Upgrade borked another HP LaserJet 6MP (SOLVED)

[Cressida]

After the recent upgrade, printed pages no longer recognize margin settings or initial linespaces. No matter what I do, text starts at the very top of the page.  I have the same problem as the user in this post:

http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,100959.0.html


Here is some information:

[james@localhost ~]$ lpstat -t
scheduler is running
system default destination: Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-6MP
device for Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-6MP: hp:/par/HP_LaserJet_6MP?device=/dev/parport0
Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-6MP accepting requests since Mon 23 Jan 2012 08:42:05 AM CST
printer Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-6MP is idle.  enabled since Mon 23 Jan 2012 08:42:05 AM CST
        ready to print
Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-6MP-171 donna            34816   Wed 18 Jan 2012 12:51:40 PM CST
Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-6MP-172 donna            34816   Wed 18 Jan 2012 12:57:30 PM CST
[james@localhost ~]$


[james@localhost ~]$ lpoptions -p Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-6MP
auth-info-required=none copies=1 device-uri=hp:/par/HP_LaserJet_6MP?device=/dev/parport0 finishings=3 job-hold-until=no-hold job-priority=50 job-sheets=none,none marker-change-time=0 number-up=1 printer-commands=none printer-info='Hewlett-Packard HP LaserJet 6MP' printer-is-accepting-jobs=true printer-is-shared=true printer-location=localhost.localdomain printer-make-and-model='HP LaserJet 6mp pcl3, hpcups 3.alot' printer-state=3 printer-state-change-time=1327329725 printer-state-reasons=none printer-type=167964 printer-uri-supported=ipp://localhost:631/printers/Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-6MP


[james@localhost ~]$ lpoptions -p Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-6MP -l
PageSize/Media Size: Card3x5 Hagaki Photo4x6 A6 Photo5x7 Card5x8 Oufuku A5 B5 JB5 Executive 16k *Letter A4 ExecutiveJIS FLSA Legal EnvA2 EnvC6 EnvChou4 EnvMonarch EnvDL Env10 EnvChou3 EnvC5 EnvB5 Custom.WIDTHxHEIGHT
Duplex/Double-Sided Printing: DuplexNoTumble DuplexTumble *None
InputSlot/Media Source: *Auto PhotoTray Upper Lower Envelope LargeCapacity Manual MPTray
ColorModel/Output Mode: *Gray
MediaType/Media Type: *Plain
OutputMode/Print Quality: *Normal Draft Best
OptionDuplex/Duplexer Installed: False *True
[james@localhost ~]$


If anyone can see what the problem is and how to fix I would appreciate any help since the printer has always worked before.

[wedgetail]

Cressida
  you were lucky, you did not leave a pointer to this thread in the davey topic you have referred to this would have alerted me, it was by accident that I saw your topic.  Anyway connection made again.

[james@localhost ~]$ lpstat -t
scheduler is running  < ----  means cups is running
system default destination: Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-6MP  < ------ I am impressed you have set default
device for Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-6MP: hp:/par/HP_LaserJet_6MP?device=/dev/parport0 < --- using parallelport
Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-6MP accepting requests since Mon 23 Jan 2012 08:42:05 AM CST
printer Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-6MP is idle.  enabled since Mon 23 Jan 2012 08:42:05 AM CST
        ready to print
Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-6MP-171 donna            34816   Wed 18 Jan 2012 12:51:40 PM CST
Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-6MP-172 donna            34816   Wed 18 Jan 2012 12:57:30 PM CST
[james@localhost ~]$

Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-6MP < ---- your particular printer que name or printer name, notice this differs from the one you had used in the link you refer to. This is why instead of trying to get people to describe/type I ask for the result of lpstat -t and at the same time some valuable extra information is gained. The CUPS server is running, your connection type plus some que management in the form of a couple of jobs. All fine.

[james@localhost ~]$ lpoptions -p Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-6MP
auth-info-required=none
 copies=1
device-uri=hp:/par/HP_LaserJet_6MP?device=/dev/parport0
 finishings=3
 job-hold-until=no-hold
 job-priority=50
 job-sheets=none,none
 marker-change-time=0
 number-up=1
 printer-commands=none
 printer-info='Hewlett-Packard HP LaserJet 6MP'
 printer-is-accepting-jobs=true
 printer-is-shared=true
 printer-location=localhost.localdomain
 printer-make-and-model='HP LaserJet 6mp pcl3, hpcups 3.alot'  < --------- Here is this odd version again
 printer-state=3
 printer-state-change-time=1327329725
 printer-state-reasons=none
 printer-type=167964
printer-uri-supported=ipp://localhost:631/printers/Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-6MP

In above I have highlighted what interests me most, but mainly it is the driver I look for here

3.alot I do not understand what is going on here, I don't think it is a error on your part. Can you just check in CUPS Web access, the line should be something like

printer-make-and-model='HPLaserJet 6mp cups pcl3, 3. 11. 10'

I can only get it to show right here in Forum by adding a space after the 3. and 11. as above line. I now suspect this indicates the wrong driver for the printer but not quite proved yet.

