cli-based printer configuration tool, I need some testers please?

Tue Mar 25 23:52:52 EDT 2014

This sounds handy, but I have not had much trouble with
edbrowse.  The worst problem is choosing the correct driver
when edbrowse presents one or several hundreds of choices.

Anyway, good luck with it.

By the way, what else is in keis?

D. Curtis Willoughby

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> Hi,
> I wrote, or rather started to write such a tool using the cups library 
> through python.
> This will end up in the kies package I wrote, but for now, I am looking 
> for a few people that might be prepared to just test the software so far.
> See below for more detail:
> Kind regards, Willem
> When one does not run a GUI, there are two ways to create/add a new print
> queue to a modern Linux system.  The true command-line method mainly uses
> lpadmin and IMHO some black magic for everything to work correctly.
> The other method is by using the web interface to cups.  It is accessed by
> going to a special web server running on port 631, e.g. lynx
> localhost:631/admin.
> This does work for adding a printer, but I find it to be a bit clunky.
> There is however no place to set a default printer, anyway not when using
> lynx, I think because of the lack of JavaScript support.  Even when only one
> print queue is defined, it is not seen as the default unless one sets it to
> the default.  This was what prompted me to look into writing something using
> the cups library.
>
> There are two programs, kies_set_default_printer and kies_add_printer.
> Both are python scripts using the cups library to perform its functions.
> The python-cups module needs to be installed.  It is available as a package
> in most distributions.
> On all the Ubuntu-based machines where I have tested the scripts, this
> module was already installed.
> A small program, catchkey, is required to catch the keys you press.  It is
> provided with the kies package, but can be supplied separately with the two
> print scripts.
>
>
> Kies_set_default printer displays the queue name and allows for browsing the
> queue list using the up and down arrow keys.  Pressing enter on a queue name
> sets it as the default.
> The message: "is the default" is displayed next to the default queue name.
> By pressing the d key, the queue is removed.
> Pressing q exits the program.
>
>
> Kies_add_printer displays a list of devices with the info and location all
> on a line.  This list can also be navigated using the up and down arrows. 
> Pressing q at this point will also exit the program without adding a
> printer.
> For local printers, the device need to be plugged in and switched on for the
> software to show up an identifiable printer.
> By pressing enter on one of these lines takes one to a list of printer make
> and model entries for the driver.
> The make is extracted from the info available on the device list, but I
> could not get the model to be also automatically selected.
> Pressing slash asks for a search string to help one quickly locate the
> correct driver.  the n key is search next.  This is required because some of
> the printer makes as provided, has a long list of drivers. HP has more than
> 3000.  Once on the correct driver, press enter to select it.
> One is then prompted to edit the queue name.  A suggested queue name is
> constructed from the printer information data extracted from the provided
> device info.
> If you are happy with that name, just press enter to accept, or edit it to
> your liking.
> The print queue will now be created, enabled and set to accept print jobs.
>
>
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