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======  Okidata FAQ ======
=====  General Questions =====
====  In which **forum** should I ask Okidata related questions? ====

Forum: [[http://forums.openprinting.org/list.php?33|Printers from other manufacturers]]
====  Where can I find a **table** of working Okidata printers? ====

[[http://www.openprinting.org/printer_list.cgi?make=Okidata|http://www.openprinting.org/printer_list.cgi?make=Okidata]]
====  Where are the webpages for the related projects? ====

Related projects: [[http://www.openprinting.org//download/printing/|oki4linux]].
=====  C7200 =====
====  Which driver do I use? ====

The printer is compatible with PCL, so use the **''cljet5c''** driver
from GhostScript.

\\ 
=====  ol1400w =====
====  Why does the **''oki4linux-2.1gst.tar.gz''** make install fail? ====

The Makefile is missing the command to create the directory.
<code>mkdir -p /usr/local/man/man8/
make install</code>
====  Why can't the printer even be found by the software? ====

Check BIOS settings.  Changed the BIOS setting as suggested in the man 
page and can make a big difference.

\\ 
=====  Okipage4w =====
====  How do I setup an alternate CUPS backend? ====

This script works as a CUPS backend.  Configure the printer as
a raw device with this backend.  This method doesn't require a PPD
file.

\\ 
<code>if [ $# -eq 0 ]; then
echo "backend  \"Unknown\" \"gs sender\""
exit 0
fi

if [ $# -eq 6 ]; then
gs -q -dSAFER -dNOPAUSE -dBATCH -sDEVICE=oki4w -r300 -sPAPERSIZE=a4
-sOutputFile=/dev/lp0 $6
else
gs -q -dSAFER -dNOPAUSE -dBATCH -sDEVICE=oki4w -r300 -sPAPERSIZE=a4
-sOutputFile=/dev/lp0 -
fi</code>
[[http://www.openprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=Okidata-Okipage_8z|Okipage 8z]] 
====  What are the steps to make this work? ====

These instructions use the oki4drv program, the **''oki4w''** driver, the**''oki4daemon''**, and the CUPS spooler. This was tested withRedhat v9.
The test printer name is **''Okipage8z''**.  Substitute the name as needed.

1. Create a suitable directory to contain all the source files.
<code>mkdir /usr/local/src/oki4drv
cd /usr/local/src/oki4drv</code>

2. Download the **''oki4linux-2.1gst.tar.gz''** file into your new **''oki4drv''**
directory. The file can be found at[[http://www.openprinting.org/download/printing/|http://www.openprinting.org/download/printing/]]

3. **''tar -xvzf oki4linux-2.1gst.tar.gz''**
<code>cd oki4linux/src</code>

\\ 
4. Edit the Makefile file, to suit a Redhat install, and change the install
paths to:
install: oki4drv
<code>install -m4755 oki4drv /usr/local/sbin
install -m644 oki4drv.man /usr/share/man/man8/oki4drv.8</code>

5.**''make''**
<code>make install</code>

\\ 
6.**''cp oki4daemon /usr/local/sbin''**

7. Make sure that both **''oki4daemon''** and **''oki4drv''** are in the **''/usr/local/sbin/''**
directory.
<code>ls /usr/local/sbin/</code>

\\ 
8. Change the permissions for the new printer device so that all users have
full access:
<code>chmod 777 /dev/oki4drv</code>

You may want a more restrictive permissions setting, as this will allow anyone to
do anything to your printer.

9. You can now read the man page for oki4drv:
<code>man oki4drv</code>

\\ 
10. Create and paste the following **''/etc/rc.d/init.d/oki4daemon''** file:
<code>
 
 
 program:
 
