HP LaserJet printing multiple copies problem

[backwoodsman]

Hi all,

I have 2 LaserJets, a 4L and a 6P.

When printing multiple copies of a document, with "Collate" unchecked, the document is sent only once to the 4L, and it happily prints as many copies as I asked for as fast as it can.

But with the 6P, it doesn't matter whether "Collate" is checked or not, the document gets sent to the printer once for every single copy, which really slows things down if I need 50 or 100 copies of something graphics intensive.  Send the document, print one copy, send document again, print one copy... you get the idea.  So I get maybe 2 pages per minute from an 8 ppm printer.

What's up with that, and how do I fix it?

Thanks.

[pags]

How much memory is there on the 6P?

There may not be enough to hold a rendered page (at a given resolution).  If that is the case, then a memory upgrade would be in order (if the cost is acceptable...an older printer will probably required older, harder to find memory)...

[backwoodsman]

The 6P has 2MB.  The 4L has only 1MB, but it's a 300dpi printer, and I was printing at 600dpi on the 6P.  I'll try 300dpi and see if that does it.  I assumed if it had enough memory to print a page, it would still have it in memory, but maybe not.

I have a bunch of old memory lying around, including the right SIMMs for the 6P, but for some reason none of what I have will work in it.

[pags]

The 6P has 2MB.  The 4L has only 1MB, but it's a 300dpi printer, and I was printing at 600dpi on the 6P.  I'll try 300dpi and see if that does it.  I assumed if it had enough memory to print a page, it would still have it in memory, but maybe not.

I have a bunch of old memory lying around, including the right SIMMs for the 6P, but for some reason none of what I have will work in it.

600 dpi needs 4x the memory of 300 (300x300=90000; 600x600=360000; 360000/90000=4).  Sounds like memory may be the issue.

[backwoodsman]

Well it definitely isn't the memory.  Even printing a page of text with no graphics, it doesn't matter what resolution I print at, or how anything else is set in the driver, it still wants to send every single copy to the printer separately -- send, print 1 copy, send, print 1 copy, etc.  In 300dpi draft mode, the amount of data is small enough that it'll print continuously without pausing between copies, but it's still sending every single copy to the printer separately.

Anyone have any other ideas?

[GuypronouncedGuynotGuy]

What program are you printing 'from'?

I've had similar things in the past where I tried to print multiple pages from OO Writer and this happened. So I tried Kwrite and it worked fine.

Possible CUPS configuration?