[james@localhost ~]$ lpoptions -p Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-6MP -l
PageSize/Media Size: Card3x5 Hagaki Photo4x6 A6 Photo5x7 Card5x8 Oufuku A5 B5 JB5 Executive 16k *Letter A4 ExecutiveJIS FLSA Legal EnvA2 EnvC6 EnvChou4 EnvMonarch EnvDL Env10 EnvChou3 EnvC5 EnvB5 Custom.WIDTHxHEIGHT
Duplex/Double-Sided Printing: DuplexNoTumble DuplexTumble *None
InputSlot/Media Source: *Auto PhotoTray Upper Lower Envelope LargeCapacity Manual MPTray
ColorModel/Output Mode: *Gray
MediaType/Media Type: *Plain
OutputMode/Print Quality: *Normal Draft Best
OptionDuplex/Duplexer Installed: False *True
[james@localhost ~]$

This is powerful information when you are trouble shooting, the above is a correct profile (note I did not say it is correct for your printer) this information is is correct for a printer.  It may in fact be fine as mini profile, but I doubt this profile unleashes all the power.

I would recommend you install another printer que using CUPS and use the printer driver

Edit: have changed to simplified version

printer-make-and-model='HP LaserJet 6MP - CUPS+Gutenprint v5.2.7 Simplified'

In case you don know how to use CUPS Web interface try to click on this  http://localhost:631 then
Administration > Add Printer > Probably asked for root/<your system password>  > Follow direction

The main thing, I would like you to try another driver because in my opinion something seems to want to install the wrong driver for 6MP (notice the driver is listed with lower case 6mp, this fooled me for a while in the davey topic  )

I am not clear on how exactly you have installed the driver but at a guess via HP interface or PCCC (have tried this in the past and it became hit and miss, when I found that I was getting very consistent results using CUPS I never looked back.)

When you have installed the recommended printer driver above your 6MP installation should show:
(changed to reflect the simplified version above, ie if you happened to see before I edited)

[gert@localhost ~]$ lpoptions -p test -l
PageSize/Media Size: A4 *Letter Legal Executive Statement
ColorModel/Color Model: *Gray Black
InputSlot/Media Source: *Standard ManualAdj Manual MultiPurposeAdj MultiPurpose UpperAdj Upper LowerAdj Lower LargeCapacityAdj LargeCapacity
StpQuality/Print Quality: None Draft *Standard High
Resolution/Resolution: 301x300dpi 150dpi 300dpi *600dpi
Duplex/2-Sided Printing: *None DuplexNoTumble DuplexTumble
StpiShrinkOutput/Shrink Page If Necessary to Fit Borders: *Shrink Crop Expand
StpColorCorrection/Color Correction: *None Accurate Bright Hue Uncorrected Desaturated Threshold Density Raw Predithered
StpBrightness/Brightness: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 *None 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 Custom.REAL
StpContrast/Contrast: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 *None 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 2200 2300 2400 2500 2600 2700 2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400 3500 3600 3700 3800 3900 4000 Custom.REAL
StpImageType/Image Type: None Text Graphics *TextGraphics Photo LineArt
[gert@localhost ~]$

Ah yes, if you know how to use the html tags, to place code or quote in posts it does ease it on the brain.  I just picked this driver at random as I am short of time. So you will be helping out proving something.

[Cressida]

"printer-make-and-model='HP LaserJet 6mp pcl3, hpcups 3.alot'  < --------- Here is this odd version again"

Based on your generous and informative help I made progress.

I changed the driver from the above to the next one which was the 2nd in the list showing up when running PCL CC.   It is called  'HP LaserJet 6mp hpijs pcl3, 3.alot'

I have printed a couple of pages using this new driver and it seems to performing like it should now.  FWIW, I should point out that both of these drivers have the 6mp in lower case however there are several more to choose in that list that have upper case (6MP). 

