="$name [-opt \"<lp common parameter list>\"] [<print-file>|<->]"

namlen=${#name}  # string length of name
nl=$(( $namlen+18 ))  # Length of script name
                      # + room for infobox title line
uselen=${#usage} # string length of usage
dsptime=20000    # Miliseconds to display error messages
xdopt="--title $name --auto-placement"  # Xdialog common options
if [ "$1" = "--help" ]  # if first argument is --help
then                      # then echo a usage message
  echo "$name: usage is $usage"  # and exit
  exit 0
fi

e=""            # Null string so duplex is called
# e="echo "     #For debugging - disable call to duplex
duplex="duplex" # Production version
##duplex="/home/bigbird/pgm/duplex_proj/duplex.0.7" # Test version
# put your lp options for printing each side here
pass1="-o page-set=odd -o outputorder=reverse"
pass2="-o page-set=even -o outputorder=normal"

if [ "$1" = "-opt" ]  # check for optional common parameters flag
then
  shift

  if [ -z "$1" ]  # if flag was found, then parameters
  then            # are mandatory
    Xdialog $xdopt --backtitle "Usage Error" --infobox "Usage is\n\n
$usage\n\n
Aborting..." 12 $uselen $dsptime

    exit 1
  else  # common parameters found
    pass1="$1 $pass1"
    pass2="$1 $pass2"
#   echo "pass1 [$pass1]"  # for debugging
#   echo "pass2 [$pass2]"
    shift
  fi
fi

if [ -z "$1" ] || [ "$1" = "-" ]  # If no file argument, 
then                              #  use "-" for stdin
  f="-"
else            # otherwise, use file argument
  f=$1
  if [ ! -e "$f" ]  # if the file does not exist
  then
    fl=$(( ${#f}+13 ))    # Length of file name + message text
    max $fl $nl
    len=$?

    Xdialog $xdopt --infobox "[$f] Not found\n\n Aborting..."\
 8 $len $dsptime

    exit 1
  fi
fi

# if e is null, call duplex
# otherwise e="echo" - echo the calling sequence for debugging
$e $duplex "$pass1" "$pass2" "$f"

exit $?  # return the status returned by duplex