blazer still doesn't work

blazer still doesn't work

[Igor Gueths]

Hi all. I recently upgraded to 2.4.20, and have since tested printing
functionality. As usual, the ink printer works. Note that I do not receive
the "lp0: compatibility mode" message. However the embosser still doesn't
work. I have made sure more than once that the port configs are set
properly in the blazer's options, and that lpd is started. I have actually
had to emboss something here for a while but couldn't because I can't send
jobs to the blazer from this machine. Does anyone perhaps know anyone else
who has this working on a Linux system? I have really run out of ideas on
what to do, considering that I have a winblows laptop that can emboss to
it successfully just fine using duxbury. But I hate Winblows and want to
avoid using it! Thanks for any help on this, and sorry for the repeated
posts. I have honestly run out of ideas on this one.

May you code in the power of the source,
may the kernel, libraries, and utilities be with you,
throughout all distributions until the end of the epoch.

Re: blazer still doesn't work

[Gregory Nowak]

When I get some time, I might try to see if my blazer works with my linux box.

I am however somewhat reluctant to try that out, since I have my print printer working just fine, and I don't want to go messing things up.

If I can be assured that my ink printer settings won't get messed up, I'll try the blazer out when I get a chance.

Greg


On Tue, Apr 01, 2003 at 09:22:18PM -0500, Igor Gueths wrote:
> Hi all. I recently upgraded to 2.4.20, and have since tested printing
> functionality. As usual, the ink printer works. Note that I do not receive
> the "lp0: compatibility mode" message. However the embosser still doesn't
> work. I have made sure more than once that the port configs are set
> properly in the blazer's options, and that lpd is started. I have actually
> had to emboss something here for a while but couldn't because I can't send
> jobs to the blazer from this machine. Does anyone perhaps know anyone else
> who has this working on a Linux system? I have really run out of ideas on
> what to do, considering that I have a winblows laptop that can emboss to
> it successfully just fine using duxbury. But I hate Winblows and want to
> avoid using it! Thanks for any help on this, and sorry for the repeated
> posts. I have honestly run out of ideas on this one.
> 
> May you code in the power of the source,
> may the kernel, libraries, and utilities be with you,
> throughout all distributions until the end of the epoch.
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Speakup mailing list
> Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
> http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup

Re: blazer still doesn't work

[Ann Parsons]

Hi all,

Had a blazer hooked up to linux worked just fine.  Can't remember what
the printcap says, but can look tm.

Ann P.

-- 
			Ann K. Parsons  
email:  akp@eznet.net 			ICQ Number:  33006854
WEB SITE:  http://home.eznet.net/~akp
"All that is gold does not glitter.  Not all those who wander are lost."  JRRT

Re: blazer still doesn't work

[Igor Gueths]

You actually had a printcap for it? Hmm. I thought that was not required?

May you code in the power of the source,
may the kernel, libraries, and utilities be with you,
throughout all distributions until the end of the epoch.

On Wed, 2 Apr 2003, Ann Parsons wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> Had a blazer hooked up to linux worked just fine.  Can't remember what
> the printcap says, but can look tm.
>
> Ann P.
>
> --
> 			Ann K. Parsons
> email:  akp@eznet.net 			ICQ Number:  33006854
> WEB SITE:  http://home.eznet.net/~akp
> "All that is gold does not glitter.  Not all those who wander are lost."  JRRT
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Speakup mailing list
> Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
> http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
>

Re: blazer still doesn't work

[Luke Davis]

What method are you using to:
(1) get data to the ink printer?
(2) get data to the braille embosser?

Next, have you tried this on blinux-list?  There may be people there who
are not here (I can think of several), who are big braille users.