 /dev/oki4daemon \
 
 DAEMON=/usr/local/sbin/oki4daemon
 program=oki4daemon
 RETVAL=0
 
 [ -f /usr/local/sbin/oki4drv ]    || exit 0
 [ -f /usr/local/sbin/oki4daemon ] || exit 0
 
 if [ -f /etc/init.d/functions ] ; then
 . /etc/init.d/functions
 elif [ -f /etc/rc.d/init.d/functions ] ; then
 . /etc/rc.d/init.d/functions
 else
 exit 0
 fi
 
 start () {
 echo -n $"Starting $program: "
 daemon $DAEMON     # any arguments?
 RETVAL=$?
 echo
 [ $RETVAL = 0 ] && touch /var/lock/subsys/oki4daemon
 return $RETVAL
 }
 
 stop () {
 echo -n "Stopping $program: "
 killproc $DAEMON
 RETVAL=$?
 echo
 [ $RETVAL = 0 ] && rm -f /var/lock/subsys/oki4daemon
 }
 
 case "$1" in
 start)
 start	
 ;;
 stop)
 stop
 ;;
 restart)
 stop
 start
 ;;
 status)
 status $DAEMON
 ;;
 *) echo "Usage: /etc/init.d/oki4daemon {start|stop|restart|status}" exit 1 esac
 
 exit $RETVAL</code>

11. The following adds the startup scripts to the rc.d files:
<code>chkconfig --add oki4daemon</code>

\\ 
12. To use the oki4daemon:
<code>/etc/local/rc.d/init.d/oki4daemon start</code>

or:
<code>service oki4daemon start</code>

To check the running status of the oki4daemon:
<code>service oki4daemon status</code>

You can also use the stop and restart options
Make sure the CUPS service is also running:
<code>service cups status</code>

\\ 
13. You might want to reboot now, just to test that the rc.d scripts will
automatically start the **''oki4daemon''**. Incremental testing is always good
practice. You should notice the oki4daemon start message appear near the
end of the bootup messages, and before the CUPS service starts. After the
reboot:
<code>service oki4daemon status
service cups status</code>

14. The following command tests that the oki4drv driver is working:
<code>oki4drv /usr/share/cups/data/testprint.ps</code>

The next command tests that oki4drv and oki4daemon are both working
together
<code>cat /usr/share/cups/data/testprint.ps > /dev/oki4drv</code>

\\ 
15. To get CUPS, and the Print Manager, and Linux applications to send print
jobs through the oki4w driver, edit the **''/etc/cups/printers.conf''** file, and
change the DeviceURI line to:
<code>DeviceURI file: /dev/oki4drv</code>

Note: all the information available mentions that the device should be**''/dev/null''**. This is correct only if you are using the oki4drv driver by
itself. However we are also going to use the oki4daemon to monitor the
/dev/oki4drv pipe, and so the setting must be **''/dev/oki4drv''**. It is the only
way your print jobs are going to get to the pipe.

16. Find the PPD (Postscript Printer Description) file for your printer:
cnd(find / -name *.ppd)
I found mine in **''/etc/cups/ppd/Okipage8z.ppd''**
If you cannot find your printer's PPD file, you can search for and
download it from[[http://www.openprinting.org/printer_list.cgi|http://www.openprinting.org/printer_list.cgi]]

17. Copy your printer's PPD file to a location where CUPS expects to find it.
You should change its name to that of your printer name.
<code>cp /etc/cups/ppd/?????????.ppd /usr/share/cups/model/Okipage8z.ppd</code>

\\ 
18.
Gzip the PPD file:
<code>cd /usr/share/cups/model
gzip Okipage8z
cd /root</code>

19. Restart the CUPS service:
<code>service cups restart</code>

\\ 
20. Now you can use any of your Linux applications to print a test page.

21. It is almost certain that your print area will be wrong. I used a utility
called alignmargins and a special margin alignment file called align.ps.
Both are available at [[http://www.openprinting.org/download/printing/|http://www.openprinting.org/download/printing/]]
.
Run the alignmargins program, which will print the alignment page from the**''align.ps''** file.
<code>./alignmargins</code>

.
You will need a ruler to measure the printout margins and a calculator to
do some simple calculations, which you will be asked to input into the
alignmargins program.

22. You should now have a fully functioning Linux Okipage 8z printer.
Good luck and enjoy your inexpensive, quality printouts. It was worth all
the effort.

\\ 
====  Where can I find a Mac OSX driver? ====

See the entry for 17 October 2002 (17/10/2002).[[http://www.comworth.co.nz/web/content.asp?cont=notices|http://www.comworth.co.nz/web/content.asp?cont=notices]]

\\ 
=====  ML 393 =====
====  Which drivers work? ====

The lq850 driver works at a really high resolution. Its extremely slow. At
lower resolutions it doesn't seem to work at all.  The Epson 24 pin 
series driver works great for both the Oki
393 and Oki 395.
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