Printer Setup for Booklet Printing for linux systems


This page contains Printer Setup details for Booklet Printing for linux systems.

Firse you need to install a filter for the CUPS system. Filters should be installed in:

/usr/lib/cups/filter/

Filters are at:
  • booklet-print

    If you don't have a duplex capable printer, you can still print booklets but you need to set up a pair of print filters.
  • Copy the booklet-print filter as detailed.
  • As root:
    cd /usr/lib/cups/filter/
    ln -s booklet-print booklet-right
    ln -s booklet-print booklet-left

  • You may need to remove the -r from MPAGE_SWITCH in booklet-print if the print order ends up wrong.

    Next, you need the relevant PPD.

  • A modified generic postscript PPD required for the 'fanfold' printer at: postscript.ppd.gz
  • A modified generic postscript PPD to use the 'booklet-print' filter with the 'fanfold' print queue at: booklet.ppd.gz
  • A modified generic postscript PPD to use the 'booklet-left' filter with the 'fanfold' print queue at: book-left.ppd.gz for non duplex printers.
  • A modified generic postscript PPD to use the 'booklet-right' filter with the 'fanfold' print queue at: book-right.ppd.gz for non duplex printers.
    Both PPDs have been set up for A4 page sizes as default

    To use PPDs with the CUPS printing system, you need to store them in

    /usr/share/cups/model/

    or wherever your system keeps them. Chances are there's a

    .../cups/model/

    directory somewhere on your system.
    Now restart CUPS

    /etc/init.d/cups restart

    and the new definitions will be available.

    To use the definitions, point a browser to: http://localhost:631/printers and choose add printer

    For the booklet printer, you need a print queue called "fanfold"
  • 'AppSocket/HP JetDirect'
  • 'socket://<ip.of.your.printer>:9100/'
  • 'postscript'
  • 'generic postscript printer'
    This queue must be set up for "short edge duplex" which is the default setting in the supplied PPD.

    booklet
  • 'AppSocket/HP JetDirect'
  • 'socket://127.0.0.1:631/'
  • 'postscript'
  • 'Booklet Mode printer'

    If you don't have a duplex capable printer, you can still print booklets but you need to set up a pair of print queues.


    book-left
  • 'AppSocket/HP JetDirect'
  • 'socket://127.0.0.1:631/'
  • 'postscript'
  • 'Booklet Mode printer (LH pages)'


    book-right
  • 'AppSocket/HP JetDirect'
  • 'socket://127.0.0.1:631/'
  • 'postscript'
  • 'Booklet Mode printer (RH pages)'

    Now, to print a booklet, do it in two passes.
  • First do
    lpr -P book-left <file>
  • Reload the paper stack in the printer so that the blank side will get printed on.
  • Then do
    lpr -P book-right <file>
    here's the tarball

    For more detail on how to use PPDs please refer to http://www.linuxprinting.org/ppd-doc.html

    For general information on printing with linux, please refer to http://www.linuxprinting.org

  • Author: Conor Daly
  • License: GPL
  • Last updated: 8th July 2004