Print Server Progress Report

[Michael Pfeiffer]

Hi all,

anybody interested?

Done:
- abort printing if printer is removed in Printers Prefs
- abort printing when print_server quits
- avoid resource conflicts (=transport add-ons) printing to multiple printers
- print_server detects added or removed printer

Todo:
- restart canceled job
- abort printing if printer add-on fails
- allow Preview print jobs be printed asynchronous
- extension to R5: allow selection of printer per application, similar to Dano

Michael

[Philippe Houdoin]

Hi Michael,

anybody interested=3F

Well, yes, but I'm already whrestling to produce something (anything!)
for network team, so
right now I'm mostly in lurking mode here.
However, I've opinions, still!
;-)

And, I may consider adding at least a Close button at the current Add
Printer dialog, too. ;-)

- abort printing if printer is removed in Printers Prefs
- abort printing when print=5Fserver quits
- avoid resource conflicts (=3Dtransport add-ons) printing to multiple

printers

Could you tell us (me=3F) some details here=3F
Do print=5Fserver run parallel jobs processing on any print spooler
unless there is another one using the same
transport add-on=3F By "using", I mean "another spooler configuring for
using this transport".
Or do you go more deeper and test if the transport add-on allow
multiple access (Print To File, for example)=3F

I'm fine with first one, BTW, just curious.

- print=5Fserver detects added or removed printer
- restart canceled job
- abort printing if printer add-on fails
- allow Preview print jobs be printed asynchronous

As Preview don't require any transport add-on, I guess it should fall
on the "no transport access conflict" case, no=3F

- extension to R5: allow selection of printer per application,

similar to Dano

Yeah, this fine BPrintPanel=3F I give a look at the new *print kit* in
Dano, and it looks fine.
There is both raster and vector kind driver support there, plus some
generic config views for page setup and
job setup. We have UniversalPrint on BeBits we could help us here,
maybe...

I think the "Add Printer" in Dano looks finer too. No more Network /
Local printer separation.
In fact, the transport add-on let you connect to a remote printer, even
if it's considered as a "local" printer
by the BeOS R5.0.3- "Add Printer" setup dialog, go figure.

There also something cool to consider in the print=5Fserver design:
having a pass-thru mode.
I mean no rendition required, the job file was already *rendered* by a
third party driver, probably on another
computer. Think about a IPP daemon or LPD daemon, accepting jobs,
putting in the asked spooler.
The job file will be in *raw* format, print=5Fserver only need to send
its content to the transport addon.

Or... if the printing client computer is under BeOS too, maybe the file
received by IPP/LPD, etc, is really a
classic job file and the server will have to use his driver: no driver
to install on BeOS clients to be able to print
on a BeOS printing server, woa!!!

Okay, I stop dreaming now.

-Philippe


--
Fortune Cookie Says:

If today is the first day of the rest of your life, what the hell was
yesterday?

[Michael Pfeiffer]

Hi Philippe,

Post by Philippe Houdoin
Well, yes, but I'm already whrestling to produce something (anything!)
for network team, so
right now I'm mostly in lurking mode here.
However, I've opinions, still!
;-)

This is all I am asking for.

Post by Philippe Houdoin
Could you tell us (me=3F) some details here=3F
Do print=5Fserver run parallel jobs processing on any print spooler
unless there is another one using the same
transport add-on=3F By "using", I mean "another spooler configuring for
using this transport".
Or do you go more deeper and test if the transport add-on allow
multiple access (Print To File, for example)=3F

It's very simple. Print to File and Preview have no access restrictions.

Each combination of transport, transport address and connection is
considered as a resource. If two printer drivers using the same resource
want to process spool files at the same time, one is blocked until the
other has completed.

Post by Philippe Houdoin
As Preview don't require any transport add-on, I guess it should fall
on the "no transport access conflict" case, no=3F

Right.

Post by Philippe Houdoin

Post by Michael Pfeiffer
- extension to R5: allow selection of printer per application,

similar to Dano

BTW this is low on the todo list.

Post by Philippe Houdoin
Yeah, this fine BPrintPanel=3F I give a look at the new *print kit* in
Dano, and it looks fine.
There is both raster and vector kind driver support there, plus some
generic config views for page setup and
job setup. We have UniversalPrint on BeBits we could help us here,
maybe...

Ok, this is post R1 thing...

Post by Philippe Houdoin
I think the "Add Printer" in Dano looks finer too. No more Network /
Local printer separation.
In fact, the transport add-on let you connect to a remote printer, even
if it's considered as a "local" printer
by the BeOS R5.0.3- "Add Printer" setup dialog, go figure.
having a pass-thru mode.
I mean no rendition required, the job file was already *rendered* by a
third party driver, probably on another
computer. Think about a IPP daemon or LPD daemon, accepting jobs,
putting in the asked spooler.
The job file will be in *raw* format, print=5Fserver only need to send
its content to the transport addon.
Or... if the printing client computer is under BeOS too, maybe the file
received by IPP/LPD, etc, is really a
classic job file and the server will have to use his driver: no driver
to install on BeOS clients to be able to print
on a BeOS printing server, woa!!!

Cool ideas! Thanks for responding.

