Problems With My LP Command

[CodyD]

I have been working on a script that was made by a past employee 15 years ago. It takes employee's names and SSC numbers from a master file and combines them in to a ASCII file that I sent to a company that handles our 401K plan. One of the steps in the script is to print this ASCII file, the problem I’m having is it is supposed to print in a compressed format or condensed format by using

lp -dprinter -ocond bsc4.print

I have looked into the "cond" and that is a switch for condensed print but if I manually print that document with or with out the -ocond it will print out the same. I looked at the printer interface file in the /var/spool/lp/admins/lp/interfaces and it looks good. It references the cond|cnd and its set for condensed print.. Any one have any ideas I can try, I’m running very low on possibilities.

Thanks allot
CodyD

 

[edfair]

you can force an output from that section of the interface script to verify that it really is processing from there.
Is this running on the same OS that it was set up on? Using the same type port? I'm really asking what has changed since last year?.

Ed Fair
efair@atlnet.com

Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply.

Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[CodyD]

The only major difference is were running on a newer ver of SCO. And the copmany names have changed so I had to edit the script files and change the company names and the directorys were it holds the master file.
We were running these scripts on an old IBC server running SCO but now were on a Compaq ML server running the latest ver of SCO open server.
I hope this makes some sense to you.

CodyD

 

[edfair]

I've noticed that things don't just automatically work the same as you upgrade to later OS versions.
In this case I would use a standard model for the printer, then modify the interface script, before and after the cat to force the printer into and out of condensed.
This is conditional on your knowing the condensed code for the printer.
Somewhat like:
echo \033\condensed codes
cat file > wherever
echo \033\normal codes.

I've done it with HP stuff, just don't know right now where I can find the docs.
I've also used models from Xenix and 3.2.4.2 to accomplish stuff that doesn't quite work in 5.0.x.
Script munging isn't my thing, but generally I can get them to work. Ed Fair
efair@atlnet.com

Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply.

Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[Megabitman]

Make sure the printer has been setup with the appropriate terminfo type ie laserjet or epson (basic dot matrix can use "printer" to provide the minimal formatting instructions). That will allow the spooler to pass the appropriate coding to the spooler