Archived thread 822334 from Intrepid Ibex Testing and Discussion (CLOSED). Markdown source: Intrepid_Ibex_Testing_and_Discussion_(CLOSED)/thread_822334_Any_reason_to_have_a_pdf_printer.md
Quick, possibly dumb question: since pdf is available as a "print to file" format, is there really a use now for the pdf printer that doesn't let you choose the destination folder or the file name?
[IMG]http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/130/pantallazoju7.png[/IMG]
I'm sure there a number of programs where print to pdf is not an option. I know its there in openoffice, but it may not be there in other programs. I mean its not really a hindarance. Best is to keep it, in the off chance there is a program that doesn't have a print to pdf option.
abhiroopb said: I'm sure there a number of programs where print to pdf is not an option.
Does that depend on the program itself, or the gnome printing dialogue?
The program
Oh, it's OK then.
You can remove this by removing the *cups-pdf* package.
Bou said: Quick, possibly dumb question: since pdf is available as a "print to file" format, is there really a use now for the pdf printer that doesn't let you choose the destination folder or the file name?
Yes! You can print whatever to a .pdf, it goes into the PDF folder in your Home directory. You then have a copy that can be emailed or taken with you anywhere for printing somewhere else, this came in very useful for me when I had no printer and had to get documents to enroll in some college courses recently.
CD
CREEPING DEATH said: Yes! You can print whatever to a .pdf, it goes into the PDF folder in your Home directory. You then have a copy that can be emailed or taken with you anywhere for printing somewhere else, this came in very useful for me when I had no printer and had to get documents to enroll in some college courses recently.
It was more a case of every program that uses GtkPrint* doesn't need to have the *cups-pdf* PDF option as GtkPrint* already has a PDF option. In fact, cups-pdf was only installed because of Firefox's old crappy printing capability.
bruce89 said: In fact, cups-pdf was only installed because of Firefox's old crappy printing capability.
That's exactly what I meant. But Firefox uses gtkprint now, doesn't it? Is there still a problem with it? I see you get the usual print dialogue when you press ctrl + p, complete with the "print to file" option.
Bou said: That's exactly what I meant. But Firefox uses gtkprint now, doesn't it? Is there still a problem with it? I see you get the usual print dialogue when you press ctrl + p, complete with the "print to file" option.
Yes, indeed it does, which is why I advocate the removal of *cups-pdf* (I always have done anyway).
bruce89 said: Yes, indeed it does, which is why I advocate the removal of *cups-pdf* (I always have done anyway).
If I wanted to file a bug asking for it to be removed from default installs, should I file it against a specific package? cups-pdf maybe?
Print to file creates a postscript file. So print to file is not the same as the pdf printer.
Jim
The plan is to switch to PDF as the default print job format in Intrepid.
https://blueprints.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+spec/pdf-as-standard-print-job-format
If I wanted to file a bug asking for it to be removed from default installs, should I file it against a specific package? cups-pdf maybe?
That would go to ubuntu-meta.
cariboo907 said: Print to file creates a postscript file. So print to file is not the same as the pdf printer.
As far as I know it gives you the choice, PS or PDF.
Bou said: If I wanted to file a bug asking for it to be removed from default installs, should I file it against a specific package? cups-pdf maybe?
*ubuntu-meta* would be better.
Just filed a bug:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubuntu-meta/+bug/238387
Bou said: Just filed a bug:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubuntu-meta/+bug/238387
I like my grumpy quote.
i agree, that the package cups-pdf should be removed, but only after OOo starts using gtkprint (i really wish they'd push to include the necessary patch for 3.0 with intrepid!) [EDIT] nevermind, i forgot that OOo includes a print to PDF function anyway (though it's still hideous, and needs to be patched to use gtkprint)
syxbit said: i agree, that the package cups-pdf should be removed, but only after OOo starts using gtkprint (i really wish they'd push to include the necessary patch for 3.0 with intrepid!)
[EDIT] nevermind, i forgot that OOo includes a print to PDF function anyway (though it's still hideous, and needs to be patched to use gtkprint)
Yes wholeheartedly agree. Until OO starts using gtkprint I'd be happier if cups-pdf was left alone. The Export to PDF function is a nice idea, but what's up with the quality of text? Is it just a setting I'm missing?
syxbit said: [EDIT] nevermind, i forgot that OOo includes a print to PDF function anyway (though it's still hideous, and needs to be patched to use gtkprint)
You can forget about that if you're using OpenType fonts, which is what most modern fonts are. There is also an advantage of PDF export to printing to PDF. As far as I know, only the export embeds links you have throughout the document (like links to chapters in your index) into the pdf file.
Hi, Can you please help me out here? I've never been able to print to PDF. When I try the cpu does a lot of work for a few seconds (depending on length of document of course) and the hdd light flashes but I never end up with a PDF file anywhere, the PDF directory is always empty. What do you do to get this to work? Any help appreciated. Cheers, Mike
I thought I'd weigh in briefly here. I'm working on the Common Printing Dialog for Google Summer of Code. Since we're switching to PDF as the print job submission format, I may be able to add something to the dialog to dump out a PDF instead of submitting it to CUPS. We haven't nailed down all of the details yet, so I don't know how feasible that is, but I will keep it in mind. Also, I'm working on the KDE 4 implementation of the dialog, since I don't really know GTK+. If I have time, I may take a crack at a GTK+ dialog. I may make an announcement of some sort once the specification is finalized and I've done enough work on the KDE 4 dialog to know of any caveats.
scorpion-kde said: I thought I'd weigh in briefly here. I'm working on the Common Printing Dialog for Google Summer of Code. Since we're switching to PDF as the print job submission format, I may be able to add something to the dialog to dump out a PDF instead of submitting it to CUPS. We haven't nailed down all of the details yet, so I don't know how feasible that is, but I will keep it in mind. Also, I'm working on the KDE 4 implementation of the dialog, since I don't really know GTK+. If I have time, I may take a crack at a GTK+ dialog. I may make an announcement of some sort once the specification is finalized and I've done enough work on the KDE 4 dialog to know of any caveats.
GTK+ already has GtkPrintSetupUnixDialog.
bruce89 said: GTK+ already has GtkPrintSetupUnixDialog.
That dialog doesn't support the Common Printing Dialog DBUS API. I know that because the API hasn't been written yet. Also, the Common Printing Dialog specification is very exact about what the layout should be. It may be possible to use that dialog as the starting point, though.
In my experience in Hardy, depending on the font some characters may not print if you use the OpenOffice 2.4 PDF output system, yet if you use CUPS-PDF you get a much cleaner version.
Now OpenOffice may get sorted some time before Intrepid but...then again, we can't predict whether or not OO will ever break again. Having the CUPS system around as a backup can't hurt.
Plus there's God knows how many other apps out there that don't have PDF natively.
As one screwball example: I just fired up IE6 out of Wine, and was able to print to PDF through Wine and CUPS-PDF. Does anybody think IE6 is going to get native Linux PDF generation? Right.
No messin' with CUPS-PDF thanks!
Yes, I think having a system-wide PDF printing facility is definitely a good idea. I see no reason why individual apps should need to "reinvent the wheel" to provide PDF printing.
Jim March said: In my experience in Hardy, depending on the font some characters may not print if you use the OpenOffice 2.4 PDF output system, yet if you use CUPS-PDF you get a much cleaner version.
Now OpenOffice may get sorted some time before Intrepid but...then again, we can't predict whether or not OO will ever break again. Having the CUPS system around as a backup can't hurt. Don't count on it. This bug has been open for years without any work done on it. If you (like me) want it solved (pdf export does have advantages over pdf printing), please vote for the bug.