Cups-pdf for Windows: driver, virtual PDF printer

Q: What is the objective?

The goal is to provide Windows users with a virtual PDF printer with CUPS (as PDF-Creator). Lire la suite

Cups-pdf is an add-on for the CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) printing system of Unix. This feature allows you to easily convert printable files into PDF files. The Cups-pdf can be accessed from any application that contains the document and allows printing of the document.

What is the objective?

The goal is to provide Windows users with a virtual PDF printer with CUPS (as PDF-Creator).

Installation on the Linux server

Install cups using the following command:

sudo apt-get install cups

Install cups-pdf with the following command:

sudo apt-get install cups-pdf

Edit the configuration file for remote administration and to access to printing:

sudo vi /etc/cups/cupsd.conf

Change the following lines:

Listen localhost:631 to Listen 631 
Listen /var/run/cups/cups.sock 
Listen IP_OF_YOUR_SERVER:9100

Restart the CUPS server

sudo service cups restart

The connection URL to administer CUPS with a light client (Firefox browser):

http://IP_OF_YOUR_SERVER:9100/printers/

How to install Cups-PDF on Windows?

Start > Settings > Printers and Faxes.
Click Add a printer.
"Add Printer" installation wizard opens up.
Select Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer.
Select The printer that I want isn't listed.
Enter the URL for your virtual printer: http://IP_OF_YOUR_SERVER:9100/printers/.
Select the printer driver HP Color Laserjet PS.
Click on OK to complete the installation of a virtual PDF printer.
For Vista and Seven, you can use the HP Color Laserjet 8550 PS or 4550 driver.

How to test a PDF printer?

Right-click on the PDF printer in question in the context menu: Properties > Print a test page.

Where is the test page?

As the user who printed has no account on the Linux server, the document will be in /var/spool/cups-pdf/ANONYMOUS.

Note: Otherwise, if you possess an account on the server, you will find the test file in the PDF folder of your HomeDirectory.

To facilitate the retrieval of your files, you can create a Samba share for Files and Printers (with Windows).

So we will create a Samba share named pdf.
Edit your smb.conf file:
- ```
sudo vi /etc/samba/smb.conf 
```
Add the following lines in your smb.conf file:

[pdf] 
comment = print PDF files
path = /var/spool/cups-pdf/ANONYMOUS 
browseable = no 
guest ok = yes

Restart Samba for the immediate recognition of your share

sudo service smbd restart

How to create a UNC icon on the desktop?

Right-click on the desktop context menu:
Select New > Shortcut
In the window that opens, enter the IP address (or) the server name and share name:
- \\ubuntuserveur\pdf
Click Next and Finish. You should see the icon on the desktop
Double-click the icon to open it and access your test page.