This provides rastertocups filter and PPD files (specified by carps.drv file) which allows these printers to print from Linux and possibly any other OS where CUPS is used.
carps-decode is a debug tool - it decodes CARPS data (created either by rastertocups filter or windows drivers), producing a PBM bitmap and debug output.
Printers known to use CARPS data format:
| Printer type (IEEE1284 ID) | Status |
|---|---|
| MF5730 | works |
| MF5750 | works |
| MF5770 | works |
| MF5630 | works |
| MF5650 | should work |
| MF3110 | works |
| imageCLASS D300 | works |
| LASERCLASS 500 | should work |
| FP-L170/MF350/L380/L398 | should work |
| LC310/L390/L408S | works |
| PC-D300/FAX-L400/ICD300 | works |
| L180/L380S/L398S | works |
| L120 | not supported - different data format |
| MF3200 Series | not supported - different data format, different header |
| MF8100 Series | not supported - different data format, color |
Requirements: make, gcc, libcups2-dev, libcupsimage2-dev, cups-ppdc
To compile, simply run "make":
$ make
To install compiled filter and drv file, run "make install" as root:
# make install
or
$ sudo make install
You can then install the printer using standard GUI tools or CUPS web interface.
The libusb backend used by CUPS since 1.4.x is crap. The code is full of quirks for various printers and it's no surprise that it does not work properly with CARPS printers (at least MF5730 and D320) too - the first document prints but nothing more is printed until the printer is turned off and on again.
Seems that the printer gets confused by repeated (re)attaching of the usblp module caused by libusb using the same device.
Since 2018-03-04, this driver installs carps.usb-quirks file that enables "no-reattach" workaround in the CUPS libusb backend on all supported CARPS printers.
The following manual workarounds are not needed anymore (but are kept as reference).
Easy workaround - blacklist usblp module (if you don't need it for other printers) by creating a file /etc/modprobe.d/usblp-blacklist.conf containing:
blacklist usblp
If the modules is already loaded, unload it:
$ sudo rmmod usblp
Another workaround is to set printer URI to the usblp device, e.g. "file:///dev/usb/lp0". For this to work, file: device URIs must be enabled in CUPS configuration: (/etc/cups/cups-files.conf)
FileDevice Yes
You need to restart CUPS then:
$ sudo service cups restart
If you have multiple USB printers, the usblp devices might be assigned differently on each boot or hot-plug. To avoid this, you can create an udev rule like this (example from Ubuntu 14.04 and Canon D320), e.g. /etc/udev/rules.d/canonD320.rules:
SUBSYSTEMS=="usb", ATTRS{ieee1284_id}=="MFG:Canon;MDL:imageCLASS D300;CLS:PRINTER;DES:Canon imageCLASS D300;CID:;CMD:LIPS;", SYMLINK+="canonD320"
You can find your printer's IEEE1284 ID by running:
# udevadm info -a --name=/dev/usb/lpX
When you are done restart udev:
$ sudo service udev restart
Ensure that /dev/canonD320 points to /dev/usb/lpX
Now you can map your printer as file:///dev/canonD320
CARPS printers are very sensitive to paper size.
If only one page prints and the printer LCD shows "check paper size" or no pages are printed until you power cycle the printer, make sure the paper size you have set in the driver/document/application matches the size set on printer panel (LCD menus).