HP OfficeJet Linux driver (hpoj) documentation index
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Introduction
This software provides Linux and partial FreeBSD support for most
"multi-function" (also known as "all-in-one") peripherals from
Hewlett-Packard, including OfficeJet,
LaserJet, Printer/Scanner/Copier ("PSC"), and PhotoSmart printer products.
It consists of:
- Low-level drivers and libraries to communicate with the device.
Depending on your hardware and operating system, you may connect
devices directly to your computer with a parallel port or
USB (Universal Serial Bus), or to a LAN (Local Area Network)
using certain models of HP JetDirect print servers.
- An application programming interface (API) known as "PTAL" (Peripheral
Transport Abstraction Libary) that hides the differences
in accessing devices connected via parallel, USB, or JetDirect.
- Printing support, largely powered by ghostscript, the
hpijs driver
(for most models), and one of various print spoolers (lpd,
CUPS, PDQ, etc.)
that may already be installed on your computer.
- Scanning support, in conjunction with
SANE (Scanner Access Now Easy).
- Access to photo-card readers, in conjunction with
mtools.
- Graphical and command-line applications to access various features of the
device, such as displaying status of the device and setting the clock.
The hpoj Supported
Devices page has the most up-to-date list of models and functionality
that are supported by the hpoj software.
Installation and setup
Follow these steps to install the hpoj software initially, or to set up
new devices later:
- Compiling and installing the software
- Setting up basic device connectivity
- Setting up printing
- Setting up scanning
- Setting up photo-card access
Please also register your HP product(s)
if you haven't already done so.
Additional support resources
In addition to this documentation provided with the hpoj software,
the following support resources are provided for your convenience:
World-wide web
- The hpoj web site is at
http://hpoj.sourceforge.net.
- Information on known bugs and possible solutions or workarounds is
available on the
Bugs and TODO page. If you run into trouble with the software,
be sure to check this page before reporting a bug.
- This documentation provided with the software is also mirrored on the
Documentation page.
Mailing lists
Visit the Mailing lists
page to subscribe/unsubscribe and/or to browse the message archives.
- hpoj-announce@lists.sourceforge.net -- New software release
announcements (read-only).
-
hpoj-devel@lists.sourceforge.net -- Feedback, problem reports,
and technical discussions. Your comments about the software, documentation,
and/or website are greatly appreciated, because we want to make them
useful to as many people on as many systems as possible. Currently it's
not necessary to subscribe before posting to the mailing list.
Direct e-mail
David Paschal is the current maintainer of the hpoj software.
However, for most matters, please write and reply to the
hpoj-devel
mailing list described above.
If you really want to write just to David, then send to both
david_paschal@hp.com and paschal@rcsis.com.
High-level command reference
These commands access specific high-level functions of the device
and are probably of interest to most users:
- ptal-hp -- Device configuration and
status
- xojpanel -- QT-based application that
displays the contents of the device's LCD panel (not supported on certain
models)
Low-level command reference
These commands exercise basic low-level connectivity to the device.
They are useful for testing the communications path when first setting
up a device and for debugging problems, but otherwise, they are probably
of interest mainly to advanced users and developers.
- ptal-devid -- Displays the device
ID string or certain fields
- ptal-connect -- Connects to
various stream services on the device
- ptal-print -- Alias for
ptal-connect that defaults to
connecting to the print service
- ptal-pml -- Gets/sets PML objects
- ptal-device -- Lists device names
which have been registered with
"ptal-init setup"
- hpojip-test -- Test application for image-processing library
Library reference
- libptal -- Abstracts differences
in low-level I/O over parallel, USB, and JetDirect connections
(the programming API is documented here)
- libhpojip -- Image-processing library
- libsane-hpoj -- SANE backend
for scanning on all hpoj-supported models
Administration and daemon command reference
- ptal-init -- Starts/stops the
daemons and probes your system for new devices
- ptal-mlcd -- Low-level I/O
(MLC/1284.4) driver daemon for parallel-port and USB connections
- ptal-printd -- Daemon that
simulates a printer character device in /var/run/ptal-printd
and routes the data through the PTAL I/O path
- ptal-photod -- Daemon that
provides access via mtools to the photo-card readers on certain
models
- ptal-cups -- CUPS backend
for PTAL devices
Technical information
The following information is intended for developers of applications
using the hpoj software's services, and for those desiring a deeper
understanding of the hpoj software and/or of the underlying device
protocols.