kmosx2: CUPS Print to OSX 10.2 from Windows?

Print to OSX 10.2 from Windows using CUPS?

10/26/03: Note - This FAQ uses the CUPS method. See http://homepage.mac.com/williamwhite/print_tosamba.html for SAMBA method. The main advantage with SAMBA is the ablility to see the Printers in the Network Neighborhood. Panther takes care of this.

1. Install the gimp-print drivers and the esp ghostscript software

This is available for download at http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/MacOSX.php3

2. Enable CUPS raw printer filters

This advanced step requires you to edit (as root user) the files "mime.convs" and "mime.types" in the folder /private/etc/cups. Details below but see alternative instructions at http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20021101062604548&query=print.

2.1. Enable the root user and logon as root.
2.2. Using TextEdit, uncomment the line (remove the #) at the bottom of the file mime.convs that contains the line starting #application/octet-stream
2.3. Do the same to mime.types
2.4. After editing the files, restart CUPS using one of the following.
- In the Terminal: sudo killall -1 cupsd
- Or simply restart the Mac OSX system

3. Configure a copy of your Mac-connected printer:

3.1. Quit your Print Center if running.
3.2. Open the CUPS web interface: point your browser to http://127.0.0.1:631
3.3. Select "Manage Printers" then click "Add Printer".
3.4. Enter "Name" = Printer Queue name (this will be the queue name "seen" from Windows); "Location" = blank; "Description" = Printer name (this will be the name in the Print Center)
3.5. Click Continue
3.6. Select "Device" = Your printer - as listed in the menu: don't select anything else
3.7. Click Continue
3.8. Select "Make" = Your computer's manufacturer (from the list)
3.9. Click Continue
3.10. Enter Driver = Computer driver (from the list, a gimp or CUPS v.1.1 (en) driver only)
3.11. Click Continue to finish.

Optional - click on the printer link shown in the final step and click the "Print Test Page" button. If you do not get a CUPS test page, then work through this stage again, including remdies suggested below, until you successfully get a test page print before attempting the next stage.

4. Configure the printer on your Windows PC

These steps are specifically for Windows 2000 Pro. Adapt for other Windows environments.

4.1. Open your Printers control panel
4.2. Select the Add Printer Wizard.
4.3. Select "Network Printer".
4.4. Select "Connect to a printer on the internet or your intranet"
4.5. Enter the URL thus: http://server:631/printers/printer

Notes:

server will be the NetBIOS name of your Mac if you have names resolution such as WINS or DNS available on your LAN; if not, replace server with the IP address of the Mac.

printer is the Print Queue name of your printer as defined in step 3.4 above.

4.6. Click Continue to the next pane. You will get an informative message like "The server on which the blah blah blah printer resides does not have the correct printer installed. If you want to install on your local printer click ok"
4.7. Click ok!
4.8. Select any Apple LaserWriter Postscript Printer as follows:
4.9. Select Manufacturer = Apple
4.10. Select any postscript printer, e.g. Apple Color LW 12/660 PS
4.11. Click continue.
4.12. Select Yes or No to whether you want the printer to be default and finish.

Optional - right click the new printer and from the Printer Properties menu, print a test page.

Aggressive remedial steps
If Step 3 does not work, especially if you have been attempting alternative printer methods, try deleting the following folders, then doing a restart of your computer. Then start over from step 3.

sudo rm -r /private/tmp/printers
sudo rm -r /private/var/spool/printers
sudo rm -r /private/var/spool/printing
sudo rm -r /private/var/spool/cups/tmp