!!!!Problems printing from CounterPoint on Linux

[ArendsE]

I have searched the APLawrence site for Synchronics CounterPoint running on RedHat Linux and I found an article describing different configurations. I needed to setup a printer on the Linux to which I must print from CounterPoint. I found the following instruction:

=========================================================
# script to create a device file for Synchronics to use with a spooled printer
# start this from /etc/rc2.d/S99local
rm -f /dev/forms
mknod /dev/forms p
chmod 666 /dev/forms
while true
do
cat /dev/forms | lpr -P forms
done
=========================================================

I have created a spooled printer called forms and it prints fine from Linux itself. Then I added the above code in the S99local, however now whenever I restart my server, the boot-up process hangs when it tries to run the local script.

For it to boot properly I have to enter the interactive startup and tell it not to run the local script. Then I manually run the script from within Linux.

Any ideas on how to solve this?

 

[mcaen]

Why not add:

export dd_forms=">/usr/bin/lpr -s -Pforms"

to your synsuppl and define your Device ID under printer setup as forms? That should work without any problems. If that does not work, what happens you try this? What distribution/version of Linux are you using?

Morris

 

[ArendsE]

I am running RedHat 7.3.

I've tried entering this today, but nothing happens. CounterPoint seems to be sending the information, but nothing gets printed.

My problem with the script I've posted at the beginning is that when I run it from the prompt, I don't get the prompt back. It's as if it is running constantly. Is there a way to force it to exit? Or run in the background?

 

[mcaen]

You could use screen to put the script in background:

screen -A -m -d -SS99local /etc/rc2.d/S99local

You can recall the screen by typing:

screen -r S99local

And put it in background again by pressing ctrl-a d

Is the printer attached locally, to a print server, or are you using SMB? If it is local can you print from CounterPoint to /dev/lp0 (or whatever port it is connected to)? Can you print from the command prompt using lpr?

Morris