Printer problem

[70 Tango Charlie]

Hello Everyone,
I started having a problem printing with my HP Office Jet 3830 when the last update driver was installed.
Is there a way to revert back to the previous driver which was working fine?
Linux Mint 19.3
Old driver was 3.15.7
New one is 3.20.3
Or, is there a way to fix it.
It still prints, but the print is so small it is unreadable to these old eyes - even with microscope!

Old Geezer
TC

 

[captain-sensible]

if say i'm drafting a document with Libreoffice i choose font size from menu and that is one element that has an affect on size of what printed. Are you saying that if you have a document with text say at 70 it still prints small ? can you go back to the point when it was ok using timeshift . Did you get HPLIP from H.P site or used package mananger of your OS (linux Mint ?0

 

[70 Tango Charlie]

Ah, my old friend @captain-sensible to my rescue.
That is exactly what I am saying.
I write a document in Libre Office Writer using Liberation Serif at 16. It prints about 1 or 2. Almost unreadable.
It's interesting that this problem just started not long ago. I think it is a driver problem but don't know how to find out for sure.
I will try changing the font and see if that has any effect. Will post results.
OG tc

 

[captain-sensible]

to be honest Tango i'm only really got half a clue with slackware and thats when i'm not unhinged or having beer ! All i can do is put in some suggestions

was it an auto update or you did it manually ?

does : sudo apt search HPLIP/show versions and whats installed?

or sudo apt-show-versions HPLIP

then you could try something like :
sudo apt remove HPLIP_3.20.3 // or what ever its called.
Then if you can get hold of the 3.15.7 version in .deb ; you could install it manually.

But I always worry about removing packages and affect on deps. Really we need some Mint expert here

 

[70 Tango Charlie]

It was a reg update that I have to OK each time.

No results from show versions per screenshot.

TC

 

[70 Tango Charlie]

Here's a screenie of my printing results.

That's exactly what I get when printing a page. The material is there, but really tiny.
OG
TC

 

[captain-sensible]

mmm its one reason I prefer updating manually so i now what the tresult is going to be ; with my os removing a package cleanly is no problem.

 

[captain-sensible]

what do you get with either:

sudo apt --help
sudo apt-get --help

 

[captain-sensible]

while i'm here on printing and fonts have you got something similar to a /usr/share/fonts folder with OTF or TTF inside. because i can show you how to get extra fonts put them in the right folder and make them available to LibeOffice etc

 

[wizardfromoz]

apt-cache policy hplip

OR

apt policy hplip

will show as follows

[email protected]:~$ sudo apt-cache policy hplip
hplip:
  Installed: 3.17.10+repack0-5
  Candidate: 3.17.10+repack0-5
  Version table:
 *** 3.17.10+repack0-5 500
        500 http://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/ubuntu/archive bionic/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

for very verbose but informative on dependencies

apt show hplip

, which for me gives

Spoiler: very verbose - don't fall asleep

[email protected]:~$ apt show hplip
Package: hplip
Version: 3.17.10+repack0-5
Priority: optional
Section: utils
Origin: Ubuntu
Maintainer: Ubuntu Developers <[email protected]>
Original-Maintainer: Debian Printing Team <[email protected]>
Bugs: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+filebug
Installed-Size: 1,601 kB
Depends: adduser, cups, hplip-data (= 3.17.10+repack0-5), libhpmud0 (= 3.17.10+repack0-5), libsane-hpaio (= 3.17.10+repack0-5), lsb-base, printer-driver-hpcups (= 3.17.10+repack0-5), python3-dbus, python3-gi, python3-pexpect, python3-pil, python3-reportlab, wget, python3 (<< 3.7), xz-utils, python3 (>= 3.6~), libc6 (>= 2.14), libcups2 (>= 1.6.0), libdbus-1-3 (>= 1.9.14), libsane1 (>= 1.0.24)
Recommends: avahi-daemon, policykit-1, printer-driver-postscript-hp, sane-utils
Suggests: hplip-doc, hplip-gui, python3-notify2, system-config-printer
Homepage: https://developers.hp.com/hp-linux-imaging-and-printing
Task: ubuntu-desktop, kubuntu-desktop, xubuntu-core, xubuntu-desktop, lubuntu-desktop-share, lubuntu-gtk-desktop, lubuntu-desktop, lubuntu-qt-desktop, ubuntustudio-desktop-core, ubuntustudio-desktop, ubuntukylin-desktop, ubuntu-mate-core, ubuntu-mate-desktop, ubuntu-budgie-desktop
Supported: 5y
Download-Size: 1,035 kB
APT-Manual-Installed: yes
APT-Sources: http://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/ubuntu/archive bionic/main amd64 Packages
Description: HP Linux Printing and Imaging System (HPLIP)
The HP Linux Printing and Imaging System provides full support for
printing on most HP SFP (single function peripheral) inkjets and many
LaserJets, and for scanning, sending faxes and for photo-card access on
most HP MFP (multi-function peripheral) printers.
.
HPLIP is composed of:
* System services to handle communications with the printers
* HP CUPS backend driver (hp with bi-directional communication with
HP printers (provides printer status feedback to CUPS and enhanced
HPIJS functionality such as 4-side full-bleed printing support)
* HP CUPS backend driver for sending faxes (hpfax
* hpcups CUPS Raster driver to turn rasterized input from the CUPS
filter chain into the printer's native format (PCL, LIDIL, ...).
(hpcups is shipped in a separate package)
* HPIJS Ghostscript IJS driver to rasterize output from PostScript(tm)
files or from any other input format supported by Ghostscript, and
also for PostScript(tm) to fax conversion support
(HPIJS is shipped in a separate package)
* Command line utilities to perform printer maintenance, such as
ink-level monitoring or pen cleaning and calibration
* GUI and command line utility to download data from the photo card
interfaces in MFP devices
* GUI and command line utilities to interface with the fax functions
* A GUI toolbox to access all these functions in a friendly way
* HPAIO SANE backend (hpaio) for flatbed and Automatic Document Feeder
(ADF) scanning using MFP devices
.
USB, JetDirect (network) and parallel-port devices are supported.

