Dynamically generated PPDs from foomatic-db

[Matthias Klose]

Pascal De Vuyst wrote:
>> On Fri, Aug 25, 2006 at 08:09:01PM +0200, Pascal De Vuyst wrote:
>>   
>>>> Since CUPS 1.2 it is possible to use dynamically generated PPD files by
>>>> using driver programs under the /usr/lib/cups/driver directory. Driver
>>>> programs must implement a specific command-line interface as described
>>>> in the cups-driverd manpage, foomatic-ppdfile provides the needed
>>>> command-line interface since 20060420.
>>>>
>>>> This means the foomatic-filters-ppds package could be dropped from
>>>> Ubuntu and replaced by providing a symlink from
>>>> /usr/lib/cups/driver/foomatic to /usr/bin/foomatic-ppdfile, so PPD are
>>>> generated on the fly from foomatic-db. The symlink should be part of the
>>>> cupsys package. Every printer queue setup tool using the CUPS API like
>>>> CUPS web interface, gnome-cups-manager and KDE Print Manager will then
>>>> use the dynamically generated PPDs automatically.
>>>>
>>>> I have done some performance tests in Edgy:
>>>> https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+source/foomatic-db-engine/+bug/55685
>>>> and they look promising.
>>>>
>>>> Has this been considered for Edgy?
>>>     
>> We have some serious CD size issues in Edgy, so (though I'm nowhere near
>> a printing guru myself and in fact cannot test the change) I'd be
>> willing to consider this to reclaim the 11.5MB used by
>> foomatic-filters-ppds. Would some people be able and willing to test
>> this if I made that change?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> -- Colin Watson [cjwatson at ubuntu.com]
> It would be nice if members of the Ubuntu Printing Team
> (https://launchpad.net/people/ubuntu-printing) could give their opinion
> before changing this.
> All that is needed to test this in Edgy is a symlink from
> /usr/lib/cups/driver/foomatic to /usr/bin/foomatic-ppdfile.
> Does anybody see any problems with using dynamically generated PPDs from
> foomatic-db versus the current static ones from foomatic-filters-ppds?
> Since I'm not very familiar with KDE it would also be nice if someone
> could do some tests on KDE.
> 
> Regards,
> Pascal De Vuyst

Martin is away until next week; I don't mind the change, but please make 
sure, that both graphical printer installation tools in Gnome and KDE 
work without the static files, both for installation and for printing 
(i.e. displaying the printer property dialogs).

   Matthias