- Michael

[Philippe Houdoin]

Post by Michael Pfeiffer
It's very simple. Print to File and Preview have no access

restrictions.

Is it hardcoded somewhere=3F
Couldn't we store this information in the add-on image, as attributes
for example=3F

Post by Michael Pfeiffer
Each combination of transport, transport address and connection is
considered as a resource. If two printer drivers using the same

resource

Post by Michael Pfeiffer
want to process spool files at the same time, one is blocked until

the

Post by Michael Pfeiffer
other has completed.

Oh, it's the finest solution, so. Great!

Post by Michael Pfeiffer

Post by Michael Pfeiffer

Post by Michael Pfeiffer
- extension to R5: allow selection of printer per application,

similar to Dano

BTW this is low on the todo list.

Agreed!

BTW, I'm working on some less empty Add Printer window...
Just to state I'm still a OBOS printing team member!
;-)

-Philippe "always shift-focusing"



--
Fortune Cookie Says:

In Africa some of the native tribes have a custom of beating the ground
with clubs and uttering spine chilling cries. Anthropologists call
this a form of primitive self-expression. In America we call it golf.

[Michael Pfeiffer]

Post by Michael Pfeiffer

Post by Michael Pfeiffer
It's very simple. Print to File and Preview have no access

restrictions.
Is it hardcoded somewhere=3F

Yes.

Post by Michael Pfeiffer
Couldn't we store this information in the add-on image, as attributes
for example=3F

At the moment, I try to clone R5 as close as possible, but your are
right that we should find better solutions where desireable.

I wonder how this is done in R5? E.g. Preview opens several windows,
(processes spool jobs simultaneously) but AFAIK Print to File only one
at a time. I think this is also hardcoded.

Another thing that seems to be hardcoded in the Printers Prefs of R5
are the transport addresses for Serial/Parallel transport and that
Preview printer does not need a transport add-on at all.

- Michael

[Philippe Houdoin]

Post by Philippe Houdoin
BTW, I'm working on some less empty Add Printer window...
Just to state I'm still a OBOS printing team member!
;-)

I've just commit a better-than-empty-modal Add Printer dialog.
The code does nothing for the moment, but at least we can close, cancel
and, better, discuss
its design ;-)

Here a screenshot if the build don't works for you (huh=3F):
http://philippe.houdoin.free.fr/phil/beos/openbeos/
add=5Fprinter=5Ftemplate.jpg
The boxes will host the config view that future evolution of both print
drivers and print transports add-ons
may offer to let user configure them for a specific (new) spooler.
I drop the BeOS R5 "Network" setup support, as it was only for
AppleTalk (PAP) printers.
An AppleTalk PAP transport could be written, if someone lacks AppleTalk
printers support in OBOS...

-Philippe.


--
Fortune Cookie Says:

An age is called Dark not because the light fails to shine, but because
people refuse to see it.
-- James Michener, "Space"

[Mark A Johnson]

I know I am a lurker on all OBOS lists that are public, (mainly b/c I can
learn the BeAPI and maybe some C++ also in the process). But I think
Philippe's version of the Add Printer dialog box looks easier to user
than the stock R5 version. Then again that is just my oppinion. :)

Mark
BeShare: HotPlasma

Post by Philippe Houdoin

Post by Philippe Houdoin
BTW, I'm working on some less empty Add Printer window...
Just to state I'm still a OBOS printing team member!
;-)

I've just commit a better-than-empty-modal Add Printer dialog.
The code does nothing for the moment, but at least we can close,
cancel
and, better, discuss
its design ;-)
http://philippe.houdoin.free.fr/phil/beos/openbeos/
add=5Fprinter=5Ftemplate.jpg
The boxes will host the config view that future evolution of both
print
drivers and print transports add-ons
may offer to let user configure them for a specific (new) spooler.
I drop the BeOS R5 "Network" setup support, as it was only for
AppleTalk (PAP) printers.
An AppleTalk PAP transport could be written, if someone lacks
AppleTalk
printers support in OBOS...
-Philippe.
--
An age is called Dark not because the light fails to shine, but
because
people refuse to see it.
-- James Michener, "Space"

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[Philippe Houdoin]

Post by Philippe Houdoin
I think
Philippe's version of the Add Printer dialog box looks easier to user
than the stock R5 version. Then again that is just my opinion. :)

Thanks for sharing your opinion, lurker friend :-)
Funny enough, I find my dialog box, when *empty* (that is no driver and
/or transport sub settings), ugly and stupidly wasting space.
Maybe a DUN-like expandable dialog will suppress this feeling=3F

-Philippe

--
Fortune Cookie Says:

Matter cannot be created or destroyed, nor can it be returned without a
receipt.

[Michael Pfeiffer]

Post by Philippe Houdoin

Post by Philippe Houdoin
BTW, I'm working on some less empty Add Printer window...
Just to state I'm still a OBOS printing team member!
;-)

I've just commit a better-than-empty-modal Add Printer dialog.
The code does nothing for the moment, but at least we can close, cancel
and, better, discuss
its design ;-)

Nice prototype! My intention was to clone the Printers prefs of BeOS R5,
I will decide later when/if I implement the remaining parts of the preferences
panel.

Quick print_server update: this Friday should be a good day for a release :)

- Michael