Archived from groups: comp.periphs.printers (
More info?)
sommer@mugs.net (Holly Sommer) wrote in message news:<d77a74fa.0407201812.7b3bce43@posting.google.com>...
> 7ibehx001@sneakemail.com (Alan) wrote in message news:<2a7ef8ef.0407200350.3987cefe@posting.google.com>...
> > sommer@mugs.net (Holly Sommer) wrote in message news:<d77a74fa.0407191831.67e75982@posting.google.com>...
> > > I've got the Network Setup Tool installed on the Mac, and the test
> > > page prints fine (just a bunch of diagnostics in Courier), but when I
> > > try to print anything else it comes up with multiple lines of what
> > > looks like PCL printed one on top of the other... at the end is
> > > hanging out MListQuery.
> > >
> > > Any ideas or tips for getting this beast to work with the Mac? It's
> > > got its own IP, and I can print to it fine from my XP Pro box. The
> > > Mac, however... well, just prints jibberish. The PPD is installed, and
> > > the Printer does show in the Chooser. It's set up as a Networked
> > > printer, accessible via Ethernet.
> >
> > You said you've installed its PPD, which implies PostScript. PS is not
> > standard with this printer -- do you have that option?
> > Otherwise, you need either a PCL driver, or software (like
> > Ghostscript) that translates PS to PCL.
> > This page <http://tinyurl.com/5agyw> doesn't list any Mac drivers at
> > all from Panasonic.
>
> There was an installation CD with the printer, which lists OSes
> supported. Ranged from 8.6 on up. Though now I'm wondering what they
> MEANT by supported.
>
> > If you don't have PS, it may be worth trying a Brother PCL driver,
> > from <http://solutions.brother.com/hl1400/download/drivers.html#macOS>
>
> Installed the HL-1200, 1440/50/70N and 1650/1670N drivers. None of
> them show the printer in the Chooser, so I guess those are no-gos. :/
>
> > If the printer does have PS, possibly it's autodetecting incorrectly.
> > I have a PS/PCL printer, and it can be set to operate in one mode
> > exclusively. If possible, try setting to to PS only (making sure to
> > use the PS driver in Windows too).
>
> It's supposed to be PCL6 emulation. I'm not really a hardware person,
> so there are gaps in my understanding here. Am I to assume then, that
> even though the PPD shipped with the installation disk, because it
> isn't a PS printer, those PPDs are pretty much useless, and I need to
> get my hands on a PCL driver for the Mac which will work with it? Or
> else GhostScript (which I wasn't aware was made for MacOS 9.x)?
PPDs are for Postscript printers -- you can read them,
they're plain text and describe the abilities of the
printer.
Anyway, just to be sure, a few things to check:
install a generic PS printer in your Windows PC (Such as a
Laserwriter) and try to print a test page using that. If it
comes out gibberish, your printer does not have PS. But if
that works, try connecting your Mac to the printer with a
USB cable (assuming your Mac has this). If that works, you
have a networking problem.
If still no-go, your printer really is just PCL.
The only printer manufacturer that I know of that has a PCL
drivers for Mac OS9 (It's no problem with OSX) is Brother,
so that's why I suggested trying that. But it appears to be
checking that it is a Brother printer.
You can buy the PS upgrade for about $100, otherwise, to do
it in software, there is a Mac version of Ghostscript, but I
haven't used it.
See <http://www.kiffe.com/macghostview.html>, $20. But
printing seems to be via Acrobat.
I did use a PCL laser with PowerPrint some time ago.
This is sold by Strydent, <http://www.strydent.com/>
If you do go with this, check with the company that they
really do support your printer over ethernet.
But it lists for $99, so it's probably better just to do
the hardware upgrade unless you can find a second hand copy
(some on Ebay very cheap).