It looks like ghostscript already exists, at least it's in the SDK. I tried to build a2ps which triggered a real huge bunch of build dependencies, however a2ps-perl-ja is pretty small. For further testing on the weekend I'll stick with that one for now.
I'll check for lprng as well if I'll find time.
I'd test sending files to the printer right now but my daughter is sleeping and I don't want to wake her up - printer is not very silent...
It's time to get some printer support on the N900.
I don't think it's about cups or drivers at all...
I can print out photos without this, so all we need is basicly byttons with options to send documents or part of documents too a bluetooth or network device. This is atleast the way to get photos printed, so it can't be so darn difficult too print..?
Does this make sence to anyone?
As I said in my post, those commands have to be typed into a terminal when you have switched to the Debian environment (not the XTerminal!), i.e. either a terminal opened under Debian LXDE or Debian chroot (both can be accessed through application icons). It will be useful only, however, if you have a CUPS server in your network.
rebhana:
I installed cups under Easy-Debian and tried localhost:631 on the browser and it displays the CUPS page correctly, but when I tried the administration tab to add my networked printer, it asked for a username and password. I tried "user" and the newly assigned password, but it didn't work.
So, how can I add printers?
By the way, what is the root password in the Easy-Debian image?
Thanks.
DojwqIO: Set your own password in Easy Debian by running the "Debian Chroot" terminal and entering "passwd" ... Set the user password the same way, "passwd user" ...
... so all we need is basicly byttons with options to send documents or part of documents too a bluetooth or network device.
[...]
Does this make sence to anyone?
The part "send .. to a bluetooth or network device" is why you need cups or similar technology. You can't just send a picture or a document to a printer and expect it to print.
You have to convert the "document" to some printing format and send it using a printing protocol.
The part "send .. to a bluetooth or network device" is why you need cups or similar technology. You can't just send a picture or a document to a printer and expect it to print.
You have to convert the "document" to some printing format and send it using a printing protocol.
What you are saying then, is that there are cups on the phone already...?
If there where no cups, i would not be able to print out my photos from the phone by sending them to a bluetooth device..
Why is there so hard to get printing options in other progs other than the photo program?
I feel that the lack of printing options is the only thing for me that don't make this the perfeckt device. (I know others will disagree with this)
What you are saying then, is that there are cups on the phone already...?
If there where no cups, i would not be able to print out my photos from the phone by sending them to a bluetooth device..
Why is there so hard to get printing options in other progs other than the photo program?
No, there is no CUPS on the N900 by default. This was answered before:
Some printers support bluetooth printing (the Kodak polaroid I believe is one of them) where I believe you just send a picture file over bluetooth and they have a certain amount of logic to translate and print it.
I'm pretty sure this is the case (Some printers even support document files, such as .odt or .pdf). The reason why it's so hard, is that you have to get the developers of said apps to include a print function (i think...).
The only problem is, if most families are like mine... which i doubt... is that printers are an arbitrary convenience. Most of the printers in my household are up to 10 years old (one is from the MS-DOS era... o.o). Bluetooth printing is relatively new, so until it's become commonplace, We. Need. Another. Way.
Not necessarily, but just saying.
Still waiting on greygoo with his tests. Your daughter's had a month to sleep...
If you have a printer connected to a computer with CUPS, networked, then you can get away with a simple print application on the N900. I used lprng on the N800 and I'm pretty sure it'll install fine in Maemo 5 too, just haven't got around to do so yet.
Many people had CUPS working on the N800. We need to either find the old files and try them or re-build them for the N900 (probably better because they would be newer.) It worked great. With command line options you could print PDFs, photos, text files, etc.
Probably here is what needs to be done (if someone has time; I, sadly, don't).
1) Get C++ working on the N900 or set up scratchbox on a PC.
2) Download the cups source code.
3) Build it. (Find instructions on the CUPs web-site or in the source code)
3a) Find, download and build any dependencies.
4) Create a debian package.
If someone tries this I can offer help with build problems. Hopefully someone else will help build a deb.
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OK, I am trying this. It didn't build, but I didn't expect it too. I'll see how far I can get. I get little bursts of time. If I make any progress I'll report back soon.
