SUMMARY: HP1200 DeskJet CPS

From: Kelly Liu (kelly@msinetsys.com)
Date: Mon May 23 1994 - 12:42:43 CDT


My original question was:

>>I have an HP color printer: HP DeskJet 1200CPS connected to a
>>SPARCstation 2 running SunOS 4.1.3. The printer works fine.
>>The problem is every time after the it prints a job, it will
>>print an error message in a new page like:

>>ERROR: timeout
>>OFFENDING COMMAND: timeout

>>STACK:

>>The entry for this printer in the /etc/printcap file looks like:

>>cps|HP DeskJet 1200CPS, (PostScript), 300dpi, Color Printer:\
        :lp=/dev/bpp0:\
        :mx#0:\
        :sd=/var/spool/cps:\
        :lf=/var/spool/cps/cps-errs:\
        :sh:rw:

Thanks to all who responded to this request.
Most of them suggest me sending a ^D (EOF) at the end of the print job.
I tried it and it worked. Thanks again to those who kindly replyed
my mail. I really appreciate what you have done.

Attached are all the mails I received.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

>From frode@read-well.no Tue Apr 26 14:16:20 1994
>Date: Tue, 26 Apr 94 13:54:07 +0100
>From: frode@read-well.no (Frode Stromsvag)
>To: kelly@det.msinetsys.com
>Subject: ref: HP DeskJet 1200CPS
>
>
>Had the same problem. We contacted our supplier, and they came back with this:
>
>
>To turn off printing of Error-status send this code to the printer:
>
>%!
>%1
>serverdict begin 0 exitserver
>statusdict begin
>false setdoprinterrors
>end
>^D [cntrl D]
>
>To turn it on again, swap 'false' with 'true'
>
>
>
>Your postscript file might miss the ^D or %%EOF. I don't really know. But the
>above stops the annoying error page to be printed, anyway.....
>
>Great value for the money though.......
>
>
>Frode Stromsvag email: frode@read-well.no
>READ Well Services a.s.
>Ravnsborgveien 56
>P.O. Box 25
>1364 Hvalstad Phone number: +47-66982240
>NORWAY FAX number: +47-66982022
>
>
>
>From @castle.edinburgh.ac.uk:mfg@ee.edinburgh.ac.uk Tue Apr 26 14:17:51 1994
>Date: Tue, 26 Apr 94 12:59:54 BST
>From: Michael Gordon <M.F.Gordon@ee.edinburgh.ac.uk>
>X-At: Dept of Electrical Engineering, The University of Edinburgh, UK.
>To: kelly@det.msinetsys.com
>Subject: Re: HP DeskJet 1200CPS
>
>
>
>You need to send the printer a control-d after the end of the file.
>The easiest way to do this is with a simple printer filter which just
>copies stdin to stdout and then sends a control-d to stdout. Install
>it as the "if" entry in printcap.
>
>
>Michael Gordon
>
>--
>Politicians are like nappies, both should be changed regularly
>and for the same reason - graffito on a wall in Yeovil.
>
>From antonson@umiacs.UMD.EDU Tue Apr 26 14:23:56 1994
>From: antonson@umiacs.UMD.EDU (Todd S. Antonson)
>Subject: Re: HP DeskJet 1200CPS
>To: kelly@det.msinetsys.com
>Date: Tue, 26 Apr 1994 10:20:58 -0400 (EDT)
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
>You probably need to send it an EOF (like a control-D) at the
>end of the print job.
>
>--
>- Todd S. Antonson (antonson@umiacs.umd.edu UUCP: uunet!umiacs!antonson)
>- UMIACS, A.V. Williams Bldg., University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
>
>From sbei!sbei.com!stevee@uunet.uu.net Tue Apr 26 14:37:44 1994
>Date: Tue, 26 Apr 94 09:42:07 PDT
>From: stevee@sbei.com (Steve Ehrhardt)
>To: uunet!det.msinetsys.com!kelly@uunet.uu.net
>Subject: Re: HP DeskJet 1200CPS
>
>
>This is a guess, but it sounds like the PostScript interpretter thinks that
>the job has not completed and finally gives up on waiting for more input.
>Since the interpretter looks for Ctrl-D as a job terminataion, try adding
>one to the end of your print file and see if that fixes it.
>
>
>Steve Ehrhardt stevee@sbei.com
>SBE Inc. (510)355-7773
>San Ramon,CA