Luke


On Tue, 1 Apr 2003, Igor Gueths wrote:

> Hi all. I recently upgraded to 2.4.20, and have since tested printing
> functionality. As usual, the ink printer works. Note that I do not receive
> the "lp0: compatibility mode" message. However the embosser still doesn't
> work. I have made sure more than once that the port configs are set
> properly in the blazer's options, and that lpd is started. I have actually
> had to emboss something here for a while but couldn't because I can't send
> jobs to the blazer from this machine. Does anyone perhaps know anyone else
> who has this working on a Linux system? I have really run out of ideas on
> what to do, considering that I have a winblows laptop that can emboss to
> it successfully just fine using duxbury. But I hate Winblows and want to
> avoid using it! Thanks for any help on this, and sorry for the repeated
> posts. I have honestly run out of ideas on this one.
>
> May you code in the power of the source,
> may the kernel, libraries, and utilities be with you,
> throughout all distributions until the end of the epoch.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Speakup mailing list
> Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
> http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
>

Re: blazer still doesn't work

[igueths]

Hi Greg. If you could do that that would be great! Well in terms of messing up 
the settings for the ink printer, that really isn't possible, since you are not 
modifying any of the print queue settings in /etc/printcap. Throughout all my 
testing I have not modified printcap in any way. And in terms of how I print to 
the ink printer, I use lpr -Pqueue1 filename. Queue1 is the name of my print 
queue. I have an hp400 printer and am using magicfilter as its filter. Note the 
above procedure works just fine. However, when I try lpr filename to the 
embosser, I get put back into a shell prompt. No messages to stdout, absolutely 
nothing. I have made sure everything is owrking hardware wise by even switching 
the cables around on my parallel switch, just to make sure none of the ports on 
that are bad. And it appears that all the parports on the switch appear to be 
working. One thing I did not do is check syslog for any messages related to the 
lpr command issued to the embosser. Perhaps I should check on that? 
> When I get some time, I might try to see if my blazer works with my linux box.
> 
> I am however somewhat reluctant to try that out, since I have my print printer 
> working just fine, and I don't want to go messing things up.
> 
> If I can be assured that my ink printer settings won't get messed up, I'll try 
> the blazer out when I get a chance.
> 
> Greg
> 
> 
> On Tue, Apr 01, 2003 at 09:22:18PM -0500, Igor Gueths wrote:
> > Hi all. I recently upgraded to 2.4.20, and have since tested printing
> > functionality. As usual, the ink printer works. Note that I do not receive
> > the "lp0: compatibility mode" message. However the embosser still doesn't
> > work. I have made sure more than once that the port configs are set
> > properly in the blazer's options, and that lpd is started. I have actually
> > had to emboss something here for a while but couldn't because I can't send
> > jobs to the blazer from this machine. Does anyone perhaps know anyone else
> > who has this working on a Linux system? I have really run out of ideas on
> > what to do, considering that I have a winblows laptop that can emboss to
> > it successfully just fine using duxbury. But I hate Winblows and want to
> > avoid using it! Thanks for any help on this, and sorry for the repeated
> > posts. I have honestly run out of ideas on this one.
> > 
> > May you code in the power of the source,
> > may the kernel, libraries, and utilities be with you,
> > throughout all distributions until the end of the epoch.
> > 
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > Speakup mailing list
> > Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
> > http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Speakup mailing list
> Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
> http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup

Re: blazer still doesn't work

[Adam Myrow]

You might also want to use lpq to list the jobs and lprm to clean them
out.  When you invoke lpr, it will usually hold a job in its queue forever
until either a printer is ready for it or you remove it.  If you suddenly
get the Blazer working and don't clean up the queue, you will likely have
tons of jobs go through at once.  Here's another test to try.  Connect the
Blazer to a Windows machine and go into a DOS prompt (or command prompt
depending on the version of Windows.)  Then do something like "type
file.brl > lpt1" and see if anything happens.  This is the DOS/Windows
equivalent of "cat file.brl >/dev/lp0."  You would, of course, replace
"file.brl" with a filename of an actual file you wanted to send to the
embosser.  If this test fails, then it is likely that Duxbery is sending
some magic sequence to wake up the embosser, and you would need to find
out what that magic sequence is or somehow find a way around that.  I wish
I could be of more help, but I am at a loss for other ideas.  I just
realized that if you are using Windows NT, 2000, or XP, you might need
administrative rights for the above test.  Of course, a true DOS machine
would work, but they are getting kind of rare.

Re: blazer still doesn't work

[Igor Gueths]

Hi Adam. Apparently your test worked, I just hadn't thought of trying
that. And now the question is why does it not work on Linux? I checked
syslog like I said I was going to in a previous post, however there were
no relevant entries. I wonder if the blazer rqeuires a cr/lf before it can
print anything?

