print direct setup

[cory thompson]

I changed the bit depth but made no difference.
I'm about to send you a raw file from today's test.

Thanks

[RWAP]

Thanks for the raw files. I can see the issue - the original output is designed for PJL (Printer Job Control Language - HP LaserJet) format rather than HP PCL (Printer Command Language - HP DeskJet) format.

We will need to change the main capture routine to:

a) Ignore all of the PJL commands
b) Look for the @PJL ENTER LANGUAGE = command to see if the actual print job is PCL or POSTSCRIPT and fire the necessary convertor according to that setting.

This will take some working out - if you try an online PCL to PDF convertor on the raw file you supplied, you will see that some of them work, others hang as they do not understand the print language. My guess is that is why the new printer does nothing.

You sent a picture of a page with "CPU revision" on it - do you have the raw file matching to that please - my guess is those commands in the top left corner are all to do with PJL commands.

[cory thompson]

I'll have to recreate the scenario that pushed out the raw file and send it over with another photo.

The manual shows to set the emulation to HP for passthrough. I have the option to push ASCII, epson, and others.... if these will simplify things?

Thanks for looking into this.
Cory.

[RWAP]

The problem is that for usb passthrough to work, the end printer has to understand the original code.

ASCII, Epson will not work as modern printers do not understand Plain text, ESC/P or ESC/P2 (even Epson printers)

PostScript might work if you can find a suitable PostScript printer - not sure which ones support that ?

It seems only HP printers and compatibles retained the ability to continue printing in the HP printer language (PCL). It is just that your controllers seem to output PJL code for laserjets - rather than PCL. PJL forms a wrapper around the PCL code which is confusing your current printer.

Until I change the code to ignore the PJL commands / wrapper, you will have to not use the usb_passthrough mode unfortunately.

[cory thompson]

Thanks.

The laserjet m404dn supports HP PCL 6, HP postscript level 3 emulation, PDF, URF, PWG Raster
I'll drag out some other hardware and test with PCL 5, I may get different results.

Thanks for looking into this.

Cory.

[cory thompson]

I've tested on a win xp machine with data_bit 7 and 8.
7 gives a raw file but 8 didn't.

Neither produced a print.

I plugged my printer into a usb on the xp machine and loaded various laserjet drivers, and printed a test page using pcl5, pcl6 and postscript.
I also loaded a inkjet driver and sent a test to the laster printer and got jibberish out, but at least it received the commands.

the pcl5 and pcl6 xp test pages show a Monitor: PJL Language Monitor.

Unfortunately I don't have an inkjet printer to test with but I'm curious what the results would be. I might have to hunt one down.

edit: I just found a Brother injet but didn't make any difference.

[RWAP]

I've tested on a win xp machine with data_bit 7 and 8.
7 gives a raw file but 8 didn't.

Neither produced a print.

I plugged my printer into a usb on the xp machine and loaded various laserjet drivers, and printed a test page using pcl5, pcl6 and postscript.
I also loaded a inkjet driver and sent a test to the laster printer and got jibberish out, but at least it received the commands.

the pcl5 and pcl6 xp test pages show a Monitor: PJL Language Monitor.

Unfortunately I don't have an inkjet printer to test with but I'm curious what the results would be. I might have to hunt one down.

edit: I just found a Brother injet but didn't make any difference.

I assume here you are talking about usb_passthrough only.

I now have a HP printer (again) and will try this when I get chance.

[cory thompson]

Just wondering if you've had chance to test the printer yet.
I'd really like to get this working with passthrough. Converting to PDF works well but is too slow for my needs. Our controllers push printouts faster than the PI can process the info.

Thanks again
Cory.

[RWAP]

Just wondering if you've had chance to test the printer yet.
I'd really like to get this working with passthrough. Converting to PDF works well but is too slow for my needs. Our controllers push printouts faster than the PI can process the info.

Thanks again
Cory.

Hi Cory,

I have managed to find the issue and fixed it - I am just testing it now using some different drivers and will email you a test link

Rich

[RWAP]

The latest version configured to be tested for usb_passthrough can be found at:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wwoqorzv2u53q ... h.img?dl=0