Using XLPD Server

Setup XLPD Server

Click on XLPD Server to bring up next user interface for XLPD setup. Click on 'Printer/New' to define a printer.

In next dialog box, enter a name in 'Export Name' for the printer you want to share out. Click on the drop-down menu to select the printer.

Click on 'Next' to set the printer options.

File Format

1. Auto Detect: This is the default setting and in general will detect the format of a printing job.
2. Post Script: Some printers may request post script formatting specifically. Select this one in the case.
3. Raw Format: This selection will keep the files original formatting without any modification.
4. Text Format: This selection can be used for general text files.

The 'Unix to DOS conversion' will replace the "end of line" mark in a unix file with a CR character so that when viewing from windows, the file will be properly lined up.

Click 'Finish' to close the dialog box. Now back in the user interface screen again. You will see the printer just defined with 'Status': Ready.

Viewing the queue

To see if a printing job is received by LPD server, you need to first 'Pause' the printer by click on 'Status/Pause' from the user interface screen. Then, you click on 'View/Queue' to open up the 'queue' screen as shown in following. Upon issuance of an 'lp' command, if all is working properly, you should see the job listed in the queue.

Change printer port

The standard printer port is 515. It is set as default for XLPD server. In case you need to change the port number, click on 'View/Setting' from XLPD user interface screen to bring up next dialog box. The port number can be changed by typing in the new number directly in the screen.

Edit a printer setting

If there is anything you need to change in the settings of an already defined printer, from XLPD user interface, click on the printer's name, then click on 'Property' to bring out the dialog box for making the changes.

Print to a file

There are times that you want to save a printing job for later print. This is the situation we refer to as 'print to a file'. To print to a file, you click 'Printer/New' from XLPD user interface screen to open up the dialog box. Type in a name for the printer, then check the box 'Virtual Printer', and select the drive and folder where you want to save the file.

General Truble Shooting

The general truble shooting method is to help you narrow down the prossible source of problem. Because XLPD server is like the "middle man" that sits between the print-requesting-system and the printer, the easiest way to go is to find out if the problem occurred before XLPD server received the printing job or after it.

So you first 'Pause' the printer(click on 'Status/Pause' from the user interface screen). Then, you issue a printing job from the client system. Take a look at the queue to see if the printing job is received.

Analysis:

• If the printing job is listed in queue, it means both LPD and LPR are set and functioning correctly. Then if you can't get the file printed, check the printer driver, the printer connection (you may try to print a local file from the windows system and see if it will print) and other possible complications.
• If the printing job is not listed in queue, it means either LPD or LPR (or both) is not properly configured. Or maybe there is a network connection problem between the systems.