system-config-printer

This page is about the printer administration tool system-config-printer, which first appeared in Fedora (as part of my work at Red Hat), and later Ubuntu and other operating systems.

The purpose of the tool is to configure a CUPS server (often the local machine) using the CUPS API. The tool is written in Python, using pygtk for the graphical parts and with some Python bindings (pycups) for the CUPS API.

It is largely the same as using the CUPS web interface for configuring printers, but has the advantage of being a native application rather than a web page. It appears in the Fedora menu under System ▸ Administration ▸ Printing.

As a result of using the CUPS API the tool is able to configure remote CUPS instances and is not limited to configuring CUPS on the local machine. The CUPS library providing the API uses HTTP and IPP to communicate with the CUPS server.

I work on this application as part of my job at Red Hat.

Download

Download tarball releases from:
http://cyberelk.net/tim/data/system-config-printer/

You will also require pycups from:
http://cyberelk.net/tim/software/pycups/

Source Code

The git repository is available at fedorahosted.org:

git clone git://git.fedorahosted.org/git/system-config-printer.git

or browse using gitweb.

New releases are announced at freshmeat.

Translations

Language translations should be submitted through Fedora Transifex.

Mailing list

There is a public mailing list for discussion of the development of this project.

Reporting bugs

If you have found a bug in system-config-printer, please report it. If system-config-printer came with your operating system, report the bug to the operating system vendor:

256 Responses to “system-config-printer”

  1. Mike says:

    I can’t get my Canon BJC-1000 to print the hole page, it only prints microscopic
    page in the right corner of the A4-paper,OK I know my printer is from “stone
    age”, but it has been working over 10 years and I’ve no money to buy a new one!

  2. Alfredo says:

    Tim,

    Has Mike ever achieved a normal printout with this Canon printer ?

    []‘s

    Alfredo

  3. Juho says:

    Hi..

    I’m having a following problem (and I recall having encountered similar issue while still using Windows, but don’t remember what solved it then): system recognizes my HP LaserJet P1005 and everything seems fine, but when I try to print anything (a file, testpage etc) it just simply doesn’t print anything. The queue shows all the files and claims they’ve been printed. Any easy solution at hand? Thanks..!

  4. kel says:

    Ubuntu recognizes HP 6500 printer for printing but seems to have disabled the scan feature on its own. Keeps saying to refer to device documentation Any suggestions?

  5. Alfredo says:

    I’m having trouble with the scan feature of my HP Photosmart 2610 All-in -One with Ubuntu 12.04.
    I downloaded drivers for that printer to work with Ubuntu, printing is OK, but scanning is inactive.

    any idea ?

    Thanks

    Alfredo

  6. koza says:

    after compile that, what must I do? I have epson t13

  7. David Inskeep says:

    I have UBUNTU 12.10 I am able to print to HP all in one 3050 wireless but not the next model up, the HP all in one 3510. The program spends a great deal more time looking for a driver and then seems to find a driver somewhere but it noes not work. I have gone to the HP website for a driver but they don;t work.

    Please advise if you have time.

    TNX

    David Inskeep

  8. coleman says:

    i not HP 1505 drivers downlaod!
    plase help me!

  9. Kurt Barbee says:

    I am new to linux and am using Replacement for windows. I hav a Brother HL-5250 DN printer connected through a usb port. When I select the printer properties I get Option ‘( Resolution has value’ ‘(unknown IPP tag)’ and cannot be edited. What does that mean and what do I do?

    Thanks

  10. Judd Smith says:

    I’m having the same problem as Juho except with a HP 1505….II am trying to communicate with the printer through a WiFi/network connection ROUTER>UPSTAIRS DESKTOP>PRINTER. That UPSTAIRS DESKTOP is a windows machine…and the HP 1505 IS CONFIGURED TO IT by “windows” plug-in downloaded from HP. So I understand the need for THAT HP Plugin. D’u-all think that I need to download a separate Linux HP Plugin for this remote (desktop) machine?

    It’d be neat if you’d reply directly to my e-mail: js1589@berkeley.edu

    Judd

  11. Alberto says:

    Hello Tim, I open a bug in Ubuntu about the system-config-printer and my printer. It’s a wrong recommendation of printer from the aplication but it has solution :-)

    “I use Ubuntu 13.04 and a printer Brother HL-2135W.

    Before in Ubuntu 12.10, it worked fine. In a new computer, I installed the last version of Ubuntu and I tried to install printer again with system-config-printer aplication. It recommend to me to install drivers for printer HL-2140, but when I tried to print one page, it printed a lot of white pages. I tried to change the printer and if I use the drivers for the printer Brother HL-2035, it works.”

Leave a reply

Comments are moderated. Comments that are inappropriate, offensive, vulgar, badly written or insulting will be deleted or edited to make the author look silly.