problem using a parallel printer with usb/parralel converter

[Tommy Trussell]

On Thu, Apr 23, 2015 at 9:52 AM, Bernard <bdebreil at teaser.fr> wrote:

> I am trying to use my old HP Deskjet 1120C parallel printer with a new
> laptop that lacks parallel port. I purchased a 'CSL' USB to Parallel
> converter. This successfully worked almost right away (sudo
> system-config-printer),
>
> BUT
>
> this same printer seems to have a lot less many options available on the
> new system (using USB/PARRALEL converter) than there were on the old one.
>
> Is this normal and unavoidable ?  Or am I missing something ?  What checks
> should I carry ?  Is something else required so that I can take full
> advantage of that printer on my new system ?
>
> On the old system, cups reckognises my printer (lpq query or
> localhost:631) as 'DeskJet-1120C', while the new system uses a slightly
> different label : 'HEWLETT-PACKARD-DESKJET-1120C'.
>
> lpoptions -p HEWLETT-PACKARD-DESKJET-1120C -l
> only displays 8 lines of options, while on the old system
>
> lpoptions -p  DeskJet-1120C -l
> displays four pages of options
>
> On the newer system, I miss at least two useful options. 'MediaType'
> offers only 'Plain' while the older one proposes 'Plain Bond Premium
> *Glossy Transparency'. The use of 'gimp' for image printing, confirms that
> only 'plain' is available for MediaType, while the old gimp on older system
> still offer choices of media.
>


I don't have your particular HP printer, but based on my experiences with
mine (now defunct) I can think of two things to try:

1) Either using the CUPS web interface OR the Printers tool under System
Settings, examine the driver CUPS has chosen for your printer. Often CUPS
has more than one definition that work with a particular printer, and you
might choose another and see if your features are defined in a different
driver file.

2) You might check the new system to make sure the hplip package is
installed (it probably is), but you might additionally install hplip-gui
(aka "hplip toolbox") in case it makes the "missing" features visible. I
think of the latter as providing things like ink/toner levels and other
features reported by the printer but missing in the "generic" printing
interface. It may not change the features in the Printers tool -- you might
have to use the hplip-gui tool or something.

I hope those help. In the meantime maybe we'll hear from someone with
direct experience with your model printer.
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