>"The opinions expressed are those of the author. His employer would disavow
> any knowlege of them, presuming they knew that he had any."
>
>From rkou@hto.usc.edu Tue Apr 26 18:37:38 1994
>Date: Tue, 26 Apr 1994 11:51:10 -0700
>From: "Roger H. Kou" <rkou@hto.usc.edu>
>To: kelly@det.msinetsys.com
>Subject: Re: HP DeskJet 1200CPS
>
>
>Kelly,
>
>I think the error message is from the PostScript driver software(
>are you running one?)
>
>good luck,
>
>-RK
>
>From wade@c-cs.siu.edu Tue Apr 26 18:39:09 1994
>Subject: Printer Solution
>To: kelly@det.msinetsys.com
>Date: Tue, 26 Apr 1994 14:00:54 -0500 (CDT)
>
>
>Hi,
> We recently had a similar problem with the same printer. The problem
>is that the printer is expection a <CTRL>D (control d) to be the last
>character of the job. The only way I could sucessfully solve the problem
>was to hack the source for the BSD lpd. My hack also tries to handle
>the problem when the printers memory gets full (It doesn't do this
>very well).
>
> Before attacking the code....I tried to do this with filters and
>couldn't get it to go.
>
> If you want my lpd binary or the source (Maybe you could fix the
>retry code -- I don't have the time right now to do it) Let me know.
>
> Also let me know if you or someone can figure out how to successfully
>get a <CTRL>D at the end of the job using suns lpd and some filters.
>
>
>Hope to here from you,
>
>Greg Wade
>Assistant LAb Director
>Dept. of Computer Science
>Southern Illinois University
>Carbondale, Il 62901
>
>
>From uu0101!goose.ca.pdc.com!dave Tue Apr 26 18:46:46 1994
>Date: Tue, 26 Apr 1994 11:17:45 +0800
>From: dave@goose.ca.pdc.com (Dave Haut)
>To: kelly@det.msinetsys.com
>Subject: Re: HP DeskJet 1200CPS
>
>Kelly,
>
>Sounds like the printer is not getting a EOF sent to it after each job.
>Try appending a :tr=^D: at the end of your printcap and see if that helps ...
>
>Hope this Helps ...
>
>David Haut
>Systems Engineer, PDC Services Inc.
>510-449-3113 (VOICE)
>510-449-3332 (FAX)
> ----/ ___ __ __
>| /\/| / \ / \ / \
>|/\/ | /____/ / / /
>/---- / _/___/ \___ Services, Inc
>
>From tim@Access.COM Tue Apr 26 18:48:17 1994
>Date: Tue, 26 Apr 1994 09:32:15 +0700
>From: tim@Access.COM (Tim Wort)
>To: kelly@det.msinetsys.com
>Subject: Re: HP DeskJet 1200CPS
>
>
>#############################################################################
>
>
>This is the filter referenced in printcap hpxl300
>Note: Carriage return at end of @PJL lines are required! The escape code
>(^[) is entered by pressing CONTROL 'v' then ESCAPE key if you are using the
>vi editor.
>
>
>#! /bin/sh
>/usr/bin/echo -n '^[%-12345X'
>/usr/bin/echo -n '@PJL ENTER LANGUAGE = POSTSCRIPT
>'
>/usr/bin/cat
>/usr/bin/echo -n '^[%-12345X'
>/usr/bin/echo -n '@PJL ENTER LANGUAGE = PCL
>'
> exit 0
>
>
>############################################################################
>
> Access Graphics Service Support Center
>
>
> The above references a filter for a XL300 but the problem is probably the
>the same or at least close to it, we found that when the Sun polls the port
>the HP thinks it has received a print job, but it actually never receives
>one and times out producing the error message you reported, or at least thats
>what happens with a XL300.
>
> The above filter requires that you set the printer to PCL mode, the filter
>sends an Escape Sequence that switches from PCL to PostScript, cats the file to
>the printer and then returns it to PCL mode.
>
> It requires all PostScript file to be printed using the "PostScript" printcap
>but on the other hand it allows you to print ASCII files from a standard printcap
>without the filter. I am NOT certain this is exactly your problem but it should
>work for your situation.
>
> I believe the Escape sequence will be the same for all HP printers, but you might
