MAC gutenprint do not have usercode selection.issue is it possible to program it?

[aviso66]

Hi,

we are using gutenprint for macbook but we encountered an issue that it does not have the user code features. I am just wondering if its easy just to add on few codes to the printer driver to make the user code features enable?

thanks

[KenB]

Re: MAC gutenprint do not have usercode selection.issue is it possible to program it?

If the driver doesn't support user codes, you're out of luck.

Just look around here on CTN; there are countless examples of people trying to save money by not purchasing the PostScript option, then complaining when third party drivers don't have all the functionality, or perform poorly.

[rthonpm]

Re: MAC gutenprint do not have usercode selection.issue is it possible to program it?

Gutenprint drivers offer very basic functionality, and often don't even allow for colour printing or finishing options. The best option for the customer is to shell out the money for PostScript. If they can afford to overpay for a Mac, a few hundred more for the proper function of their device shouldn't prove that much of an issue.

[KenB]

Re: MAC gutenprint do not have usercode selection.issue is it possible to program it?

Gutenprint drivers offer very basic functionality, and often don't even allow for colour printing or finishing options. The best option for the customer is to shell out the money for PostScript. If they can afford to overpay for a Mac, a few hundred more for the proper function of their device shouldn't prove that much of an issue.

Some years ago, I had a customer go somewhat ballistic after we installed an MP C2050.

All the PCs were printing happily, but he conveniently forgot the once and a while the boss would bring in his MacBook...of course, there was no PostScript option.

He told the sales rep (after we left) that we were "incompetent", because his IT guy had told him that there were "free drivers available on the Internet" that would work.

He then demanded that we give him a PS card at no charge, because he failed to mention his Mac.

Freakin' seriously!?

[slimslob]

Re: MAC gutenprint do not have usercode selection.issue is it possible to program it?

Some years ago, I had a customer go somewhat ballistic after we installed an MP C2050.

All the PCs were printing happily, but he conveniently forgot the once and a while the boss would bring in his MacBook...of course, there was no PostScript option.

He told the sales rep (after we left) that we were "incompetent", because his IT guy had told him that there were "free drivers available on the Internet" that would work.

He then demanded that we give him a PS card at no charge, because he failed to mention his Mac.

Freakin' seriously!?

My answer to such customers is "Yes there are free drivers available on the web if you or your IT wish to download and install one. OSX also includes a generic PCL driver. None of them support all the functions of the MFP." Until the latest version of OSX, generic PCL did not even support color. Latest version of OSX does support color but does not support user codes.

[KenB]

Re: MAC gutenprint do not have usercode selection.issue is it possible to program it?

It also comes down to support.

If we were to install a driver "from the Web", we would be the first ones to call when it didn't work right. Even suggesting it would imply that we would support it, no matter how innocent and well-intended it may seem at the time. "Well, the copier tech said it would work..." would start quite the you-know-what storm.

I have tested a few of these over the years, (NOT in a customer's office), and not only did they lack all the features, there are speed and font issues, too. I think I even remember seeing margin problems.

Nothing like being responsible for something you have zero control over.

Let's not even mention that Sales would lose the revenue from selling the PS option. They are here to make a living, too.

[qbert69]

Re: MAC gutenprint do not have usercode selection.issue is it possible to program it?

It also comes down to support.

If we were to install a driver "from the Web", we would be the first ones to call when it didn't work right. Even suggesting it would imply that we would support it, no matter how innocent and well-intended it may seem at the time. "Well, the copier tech said it would work..." would start quite the you-know-what storm.

I have tested a few of these over the years, (NOT in a customer's office), and not only did they lack all the features, there are speed and font issues, too. I think I even remember seeing margin problems.

Nothing like being responsible for something you have zero control over.

Let's not even mention that Sales would lose the revenue from selling the PS option. They are here to make a living, too.

JUST NOW!....I printed a localhost:631 Test Page AND a PDF from Linux Lite OS

https://www.linuxliteos.com/

to a Savin C5050 with NO POSTSCRIPT CARD INSTALLED!!! I installed the printer on the Linux with a pxlcolor PPD (which is a PCL XL format) AUTOMATICALLY SUGGESTED/SUPPLIED by the printer host program!!!

Driver: pxlcolor-Ricoh | OpenPrinting - The Linux Foundation

This, IMO puts Apple to shame!

[rthonpm]

Re: MAC gutenprint do not have usercode selection.issue is it possible to program it?

JUST NOW!....I printed a localhost:631 Test Page AND a PDF from Linux Lite OS

https://www.linuxliteos.com/

to a Savin C5050 with NO POSTSCRIPT CARD INSTALLED!!! I installed the printer on the Linux with a pxlcolor PPD (which is a PCL XL format) AUTOMATICALLY SUGGESTED/SUPPLIED by the printer host program!!!

Driver: pxlcolor-Ricoh | OpenPrinting - The Linux Foundation

This, IMO puts Apple to shame!

Amazing how Apple, who actually developed CUPS, can't seem to get it working for their own computers! Then again, they can barely communicate with share folders even though they've been using SMB as the default file sharing method since at least 10.7.