I don't understand why someone elected to change the default driver with the recent update.   

Thanks again!

[kjpetrie]

Wedgetail, "alot" is the forum's substitution for a number. I think it's eleven point 04 or something like that. It's a popular 'buntu version number and Texstar has set the forum to substitute alot whenever it sees the number to stop trolls boasting about its attributes.

11.01, 11.02, 11.03, alot, 11.05...

[wedgetail]

Cressida

  You don't understand, well there is  alot I don't understand. There is however often times when I think how amazing that any of this works.
Anyway congratulations. The printer you have chosen, if that works does surprise me a little bit, but from looking "inside" the offending driver I could not find anything obvious. I have pondered over those lower case designations and looked indside them too.

If you happen to see this thread again I would be interested in your new:

[james@localhost ~]$ lpoptions -p XXXXXXXXXXX  -l

Also I understand you use the PCC route to install printer.

kjpetrie
Thanks for information, now I know not to worry about it.

[Cressida]

If you happen to see this thread again I would be interested in your new:

[james@localhost ~]$ lpoptions -p XXXXXXXXXXX  -l

Also I understand you use the PCC route to install printer.

Here it is:


[james@localhost ~]$ lpoptions -p Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-6MP -l
PageSize/Media Size: *Letter A4 Photo Photo5x7 3x5 5x8 A5 A6 B5JIS CDDVD80 CDDVD120 Env10 EnvC5 EnvC6 EnvDL EnvISOB5 EnvMonarch Executive FLSA Hagaki Legal Oufuku w558h774 w612h935 Custom.WIDTHxHEIGHT
PrintoutMode/Printout Mode: Draft *Normal High
InputSlot/Media Source: *Default PhotoTray Upper Lower CDDVDTray Envelope LargeCapacity Manual MPTray
Duplex/Double-Sided Printing: DuplexNoTumble DuplexTumble *None
Quality/Resolution, Quality, Ink Type, Media Type: *FromPrintoutMode 300DraftGrayscaleK 300GrayscaleK 600GrayscaleK
[james@localhost ~]$


[james@localhost ~]$ lpoptions -p Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-6MP
auth-info-required=none copies=1 device-uri=hp:/par/HP_LaserJet_6MP?device=/dev/parport0 finishings=3 job-hold-until=no-hold job-priority=50 job-sheets=none,none marker-change-time=0 number-up=1 printer-commands=AutoConfigure,Clean,PrintSelfTestPage printer-info='Hewlett-Packard HP LaserJet 6MP' printer-is-accepting-jobs=true printer-is-shared=true printer-location=localhost.localdomain printer-make-and-model='HP LaserJet 6mp hpijs pcl3, 3.alot' printer-state=3 printer-state-change-time=1327524469 printer-state-reasons=none printer-type=8556572 printer-uri-supported=ipp://localhost:631/printers/Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-6MP
[james@localhost ~]$

[wedgetail]

Cressida

Thanks for information. At the time you printed this your settings are highlighted in red.

[james@localhost ~]$ lpoptions -p Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-6MP -l
PageSize/Media Size: *Letter A4 Photo Photo5x7 3x5 5x8 A5 A6 B5JIS CDDVD80 CDDVD120 Env10 EnvC5 EnvC6 EnvDL EnvISOB5 EnvMonarch Executive FLSA Hagaki Legal Oufuku w558h774 w612h935 Custom.WIDTHxHEIGHT
PrintoutMode/Printout Mode: Draft *Normal High
InputSlot/Media Source: *Default PhotoTray Upper Lower CDDVDTray Envelope LargeCapacity Manual MPTray
Duplex/Double-Sided Printing: DuplexNoTumble DuplexTumble *None
Quality/Resolution, Quality, Ink Type, Media Type: *FromPrintoutMode 300DraftGrayscaleK 300GrayscaleK 600GrayscaleK
[james@localhost ~]$

If you are happy with the operation now by all means keep the settings. In case you or somebody else should be adventurous  I would suggest trying the following drivers for the 6MP.  I believe one of those  may be a better choice. When I find time I will test on my Laserjet 2300dn especially the postscript driver

HP LaserJet 6MP - CUPS+Gutenprint v5.2.7 Simplified

HP LaserJet 6MP Foomatic/gutenprint-ijs-simplified.5.2

HP LaserJet 6MP Foomatic/Postscript

The simplified version is a bit less complex than "full" version so unless you are really pushing the limit I would not bother.