May you code in the power of the source,
may the kernel, libraries, and utilities be with you,
throughout all distributions until the end of the epoch.

On Wed, 2 Apr 2003, Adam Myrow wrote:

> You might also want to use lpq to list the jobs and lprm to clean them
> out.  When you invoke lpr, it will usually hold a job in its queue forever
> until either a printer is ready for it or you remove it.  If you suddenly
> get the Blazer working and don't clean up the queue, you will likely have
> tons of jobs go through at once.  Here's another test to try.  Connect the
> Blazer to a Windows machine and go into a DOS prompt (or command prompt
> depending on the version of Windows.)  Then do something like "type
> file.brl > lpt1" and see if anything happens.  This is the DOS/Windows
> equivalent of "cat file.brl >/dev/lp0."  You would, of course, replace
> "file.brl" with a filename of an actual file you wanted to send to the
> embosser.  If this test fails, then it is likely that Duxbery is sending
> some magic sequence to wake up the embosser, and you would need to find
> out what that magic sequence is or somehow find a way around that.  I wish
> I could be of more help, but I am at a loss for other ideas.  I just
> realized that if you are using Windows NT, 2000, or XP, you might need
> administrative rights for the above test.  Of course, a true DOS machine
> would work, but they are getting kind of rare.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Speakup mailing list
> Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
> http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
>

Re: blazer still doesn't work

[Adam Myrow]

On Wed, 2 Apr 2003, Igor Gueths wrote:

> Hi Adam. Apparently your test worked, I just hadn't thought of trying
> that. And now the question is why does it not work on Linux? I checked
> syslog like I said I was going to in a previous post, however there were
> no relevant entries. I wonder if the blazer rqeuires a cr/lf before it can
> print anything?

Well, how about trying the exact same file sent to /dev/lp0 under Linux
with the Blazer directly connected to the computer instead of through the
switch?  As you probably know, Linux/Unix uses just a linefeed for a new
line whereas DOS/Windows use the CR/LF pair to indicate new lines.  By
trying the same file, you would be assured that it contains CR/LF pairs
for new lines.  Here's another thing to keep in mind.  If you don't
specify a printer with the lpr command, it defaults to whatever the first
printer is usually.  I'm guessing that you would want some sort of "raw"
option to create a printcap for an embosser.  That is, you want to tell
the software to pass the data straight through with no attempt at
translation or formatting.  In Slackware I use APSfilter.  It lets you
create an entry like this which I have used on a Samba server so that
Windows could talk to the printer directly and it works quite well for
that.  Until you actually get it working with "cat file >/dev/lp0," don't
even think about lpr.  It's best to start simple and work up from there.
If it turns out that the file will print if it has CR/LF pairs, look in
the Blazer's setup menu for an option to turn on auto-linefeeds or
similar.  Good luck.

Re: blazer still doesn't work

[igueths]

Hi Adam. I did try that when I was using an earlier kernel and that didn't 
work. Meaning I connected the blazer directly to the lp0. I tried 2 different 
cables, and both the cables appeared to be working as they should. I also 
reversed the ink printer, meaning I put it on the port that is used by the 
embosser to make sure the switch wasn't bad, and the ink printer still worked. 
However, I will still try your sugggestion as it may very well work on the 
later kernel. Hmm. I wonder if the blazer expects a crlf pair and that is why 
it prints fine when data is sent to lpt1 in Dos? Because there is actually an 
auto-linefeed option that I may turn on. I believe this might give the Blazer 
the crlf it expects in order to start printing. 
> On Wed, 2 Apr 2003, Igor Gueths wrote:
> 
> > Hi Adam. Apparently your test worked, I just hadn't thought of trying
> > that. And now the question is why does it not work on Linux? I checked
> > syslog like I said I was going to in a previous post, however there were
> > no relevant entries. I wonder if the blazer rqeuires a cr/lf before it can
> > print anything?
> 
> Well, how about trying the exact same file sent to /dev/lp0 under Linux
> with the Blazer directly connected to the computer instead of through the
> switch?  As you probably know, Linux/Unix uses just a linefeed for a new
> line whereas DOS/Windows use the CR/LF pair to indicate new lines.  By
> trying the same file, you would be assured that it contains CR/LF pairs
> for new lines.  Here's another thing to keep in mind.  If you don't
> specify a printer with the lpr command, it defaults to whatever the first
> printer is usually.  I'm guessing that you would want some sort of "raw"
> option to create a printcap for an embosser.  That is, you want to tell
> the software to pass the data straight through with no attempt at
> translation or formatting.  In Slackware I use APSfilter.  It lets you
> create an entry like this which I have used on a Samba server so that
> Windows could talk to the printer directly and it works quite well for
> that.  Until you actually get it working with "cat file >/dev/lp0," don't
> even think about lpr.  It's best to start simple and work up from there.
> If it turns out that the file will print if it has CR/LF pairs, look in
> the Blazer's setup menu for an option to turn on auto-linefeeds or
> similar.  Good luck.
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Speakup mailing list
> Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
> http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup

