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Re: Does anyone know how to configure a Brother MFC-J5720DW with cups?



On Tuesday 15 March 2016 19:40:07 Brian wrote:
> On Tue 15 Mar 2016 at 09:46:26 -0500, David Wright wrote:
> > On Mon 14 Mar 2016 at 13:20:25 (+0000), Brian wrote:
> > > "PDF filter" would be a suitable substitute for "PDF converter". But
> > > not "PDF interpreter".
> >
> > OK. Debating what to call what happens between PDF and ink-on-paper
> > is "less important" (I'm learning) than my trying to tie down whether
> > that process takes place entirely in the printer, ie the box we bring
> > back from the store.
>
> I thought we had established that the filtering process takes place
> entirely on the printer. After all, there are no drivers on the sending
> device.
>
> > > Yes. But maybe my understanding of what an onboard PS/PCL/PDF
> > > interpreter does (stated in an earlier mail) is different from yours.
> >
> > OK. Debating... (ditto as above).
>
> Ok, yes. But I have said what I mean by an interpreter. You haven't.
>
> > > We seem to be both agreed that a PDF arriving at an AirPrint-compatible
> > > printer has to be dealt with in some way to ready it for printing.
> > > Let's leave it there. It is interesting to speculate how a printer
> > > processes a PDF sent from a driverless device but ultimately it is of
> > > no great consequence because it is not under our control.
> >
> > It's of the greatest consequence if there's a way of getting a linux
> > box to send PDF files to an AirPrint printer and have them print.
>
> CUPS is not involved in printing to an AirPrint printer. Debian CUPS has
> been patched to enable an iOS device to send to any printer (AirPrint
> capable or not). The principles to do it have been worked out and it is
> Bonjour broadcasting which is the key.
>
> > It means you can walk into a store and just buy something, take it
> > home and it works. A bit like when I worked in a university: the
> > printers understood PDF files so I knew I could just send stuff to the
> > queue and it would print it.
> >
> > Here's my old methodology for buying a printer:
> > -Go to the store and look and printers.
> > -Persuade wife to "check reviews" rather than buy straight away.
> > -Go home and look at linuxprinting-type websites for linux compatibility.
> > -Search forums for complaints/difficulties.
> > -List some linux-compatible models.
> > -Go back to store only to find that all these model numbers are out of
> > date and unavailable, replaced by shiny new models.
> > -Persuade wife that the shiniest model she wants is going to be a great
> > doorstop (or else she's going to have to print all my wants from a
> > stick). -Buy a printer.
> > -Find a driver that kind-of works.
> > -Work round the problems that the driver throws up.
>
> Since it is mentioned twice, your major tussle with printer purchase
> appears to be with your wife. Driver choice and adaptation pales into
> insignificance compared with this, :)
>
> > > It really should. Without Bonjour broadcasting by the printer AirPrint
> > > would not exist.
> >
> > I wrote "in this discussion". Drivers, not discovery. AFAICT I'm
> > already using avahi to print now. I'm not, however, sending raw PDFs
> > to the discovered printer.
>
> Unless the printer has a PDF interpreter you will be disappointed with
> the result.
>
> > > as a solution to Jarle Aase's issue. All we need is someone with an
> > > AirPrint printer to test it. :).
> >
> > Yes. Has noone else on this list bought one? There's a huge list of
> > models. Unfortunately my model is HP Officejet Pro 85xx and one
> > needs 86xx for AirPrint inclusion.
>
> Gene Haskett has an HL-3170CDW, which he now knows does AirPrint. I
> believe he is someone who is up for a challenge. Compared with flooded
> basements, lightning strikes, falling trees and power cuts this is small
> beer. If he is amenable he could
>
> 1. Install avahi-daemon and avahi-utils.
>
> 2. Do
>
>     avahi-browse -art > discovered
>
> and post the file "discovered" here. Then we might progress.
>
> Your printer cannot deal with files sent directly from an iOS device.
> Through the mediation of Debian CUPS it can.

But in order to do it, he would have to install Jessie, would he not?  And I 
don't think he has a spare computer on which to do so. :-(

Lisi


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