Unable to find sharp driver that works

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Level 1

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Unable to find sharp driver that works

I have a user who is on Mac OS 10.8.5. He has a sharp multi-function printer, it is model MX-1800N (networked). Windows users can print to it. However I cannot seem to find a driver that will work with Mac. The only available driver from the Sharp website, is some sort of PPD driver? And it doesn't even work. The printer makes a noise but nothing comes out. I can print using the built in generic PCL mac driver, however this does not allow me to print in colour.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Oct 9, 2013 8:19 AM

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Answer 1

Eric Root

Level 10

684,063 points

Oct 9, 2013 9:57 AM in response to kirstyfiona

Apple support article current as of 8 Aug 13. The printer isn't listed as a supported printer. You'll need to contact Sharp to find out if they have any plans to issue new drivers.

Printers Supported

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Answer 2

greg sahli

Level 7

25,508 points

Oct 9, 2013 1:43 PM in response to kirstyfiona

Several high-end multifunction office printer makers are stuck in the "Macs can only use postscript" past. I suspect the real intent is to force Mac users to buy the postscipt add-on cards for about $1000.

You've already done the troubleshooting to prove the Sharp will work with PCL (HP-compatible page language). You just need a color driver PCL PPD. Get it here:

https://www.openprinting.org/driver/pxlcolor

On second thought, you may also need foomatic and ghostscript from here to allow that PPD to work:

http://www.linuxfoundation.org/collaborate/workgroups/openprinting/macosx/pxlmon o

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Answer 3

joelibby

Level 1

5 points

Nov 13, 2013 12:33 AM in response to kirstyfiona

FIrst of all is the printer set up with User priveleges? Ours is, and if we forget to set a user number when printing it does exactly as you describe. Also, did the openprinting solution help?

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