>want to check the user manual to be certian. If all else fails call HP post sales
>technical support @ 208 323 2551.
>
>Add to your printcap a line:
>
> :of=/usr/lib/xl300.filter:\
>
>( can change the name, xl300.filter, to whatever you name the filter file)
>
>#############################################################################
>
>To the standard printcap you will need this filter:
>
>This is the filter referenced in the hptest printcap. It address the
>carriage return/linefeed problem inherant to HP printers and UNIX.
>
>
>#! /bin/sh
>/usr/bin/echo -n '^[&k2G'
>/usr/bin/cat
> exit 0
>
>Adding this line to the printcap:
>
> :of=/usr/lib/hp.filter:\
>
>############################################################################
>
> If all of the above is unclear drop me a line, hope this helps...
>
> ______________________________________________________
> | |
> | ########======== Tim Wort |
> | ####### ======= Support Engineer |
> | ###### ====== Access Graphics |
> | ##### ===== 1426 Pearl Street |
> | #### ==== Boulder, CO 80302 |
> | Access Graphics Tech Services: 800.827.9940 |
> | ### === Corporate HQ: 800.733.9333 |
> | ## == Facsimile: 303.546.3169 |
> | # = Email Address: tim@access.com |
> | Solutions Center |
> | |
> |________________________________________Distributor_|
>From edguer@MorningStar.Com Fri Apr 29 10:27:41 1994
>From: Aydin Edguer <edguer@MorningStar.Com>
>Subject: Re: HP DeskJet 1200CPS
>To: kelly@det.msinetsys.com
>Date: Tue, 26 Apr 1994 22:29:10 -0400 (EDT)
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
>> ERROR: timeout
>> OFFENDING COMMAND: timeout
>> STACK:
>
>See the - PostScript monthly FAQ v2.2
>
>| Subject: 2.13 What's a timeout error?
>|
>| The wait timeout is the maximum time the PostScript interpreter
>| will wait for input before aborting. The timeout interval begins
>| when the interpreter finishes executing everything it has received
>| so far and starts waiting for the host to send it more data. If
>| this timeout expires and no more data arrives, a timeout occurs.
>|
>| In particular, a compute-bound job (or one that goes into an
>| infinite loop) will not encounter a wait timeout, since it is not
>| waiting. The long diatribe about the need to "keep sending stuff"
>| and problems with long compute-bound jobs is totally off the mark.
>| The data channel may stop due to flow control, and may stay stopped
>| for long periods if the printer is very busy. This is perfectly OK
>| and won't cause a timeout.
>|
>| Don't disable the wait timeout. The whole point of the wait timeout
>| is to prevent the interpreter from being indefinitely tied up by a
>| host application that has crashed, a communication channel that has
>| been disconnected, or whatever. This is particularly important for
>| networked printers. The only situation in which disabling timeouts
>| is appropriate is when debugging applications or drivers, since you
>| don't want the printer timing out while the host is at a breakpoint
>| or something.
>
>The most likely cause of this is that you are sending an additional
>"EOF" -eg "^D". This is frequently caused by applications run on
>personal computers which do not use print queues. Try stripping
>the trailing "^D" from the files.
>
>From pluto!perryh@qiclab.scn.rain.com Fri Apr 29 10:36:49 1994
>Date: Tue, 26 Apr 94 20:04:14 PDT
>From: perryh@pluto.rain.com (Perry Hutchison)
>To: kelly@det.msinetsys.com
>Subject: Re: HP DeskJet 1200CPS
>
>
>The spooler is sending an extra character (probably a cr or nl)
>following the ^D that terminates the PostScript job, or perhaps
>it is not sending the ^D at all.
>
>
>



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