Here is the situation, we have a old unix based app that auto generates reports and in the past they have been kicked out to a printer and printed out automaticaly.
What I need to do is create a linux machine to act as a printer to this unix server, that when the report is generated it will automaticaly accept the print job (RAW) and create a pdf, thus allowing us to be more GREEN.
I have essentialy been able to create a network print server that will do what I want from a windows box using an http address. However when I set it up as a direct ip printer it doesn’t work.
Can any of you give me some guideance or happen to know of anything out on the web that will point me in the right direction?
First you have to ascertain that there is actually a path between the printer language generated by the Unix app and PDF. Both the output of that app and PDF are languages, and it isn’t just a matter of connecting up network pipes in a certain way. What sort of printer does the app want?
Not sure if you are interested in a commercial solution,
but we have used this product for years. Not expensive and
gives you the ability to send out faxes as well. For handling of
PDF’s, there is just a submission to the fax server which converts
it into PDF, then, as opposed to being faxed, you can specify email
delivery. So email to whoever needs it. Their support team is excellent.
If you are wanting to do it on the cheap, you might look at Hylafax which
would likely have a built in pdf converter as well.
On Thu, 2010-02-25 at 22:06 +0000, drahcirt wrote:
> Here is the situation, we have a old unix based app that auto generates
> reports and in the past they have been kicked out to a printer and
> printed out automaticaly.
>
> What I need to do is create a linux machine to act as a printer to this
> unix server, that when the report is generated it will automaticaly
> accept the print job (RAW) and create a pdf, thus allowing us to be more
> GREEN.
>
> Using guides such as this: ‘MiscWorld » Installing a PDF print server
> on Ubuntu Server’ (http://tinyurl.com/yehnk2w)
>
> I have essentialy been able to create a network print server that will
> do what I want from a windows box using an http address. However when I
> set it up as a direct ip printer it doesn’t work.
>
> Can any of you give me some guideance or happen to know of anything out
> on the web that will point me in the right direction?
>
>
I personally believe my script is more flexible… hopefully
you can understand what to do reading the comments in my script
combined with the website stuff above. Mine should run as root
or another user and has the feature of having a shared PDF output
directory as well supporting individual output directories per user.
(e.g. in their home dirs).
Now… a “raw” file, apart from text isn’t necessarily going to
work (what is “raw”?). However this will allow you to configure
the cups print queue as a generic postscript printer and print
from pretty much everything (e.g. Windows boxes, Linux, Solaris, etc).
I’ll gladly answer any setup question… this is running live
in production here.
Oh… and let me know of any bugs or mods you think it needs
(I sort of whipped the thing up in a hurry)