Can't Print from Classic!?

Question

Can't Print from Classic!?

I can't print from Classic. I have three iMacs, all on OS X 10.2.8 or later. All have Classic installed - OS 9.2.2. Two have classic apps from which I need to print.

The printer is an HP LaserJet 4P, on a network through an HP JetDirect EX Plus (installed and working great as an IP Printer in OS X). I have Appletalk activated in OS X and OS 9.2.2. I have installed the Printer with the OS 9.2.2 Desktop Printer Utility. I have selected the printer in the Chooser. I open any Classic App and try to print to the printer. Everything looks and seems "normal"--spools to Print Monitor and everything (even increased the memory allocated to Print Monitor) and the status shows that its "processing job..." and "starting job..." But after a minute or so, I get an error message:

"'[doc title]' failed to print to
[printer name]. Do you want to
try to print again?

Print Error: -8993

Any help would be appreciated.

Posted on Sep 1, 2005 10:12 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Sep 2, 2005 6:27 PM in response to Chris Johnson2

Hi Chris. Welcome to the Forum.

What happens if you connect the printer directly to one Mac, please?

A workaround for many people is to creat a Desktop Printer as you did, use that from Classic to print to file, then manually drag the file into any X priter queue

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Answer 2

Sep 4, 2005 5:21 AM in response to Chris Johnson2

I have a similar problem. Want to print from ibook with "Panther" installed. Want to print from "PageMaker classic". How do I set up a desktop printer? Can anybody advise me? Thank you!

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Answer 3

Sep 6, 2005 1:40 PM in response to Siegfried Portugaller

Hello Siegfried. Welcome to the Forum.

Locate and run Apple's Desktop Printer Utility and use it to create, for instance Transltor Postscript, which will become the default printer for Classic.

The Print dialog on any Classic app should then allow you to Save a file, instad of really Printing. Save the file to th eDesktop, then manually drag it into any X print queue.

What happens down that route, please?

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Answer 4

Sep 6, 2005 5:07 PM in response to Robbie Goodwin

Hello Robbie!

Thank you for your help. Meantime it is possible to print from OS classic "chooser". I had to connect and switch the printer "on". Then it appeared in the chooser and could be selected.

I'll try your proposal of manually dragging files from the desktop. I've not so far.

I'm quite happy that the problem is fixed now......

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Answer 5

Sep 10, 2005 7:24 AM in response to Siegfried Portugaller

Uh are you really saying the problem was there while the printer was switched off, and went away once the printer was switched on, please?

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Answer 6

Oct 26, 2005 1:13 PM in response to Robbie Goodwin

No, I'm not sure why it is working now.
On my laptop (ibook G4) it doesn't work that way.
So I can't really tell why it is working with my G5, sorry .........

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Answer 7

Oct 26, 2005 4:13 PM in response to Siegfried Portugaller

That sounds a bit reversed

Why it's working on the G5 should be because it's meant to. There will be few clues there, yes?

Why it's not working on the G4 is what matters so when it doesn't, how far do you get before what tells you it's gone wrong, please?

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