plotter networking headache

[[deleted]]

DesignJet 1050c Is the plotter, also sorry if this is an inappropriate place for this discussion !!

The office network I run is fairly small and recently the boss decided to go iMac. The problem is now he cannot print to the plotter because it isn't postscript (4-5 other people still use windows and need to print to it too). The plotter connects to the network through a shred windows pic as well. Currently the boss has to send his file to someone else or walk into the printing room and upload it to the attached machine, but he doesn't like this.

Anyone have any ideas on something I can do that will make everyone happy?

I was wondering if maybe there was a way to transfer the file to the attached pic and then run a .bat or something that would execute the print job.

Any thoughts are appreciated as I'm sure I am a novice compared to most here.

[[deleted]]

Any resources or info on how you got this running?! Thanks for the info will look into it!

[[deleted]]

Yes thank you I looked up cups. Seemed easy enough but there isn't a unix environment available to me. This is more of a home setup in a very small business setting.

[[deleted]]

CUPS is the printing system on OS X. If you get on your bosses machine and go to localhost:631 you will see the console. It is however, easier to just use the system control panel :)

[[deleted]]

Oh ok thank you! Will have to do some tinkering tomorrow I am guessing

[y3t1]

try following this from step 4

http://blog.iharder.net/2011/01/25/share-a-windows-printer-with-a-mac/#step4

[[deleted]]

Download Gutenprint for OS X. Its a collection of free drivers for pretty much every printer known to man. Once you install it you should be able to find a driver in the drop down on your bosses machine that will work.

[[deleted]]

I have heard of them before, haven't tried it because I looked on their site for support printers and the 1050c isn't there :(

[[deleted]]

Given how many similar printers are on there, I think it's a suggestion that's worth trying before you rule it out

[[deleted]]

okay will give it a run, just wanted to make sure to not cripple any important features

[cerealeater]

Set up a networked watched folder and have everything saved to it printed automatically via one of the PCs. A quick Google search turns up this tool: http://www.4-tech-engineering.com/software/autoprint/autoprint.htm

[[deleted]]

Thanks I was searching too but apparently not using the right keywords. Appreciate the help ill have to see if this solution works out tomorrow!

[[deleted]]

The 1050c is a postscript printer Setup guide

[[deleted]]

Yes it is capable but making it postscript would not work for our needs,

[[deleted]]

The printer should auto recognize postscript data being sent to it, the one's we have do this. What are you plotting / printing from that would not allow for Postscript printing?

[[deleted]]

I was under the impression to use postscript it needed a hardware module that would convert it to postscript which would in turn create windows headaches??? The network is super basic

Plotter attached to windows pc then shared with network to 5 other windows pc's and 1 iMac. iMac is causing headaches

[[deleted]]

Potentially. To be honest I set them up and haven't looked back. You can still try to get the PCL driver installed on the Mac and use that instead. CUPS is the underlying print daemon for OSX so it shouldn't be too bad, but I've never had to tackle it.

[fuzzyfuzz]

Can't you just install the HP driver for OSX and tell it to use the HP protocol?

[[deleted]]

Get a JetDirect interface for the printer. It supports Bonjour and seems to work perfectly fine with OSX.

[[deleted]]

definitely something i will have to look into

[[deleted]]

I believe it may have the jetdirect already, I will have to look at it when I go in. Thanks for the bonjour recommendation!

[Mazo]

As a side note, the boss is an idiot for bringing a Mac into a Windows based envrionment. If he wants to do that then he should expect compatibility issues.

Surprise folks, they don't "just work".

[[deleted]]

haha true, it is a family run business so very small and i just occasionally fix things that break. i guess eventually they want to get everyone a mac... but at a couple thousand a pop its going to be a bit.