blazer still doesn't work

[Igor Gueths]

Hi all. Well I have the blazer connected directly to lp0, and when I do
cat filename.brf >/dev/lp0 it still doesn't work. I turned on the linefeed
option, and there was no effect. I wonder if I am missing something in my
kernel which I should have? If only I knew what the winblows machine was
sending that thing with the type command that is not being sent here, I
could work from there. Can anyone think of anything else I should try to
get this working? Thanks!

May you code in the power of the source,
may the kernel, libraries, and utilities be with you,
throughout all distributions until the end of the epoch.

Re: blazer still doesn't work

[Adam Myrow]

When you try to cat a file to /dev/lp0, does the prompt return, or does it
sit there until you hit control-C?  Why the Blazer works in DOS/Windows
and not Linux is a complete mystery.  As for the kernel, I would think
that parallel port support and printing support would be all that is
required.  I usually add EEE1284 status support, but I don't think that's
strictly necessary.  Is the computer you have the Blazer on dual boot?  Or
does it just have Linux?  From what you've posted, I get the idea that
it's just the laptop that has Windows on it.

Re: blazer still doesn't work

[Igor Gueths]

Its just the laptop that has win on it. And when I try catting the file on
Linux, I return to a prompt and the blazer just sits there as if nothing
had happened. And that is what I have in my kernel i.e., parport and
printer support. The ink printer appears to be working, but I don't know
why the blazer is not? Greg, didn't you say you had a blazer? Have you had
any luck?

May you code in the power of the source,
may the kernel, libraries, and utilities be with you,
throughout all distributions until the end of the epoch.

On Thu, 3 Apr 2003, Adam Myrow wrote:

> When you try to cat a file to /dev/lp0, does the prompt return, or does it
> sit there until you hit control-C?  Why the Blazer works in DOS/Windows
> and not Linux is a complete mystery.  As for the kernel, I would think
> that parallel port support and printing support would be all that is
> required.  I usually add EEE1284 status support, but I don't think that's
> strictly necessary.  Is the computer you have the Blazer on dual boot?  Or
> does it just have Linux?  From what you've posted, I get the idea that
> it's just the laptop that has Windows on it.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Speakup mailing list
> Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
> http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
>

Re: blazer still doesn't work

[Chuck Hallenbeck]

Igor,

A couple of days ago Ann P. said she used a Blazer with no
problems in Linux, and she uses Turbo Braille for her translator.
I can tell you that Turbo Braille sends absolutely nothing
special to setup a printer unless you want to put it in graphics
mode, which the Blazer does not support. (Blazer graphics have to
be setup manually, not with escape sequences). Others have used
TBRL and the Blazer also in Linux. Sorry I do not have a Blazer
here to mess with, but the solution is not in the possibility of
any fancy setup sequences that the printer might need. If it
needed anything like that, TBRL would not make it go.

