Printing in Debian and CUPS™ (Common Unix Printing System) in Debain

Printing in Debian

Now we are going to see how to install HP OfficeJet 7110 in debian

Fire up Synaptic and do a search for cupsys. If not already installed, install cupsys and its dependencies using the following command

#apt-get install cupsys

If you've been following along you already have cupsys and cupsys-client installed. It went in when you installed your desktop(s) via base-config.

If you want to be able to print from the traditional Linux tools and utilities, say Emacs, then you will also want to install cupsys-bsd. It's a replacement and bridge, if you will, to LPD and the like. It's terrific. Go ahead and install it. Also, if you use Mozilla products (and some other programs) you probably want to install gtklp.

Now lets install the Foomatics and install the following:foomatic-db, foomatic-filters-ppds, foomatic-filters, foomatic-db-hpijs, (for HP) also if you have an HP OfficeJet go ahead and install hplip. Hplip replaces hpoj. Let any dependancies be installed.

#apt-get install foomatic-db, foomatic-filters-ppds, foomatic-filters, foomatic-db-hpijs hplip hpoj

See, only slightly less easy than using a CD-ROM. After these packages are installed you have the option of setting your printer up via the gnome-cups-manager widget (Applications, Desktop Preferences, System Tools, Printing) or in your browser pointing to 127.0.0.1:631. Both are using Cups, they're both the same thing. I use my browser because it's always open. Go ahead and set your printer up going through the succeeding prompts using either cups front-end. See, printing in Linux (Debian) is a piece of cake.

You may have problems printing from Mozilla and Firefox and Thunderbird. No problem, we anticipated this. Install (or revel in your foresight!) gtklp either from the Debian repositories or grab the tar file and compile it like all the cool kids do.

#apt-get install gtklp

Once it's installed, open Firefox (do the same in Mozilla and T.Bird) and then click Print from the file menu. When the dialog box opens, click Properties. Replace this line:

lpr ${MOZ_PRINTER_NAME:+'-P'}${MOZ_PRINTER_NAME}

with the following

/usr/bin/gtklp

If you're using KDE add this line instead:

kprinter –stdin

CUPS™ (Common Unix Printing System) in Debain

Install the Common UNIX Printing System (or CUPS™):

     # apt-get install cupsys foomatic-bin foomatic-db

     # apt-get install cupsys-bsd cupsys-driver-gimpprint

Then configure the system using any web browser:

     $ mybrowser http://localhost:631

For example, to add your printer on some port to the list of accessible printers:

click "Printers" from the main page, and then "Add Printer",

enter "root" for the username and its password,

proceed to add the printer following the prompts,

go back to the "Printers" page and click "Configure Printer", and

proceed to configure the paper size, resolution, and other parameters.

See more information at http://localhost:631/documentation.html and http://www.cups.org/cups-help.html .

This aricle is submitted by machiner and can be found here