Re: [LUG] Print Failure - Perhaps a KDE bug?

[Keith Abraham <keith@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Keith Abraham wrote:

> After a overnight apt-upgrade our printer has ceased to function.
> The parallel port inkjet printer itself has been checked and found
> to be OK.
>
> We've tried removing/re-installing the printer via the KDE Printer
> Wizard with some peculiar results.
>
> ie.
> In the Backend Selection page we selected "Local Printer"
> but the Local Port selection fails to detect a valid port.
>
> We've tried manual entry of the URI using both
> parallel:/dev/lp0
> and
> ipp://localhost:631/printers
> but both are rejected as not corresponding to a detected port.
>
> If we ignore this error and insert one of the above in the URI
> we can select our printer and are prompted to select from a list
> of drivers. But some drivers are reported as missing or we don't
> have the required permissions although we are root.
> Selecting a driver, that past experience has shown we can use, allows
> completion of the printer installation.
> But the printer still does not print.
>
> Doing lsmod reveals that both lp and parport modules are loaded.
> Also cupsd appears to be running.
>
> Any ideas anyone?
>
> Keith
>
> ps My apologies if this mail has appeared several times on the list.
> I think my ISP has been having problems and has been sending mail back
> as unsent. Furthermore mail I have sent to the list in not appearing
> in my inbox. Hopefully this has now been resolved.
After much heartache the printer problem has been resolved.
There were essentially two problems.

1. The overnight apt-get upgrade installed/upgraded a package
   (I suspect kudzu - a hardware detector) which decided I didn't
   need the parport module. This was overcome by ensuring the
   module was loaded at boot.

2. KDE. Printer filters are often not removed after an application
   has finished with them. (The previous day I had used OpenOffice
   to print labels.) Any attempt to print something which doesn't use
   this filter will result in Kprint sending an empty command line to
   CUPS.
   The solution is to ensure these filters are removed after completing
   a print job. ie. Kprint->Filters, highlight filter and select trash.
   Perhaps it's not really a bug but it's something to look out for.
   Incidently the KDE developers are aware of this problem(?).

Keith

   

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