Chuck
On Thu, 3 Apr 2003, Igor Gueths wrote:

> Its just the laptop that has win on it. And when I try catting the file on
> Linux, I return to a prompt and the blazer just sits there as if nothing
> had happened. And that is what I have in my kernel i.e., parport and
> printer support. The ink printer appears to be working, but I don't know
> why the blazer is not? Greg, didn't you say you had a blazer? Have you had
> any luck?
>
> May you code in the power of the source,
> may the kernel, libraries, and utilities be with you,
> throughout all distributions until the end of the epoch.
>
> On Thu, 3 Apr 2003, Adam Myrow wrote:
>
> > When you try to cat a file to /dev/lp0, does the prompt return, or does it
> > sit there until you hit control-C?  Why the Blazer works in DOS/Windows
> > and not Linux is a complete mystery.  As for the kernel, I would think
> > that parallel port support and printing support would be all that is
> > required.  I usually add EEE1284 status support, but I don't think that's
> > strictly necessary.  Is the computer you have the Blazer on dual boot?  Or
> > does it just have Linux?  From what you've posted, I get the idea that
> > it's just the laptop that has Windows on it.
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Speakup mailing list
> > Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
> > http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
> >
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>

-- 
The Moon is Waxing Crescent (4% of Full)
So visit me sometime at http://www.mhonline.net/~chuckh

Re: blazer still doesn't work

[Igor Gueths]

I am actually using nfbtrans for a translator. Ann P also mentioned that
she set up an entry in printcap for the blazer? Hmm. I wonder what could
be happening here in that case? Syslog reports no errors, and yet the
blazer won't start embossing.

May you code in the power of the source,
may the kernel, libraries, and utilities be with you,
throughout all distributions until the end of the epoch.

On Thu, 3 Apr 2003, Chuck Hallenbeck wrote:

> Igor,
>
> A couple of days ago Ann P. said she used a Blazer with no
> problems in Linux, and she uses Turbo Braille for her translator.
> I can tell you that Turbo Braille sends absolutely nothing
> special to setup a printer unless you want to put it in graphics
> mode, which the Blazer does not support. (Blazer graphics have to
> be setup manually, not with escape sequences). Others have used
> TBRL and the Blazer also in Linux. Sorry I do not have a Blazer
> here to mess with, but the solution is not in the possibility of
> any fancy setup sequences that the printer might need. If it
> needed anything like that, TBRL would not make it go.
>
> Chuck
> On Thu, 3 Apr 2003, Igor Gueths wrote:
>
> > Its just the laptop that has win on it. And when I try catting the file on
> > Linux, I return to a prompt and the blazer just sits there as if nothing
> > had happened. And that is what I have in my kernel i.e., parport and
> > printer support. The ink printer appears to be working, but I don't know
> > why the blazer is not? Greg, didn't you say you had a blazer? Have you had
> > any luck?
> >
> > May you code in the power of the source,
> > may the kernel, libraries, and utilities be with you,
> > throughout all distributions until the end of the epoch.
> >
> > On Thu, 3 Apr 2003, Adam Myrow wrote:
> >
> > > When you try to cat a file to /dev/lp0, does the prompt return, or does it
> > > sit there until you hit control-C?  Why the Blazer works in DOS/Windows
> > > and not Linux is a complete mystery.  As for the kernel, I would think
> > > that parallel port support and printing support would be all that is
> > > required.  I usually add EEE1284 status support, but I don't think that's
> > > strictly necessary.  Is the computer you have the Blazer on dual boot?  Or
> > > does it just have Linux?  From what you've posted, I get the idea that
> > > it's just the laptop that has Windows on it.
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Speakup mailing list
> > > Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
> > > http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
> > >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Speakup mailing list
> > Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
> > http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
> >
>
> --
> The Moon is Waxing Crescent (4% of Full)
> So visit me sometime at http://www.mhonline.net/~chuckh
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Speakup mailing list
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Re: blazer still doesn't work

[Ann Parsons]

Hi all,

Seems I remember something about ports in Linux startin' with zero
instead of 1.  Also, I seem to remember that prng package.  I know I
couldn't get anything done without prng. 

Ann P.
 
-- 
			Ann K. Parsons  
email:  akp@eznet.net 			ICQ Number:  33006854
WEB SITE:  http://home.eznet.net/~akp
"All that is gold does not glitter.  Not all those who wander are lost."  JRRT

Re: blazer still doesn't work

[Ann Parsons]

Hi all,

Seems I remember needing something called prng.  package.  

Ann P.

-- 
			Ann K. Parsons  
email:  akp@eznet.net 			ICQ Number:  33006854
WEB SITE:  http://home.eznet.net/~akp
"All that is gold does not glitter.  Not all those who wander are lost."  JRRT