[Info-vax] DCPS v2.7 problem with HP P2055dn printer

[Paul Anderson]

In article <ReadneVznpiDffzWnZ2dnUVZ_hCdnZ2d at supernews.com>,
 Alan Frisbie <Frisbie_REMOVE at Flying-Disk.com> wrote:

> Since the client with this printer has a support contract, I 
> submitted an HP Services case (4609040719). It was almost immediately 
> escalated to DCPS engineering. Their conclusion was that the P2055dn 
> printer design (or implementation) is broken, and have forwarded the 
> problem to the printer people.

I believe your problem was that you can't select paper by media type 
because of a bug in the printer's PostScript interpreter.

If the printer works fine under Windows, HP might not consider it a 
bug.  Some of their printers use "deferred media selection", which is 
some firmware in the printer that makes decisions about your job with 
no control or view from PostScript.

If you can select by media type from Windows, how is this being done?  
Is it via PJL commands?  If so, then most other operating systems won't 
be able to work with the printer either, since Macs use PostScript for 
job control, not PJL.  Unix doesn't use PJL AFAIK.

DCPS throws away PJL commands, so even a PostScript file created from 
an application on Windows, but printed through DCPS, will not properly 
select media type.

> Apparently I am not the only customer to report this.

Good, so you're _not_ crazy!

> I am now waiting to hear back from HP regarding my request for it to 
> be repaired or replaced under the warranty.   This problem clearly 
> falls under the "workmanship" clause in the first sentence of the 
> warranty statement.

HP probably can't ensure their printers work in every environment, but 
since OpenVMS is their own product, your argument holds some weight.

> In my opinion, HP should remove the P2055dn from the DCPS SPD until 
> such time as the printers can be repaired.   Unless HP can generate 
> and provide new firmware, that would probably be never.

The DCPS SPD is updated once per release, although there was one 
instance in the last few years in which it was modified inbetween 
releases.  (Or was that for the mysterious DCPS V2.4A Integrity-only 
release?)

> In the meantime, my advice is to NOT buy a P2055dn printer.   It does 
> not work with DCPS.   My customer is now trying to find another 
> current-production HP printer that is truly supported by DCPS and 
> doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

DCPS can be used for newer HP printers not on the officially supported 
list by recognizing them automatically as "HP Generic" printers.  It's 
possible some new HP printer would work well in this way, especially 
those that don't have many optional trays or features.

I agree that HP needs to fix the firmware and it's likely that more 
than just DCPS on OpenVMS is affected here.

Paul