I'm using rhs-printfilters-1.58-1.i386.rpm from rawhide and lpr-0.46-1.i386.rpm on a print/file server. When one of the client Macs prints multiple copies of a document, all subsequent print jobs print the same number of copies until the printer is reset. Printer is a HP LaserJet 4m (postscript) attached to the print server through the parallel port. When a multi copy text file print job is generated on the print server itself (via lpr), subsequent single page jobs print the correct number of pages. The Macs print to the LJ4m through the Macs' LPR desktop printing facility. No appletalk in involved. This printer and server worked properly under RH 5.2. Nothing in the Macs has changed. I have an HP postscript plotter also on the network as a remote printer and it works correctly with regard to number of copies. Can't figure out if problem is in printfilters, lpr or flakey printer.
It would appear to be a printer problem, as I can't reproduce it here on a Lexmark 3000 Color Jetprinter (which doesn't do hardware multi-printing). I'll have to check if I can reproduce it on other printers that support multi-printing.
I made some further tests. It appears the problem is coming from the Macs which are using MacOS 8.1. I generated a postscript file on the Linux box using cdlabelgen and printed two copies using lpr. ( lpr -#2 filename.ps ) Afterwards, using lpr to print a single copy worked as expected. ( lpr filename.ps ) I think the Macs are sending something in the lpr print request that causes the HP LJ4m to store the number of copies. Is there a way to capture the print requests as sent from the Macs so I can see what is going on?
Please check if this still happens with LPRng (from rawhide).
I installed the following: ftp://ftp.astart.com/pub/LPRng/LPRng/LPRng-3.6.22-1.i386.rpm ftp://ftp.astart.com/pub/LPRng/FILTERS/ifhp-3.3.19-1.i386.rpm and adjusted the printcap file to specify my printer model. results: fixed the multiple copy problem fixed the incorrect paper tray selection problem (never reported) fixed the hanging on printing of binary files (never reported) hooray! Not only did it fix those problems but now for each job, the user login and job name are displayed on the little fluorescent panel on the printer.