How to view print data capture

[toddanderson]

I am trying to view a data capture, not just the pcl codes that you can view with note pad or something,
but I want to view the actual data and excape commands.
does anyone use any programs like pclworks, or are their any on line viewer, I have found openpcl but
that only shows the pcl commands

[blackcat4866]

Re: How to view print data capture

For viewing you can use TextPad. You can cut/paste null characters, but not edit them.

For editing use XVI32 Text Editor. =^..^=

[slimslob]

Re: How to view print data capture

Ricoh make Wireshark available on TSRC. Wireshark is a network protocol capture and analysis tool. You can actually watch real time data between two IP addresses and save it for submission to support. If you are not a Ricoh dealer you can get it from here:

https://www.wireshark.org/

[Brianneoe]

Re: How to view print data capture

Look into wire shark, I have seen it used to capture all the data hitting the MFD and was a goog tool for figuring if a unit was getting ARP storms. Just keep in mind that it will capture everything that passes through it and you will want the customers blessings to use it on their network B4 you start.

If you are working on a Ricoh unit there is another way by using a blank SD card and adjusting some SP switches to capture the data.

[CT Copier Repair]

Re: How to view print data capture

WIRESHARK

[KenB]

Re: How to view print data capture

Try Downloader2006. It has a bunch of cool tools on it.

You can get it from Cyrion Technologies

It's a bit dated, and a newer version is on the way ( if not there already), but is very useful.

Note that if you are running Windows Vista or higher, there is a documented ( and very easy) trick you need to do to get it to work. That is right there on the site.

Note that this is freeware. 😎

[paulrid]

Re: How to view print data capture

I may have to download these not that I have a need for it but I do like to play with things like this
Paul.

[CWP]

Re: How to view print data capture

Todd,
If you already have the data capture and are looking for something in it, then blackcat is once again right on the money. Use something like XVI hex editor or Notepad++ (both free) to view or edit the capture. Wireshark is a great tool for watching the traffic to a network device, and you can capture the data, but as Brianneoe states, it will capture EVERYTHING zipping through the network (including clear passwords and any other sensitive data) unless you run some filters. I don't know why, but often customers have issues with someone capturing their data with Wireshark!!

[blackcat4866]

Re: How to view print data capture

If you're looking for some sort of software to help you identify and re-write the print commands ... well I'm not aware of anything like that. You'll have to do that part yourself.

PCL print jobs are relatively easy to de-code since the majority of the data is plain text. PS print jobs are much more difficult to de-code. From my brief exposure, I was able to identify only the most basic structure.

On Kyocera products the print data always starts out with PreSribe commands, then changes to Printer Job Language (PJL). Then it changes to either PCL or PS. PostScript print data starts out with a "dictionary of commands" of a sort. Usually a hundred lines or more of this data.

I was attempting to identify specific paper tray size commands. The problem is that regardless of what prepended commands you attach, if there is another tray size command in the print data, it will ignore your prepend and use the last tray command in the data. It's probably not the most efficient way to do it, but I would keep multiple copies of the data (v1, v2, v3, ...). Each time I would delete more data, send it to print and see what happened. Inevitably at some point I would delete something critical and the MFP would start cranking out 2000 pages of PostScript error data. Then I got smart, and loaded only 10 pages to the paper tray. If it blew up, I could just delete the print job when it ran out of paper. If you wait until printing starts with a full tray, you not be able to stop it. Or sometimes I would get a cfxxx print data error from the copier.

My PCLXL prepend was 35 lines, PS2 was 50 lines. PS3 was closer to 200 lines of data. Fortunately for me, the prepend did not have to be written to the MFPs Command Center. I never could have got so much data there. =^..^=

[ApeosMan]

Re: How to view print data capture

This web site use to have two programs to capture print data via RAW or LPD but the download links for the files are no longer working:

The MiniLPD and MiniRAW Page

[MFPTech]

Re: How to view print data capture

i have both minilpd and miniraw programs if you are interested

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