Overall with any generic driver there's going to be a trade-off between being able to get paper out of the machine with the correct image on it and having the full functionality of the device. Using a PPD file is a much more advanced step than just using a generic driver since it's a specific file that gives the driver the exact capabilities of the device. The advantage of CUPS is supposed to be that print instructions are identical so all you need to have is a file that gives the print process the correct functions that a specific printer offers. The stumbling block is generally having manufacturers using real PostScript and lowering the cost of their equipment by not including it as a standard option.

As much as people complain about PostScript it could always be worse: look at the number of fixes HP has to issue for its terrible emulation of the language!

[qbert69]

Re: MAC gutenprint do not have usercode selection.issue is it possible to program it?

Amazing how Apple, who actually developed CUPS, can't seem to get it working for their own computers! Then again, they can barely communicate with share folders even though they've been using SMB as the default file sharing method since at least 10.7.

Overall with any generic driver there's going to be a trade-off between being able to get paper out of the machine with the correct image on it and having the full functionality of the device. Using a PPD file is a much more advanced step than just using a generic driver since it's a specific file that gives the driver the exact capabilities of the device. The advantage of CUPS is supposed to be that print instructions are identical so all you need to have is a file that gives the print process the correct functions that a specific printer offers. The stumbling block is generally having manufacturers using real PostScript and lowering the cost of their equipment by not including it as a standard option.

As much as people complain about PostScript it could always be worse: look at the number of fixes HP has to issue for its terrible emulation of the language!

What steams me though, is that an open source community has more motivation to get an emulation of PCL XL PPD to work than Apple!!!

[slimslob]

Re: MAC gutenprint do not have usercode selection.issue is it possible to program it?

What steams me though, is that an open source community has more motivation to get an emulation of PCL XL PPD to work than Apple!!!

The open source community has more people interested in making it work. Apple would rather sell Post Script language packages to other manufacturers.

[rthonpm]

Re: MAC gutenprint do not have usercode selection.issue is it possible to program it?

The open source community has more people interested in making it work. Apple would rather sell Post Script language packages to other manufacturers.

Keep in mind that Adobe actually maintains the PostScript language. Apple used it as the basis of CUPS because of the number of Macs using Adobe products for design, and also because it didn't need licensing from HP like PCL. CUPS has been adopted by all of the Unix and Linux operating systems because it is quite flexible.

Apple has no real interest in making things work with Macs anymore than they have to since they are primarily a hardware company, and have always been a 'our way, or no way' kind of company. The open source community has a much greater incentive to have a working feature because of the portability of most projects, and the fact that they don't have to worry about the profit side of the equation to the extent that a company like Apple does where they sell the rights to call a product Mac compatible.

[qbert69]

Re: MAC gutenprint do not have usercode selection.issue is it possible to program it?

Keep in mind that Adobe actually maintains the PostScript language. Apple used it as the basis of CUPS because of the number of Macs using Adobe products for design, and also because it didn't need licensing from HP like PCL. CUPS has been adopted by all of the Unix and Linux operating systems because it is quite flexible.

Apple has no real interest in making things work with Macs anymore than they have to since they are primarily a hardware company, and have always been a 'our way, or no way' kind of company. The open source community has a much greater incentive to have a working feature because of the portability of most projects, and the fact that they don't have to worry about the profit side of the equation to the extent that a company like Apple does where they sell the rights to call a product Mac compatible.

I second your observations!...Apple is ripping people off!...they are making it "Their Ecosystem" which is good in that it maintains consistence of experience across their devices...iPod, iPhone, iPad, etc., etc....but that's about where it ends! When you add a peripheral, new or older, your "good feeling" experience may end there! I have an iPhone but mostly use Windows 7 & Ubuntu. Thank Goodness for iCloud.com so I can update any contact info or notes when I don't have my iPhone in my pocket!

[MFPTech]

Re: MAC gutenprint do not have usercode selection.issue is it possible to program it?

Keep in mind that Adobe actually maintains the PostScript language. Apple used it as the basis of CUPS because of the number of Macs using Adobe products for design, and also because it didn't need licensing from HP like PCL. CUPS has been adopted by all of the Unix and Linux operating systems because it is quite flexible.

Apple has no real interest in making things work with Macs anymore than they have to since they are primarily a hardware company, and have always been a 'our way, or no way' kind of company. The open source community has a much greater incentive to have a working feature because of the portability of most projects, and the fact that they don't have to worry about the profit side of the equation to the extent that a company like Apple does where they sell the rights to call a product Mac compatible.

CUPS is flexible? Give me a break!


Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

[rthonpm]

Re: MAC gutenprint do not have usercode selection.issue is it possible to program it?

CUPS is flexible? Give me a break!


Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

Compare CUPS on any Linux system to the crap implementation of it that Apple has on their machines. You can't even change the driver type on a Mac without either completely deleting the printer or turning on the CUPS web interface. With CUPS, you really don't even need a driver: you just need a PPD, which is just a glorified text file of the features supported by the printer. With the information from that file, CUPS can support almost every feature of a device.

Even the universal drivers that everyone has for Windows systems is just an attempt to bolt CUPS features into Windows.

[MFPTech]

Re: MAC gutenprint do not have usercode selection.issue is it possible to program it?

CUPS is the bottleneck.

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk