Mac printing problem.

[cmpelser]

I've got a customer with a mpc2500 and he wants to print on a3 paper from the bypass tray. All the other workstations -windows xp- are doing it, just not the mac. Now i don't really work on mac's so i don't even know what the driver looks like.
Any help?

[category_five]

I've got a customer with a mpc2500 and he wants to print on a3 paper from the bypass tray. All the other workstations -windows xp- are doing it, just not the mac. Now i don't really work on mac's so i don't even know what the driver looks like.
Any help?

Your customer needs a post script option to print to a Ricoh MFP from a Mac. You can check if this is installed by doing an interface settings print out or just look for the Post Script Sticker on the front of the machine. It's not standard on the machine so if they didn't specifically request it when they purchased the machine they probably don't have it.


I hesitate to mention it (and you should hesitate to mention it to your customer) but if your customer has a competent mac computer technician, the tech can configure Gutenprint/Gimp Print to print without a post script option. Gutenprint doesn't support all Ricoh models and the results aren't as good as the Ricoh post script driver. This is a potential support nightmare though.

The safest way to go is to just say no to mac printing without a post script option.

[KenB]

Are the Macs printing at all?

If so, then the PostScript option is most likely installed, and they can't pull A3 through the bypass for some reason.

First things first, though. Without the PostScript option, not much of anything will happen

As CategoryFive mentioned, you're inviting a world of hurt by using the Guenburg / Gimp drivers. Been there, done that...ain't doin' it again...

[Llama God]

I'm not knocking Cat5 here, especially as I have not got an answer myself, but if the machine prints from the main paper cassettes but not the bypass then it must have the PS option installed. Does it print from the other trays from the Mac?

As I said though, I have no idea why the Mac cannot print from the bypass and I don't have a Mac to try it on myself. Sorry for being utterly useless!

[category_five]

I'm not knocking Cat5 here, especially as I have not got an answer myself, but if the machine prints from the main paper cassettes but not the bypass then it must have the PS option installed. Does it print from the other trays from the Mac?

As I said though, I have no idea why the Mac cannot print from the bypass and I don't have a Mac to try it on myself. Sorry for being utterly useless!

The first step on a mac printing call is to check for the post script option. There are many ways to print from a mac without a post script option, none of which a sane tech should touch with a ten foot pole.

[Llama God]

The first step on a mac printing call is to check for the post script option. There are many ways to print from a mac without a post script option, none of which a sane tech should touch with a ten foot pole.

I agree, but surely using some half-arsed workaround would be the most likely cause of the issue in the first place and not mentioning that in the original description of the fault would not make it easy to advise.

It might also be worth asking the customer to stop being pretentious and just use a PC like almost everybody else! I'm jesting of course...

[sdrawkcab]

Most Mac printing problems i come across are because the generic driver is loaded instead of the correct PPD, the generic driver only has basic settings, so probably doesn't have A3

[category_five]

Most Mac printing problems i come across are because the generic driver is loaded instead of the correct PPD, the generic driver only has basic settings, so probably doesn't have A3

[category_five]

It might also be worth asking the customer to stop being pretentious and just use a PC like almost everybody else! I'm jesting of course...

So true.

[Llama God]

That, Cat5, is absolutely awesome!

[category_five]

That, Cat5, is absolutely awesome!

Thank you

[KenB]

Provided the PostScript option IS present and there are printing issues, an old trick is to use the Windows 2000 / XP ppd file. (If they exist separately, use the Windows 2000 one.)

A ppd file isn't platform specific. A ppd should work on a PC, Mac, Linux or UNIX computer. There are some very minor differences, however.

A few years ago this was a VERY common fix for the Canon iR C3200 C1 RIP. The Macs struggled mightily with the Mac ppd, (especially in tray selection) but the Windows 2000 ppd work like a champ. Of course, when we called and asked Canon about it, they were pretty much clueless.

BTW...What version of the Mac OS is the customer running? The older versions (10.0, 10.1, 10.2) had tons of printing issues.

You will note that OS 9 and older aren't supported anymore.

[cmpelser]

Sorry guys, the customer has got ps3 installed!
and they print fine on a4 paper
tray1 is a4 lef
tray2 is a4 sef
and the bypass tray has a3

They need to print a3, and they don't know how.
the xp workstations are no problem.
just the mac's

[category_five]

Sorry guys, the customer has got ps3 installed!
and they print fine on a4 paper
tray1 is a4 lef
tray2 is a4 sef
and the bypass tray has a3

They need to print a3, and they don't know how.
the xp workstations are no problem.
just the mac's

sdrawkcab already gave you the fix. Here it is again with the most relevant portion underlined:

Most Mac printing problems i come across are because the generic driver is loaded instead of the correct PPD, the generic driver only has basic settings, so probably doesn't have A3

If I just kept babbling for a few more posts I'm almost positive I would have come up with it. It basically just boils down to download and install the PPD from Ricoh.com. If you're unsure how to reinstall a driver on OSX, google is your friend.