i'd be looking at timeshift, perhaps, charlie

morning all

wizard off for coffee with his girl (22nd anniversary yesterday)

 

[70 Tango Charlie]

what do you get with either:

sudo apt --help
sudo apt-get --help

Cap,
This is what I show.
OG

 

[70 Tango Charlie]

apt-cache policy hplip

OR

apt policy hplip

will show as follows

[email protected]:~$ sudo apt-cache policy hplip
hplip:
  Installed: 3.17.10+repack0-5
  Candidate: 3.17.10+repack0-5
  Version table:
*** 3.17.10+repack0-5 500
        500 http://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/ubuntu/archive bionic/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

for very verbose but informative on dependencies

apt show hplip

, which for me gives

Spoiler: very verbose - don't fall asleep

[email protected]:~$ apt show hplip
Package: hplip
Version: 3.17.10+repack0-5
Priority: optional
Section: utils
Origin: Ubuntu
Maintainer: Ubuntu Developers <[email protected]>
Original-Maintainer: Debian Printing Team <[email protected]>
Bugs: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+filebug
Installed-Size: 1,601 kB
Depends: adduser, cups, hplip-data (= 3.17.10+repack0-5), libhpmud0 (= 3.17.10+repack0-5), libsane-hpaio (= 3.17.10+repack0-5), lsb-base, printer-driver-hpcups (= 3.17.10+repack0-5), python3-dbus, python3-gi, python3-pexpect, python3-pil, python3-reportlab, wget, python3 (<< 3.7), xz-utils, python3 (>= 3.6~), libc6 (>= 2.14), libcups2 (>= 1.6.0), libdbus-1-3 (>= 1.9.14), libsane1 (>= 1.0.24)
Recommends: avahi-daemon, policykit-1, printer-driver-postscript-hp, sane-utils
Suggests: hplip-doc, hplip-gui, python3-notify2, system-config-printer
Homepage: https://developers.hp.com/hp-linux-imaging-and-printing
Task: ubuntu-desktop, kubuntu-desktop, xubuntu-core, xubuntu-desktop, lubuntu-desktop-share, lubuntu-gtk-desktop, lubuntu-desktop, lubuntu-qt-desktop, ubuntustudio-desktop-core, ubuntustudio-desktop, ubuntukylin-desktop, ubuntu-mate-core, ubuntu-mate-desktop, ubuntu-budgie-desktop
Supported: 5y
Download-Size: 1,035 kB
APT-Manual-Installed: yes
APT-Sources: http://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/ubuntu/archive bionic/main amd64 Packages
Description: HP Linux Printing and Imaging System (HPLIP)
The HP Linux Printing and Imaging System provides full support for
printing on most HP SFP (single function peripheral) inkjets and many
LaserJets, and for scanning, sending faxes and for photo-card access on
most HP MFP (multi-function peripheral) printers.
.
HPLIP is composed of:
* System services to handle communications with the printers
* HP CUPS backend driver (hp with bi-directional communication with
HP printers (provides printer status feedback to CUPS and enhanced
HPIJS functionality such as 4-side full-bleed printing support)
* HP CUPS backend driver for sending faxes (hpfax
* hpcups CUPS Raster driver to turn rasterized input from the CUPS
filter chain into the printer's native format (PCL, LIDIL, ...).
(hpcups is shipped in a separate package)
* HPIJS Ghostscript IJS driver to rasterize output from PostScript(tm)
files or from any other input format supported by Ghostscript, and
also for PostScript(tm) to fax conversion support
(HPIJS is shipped in a separate package)
* Command line utilities to perform printer maintenance, such as
ink-level monitoring or pen cleaning and calibration
* GUI and command line utility to download data from the photo card
interfaces in MFP devices
* GUI and command line utilities to interface with the fax functions
* A GUI toolbox to access all these functions in a friendly way
* HPAIO SANE backend (hpaio) for flatbed and Automatic Document Feeder
(ADF) scanning using MFP devices
.
USB, JetDirect (network) and parallel-port devices are supported.

i'd be looking at timeshift, perhaps, charlie

morning all

wizard off for coffee with his girl (22nd anniversary yesterday)

@wizardfromoz
Congrats to you and the wife!
Here is what I come up with 'show hplip'.

I have difficulty knowing what I should be looking for.

I did do a Timeshift restore to my Jan 16 save, but that did not seem to do any good. {I wonder if it kept the updated 3.20.3. instead of going back to the 3.15.7}
OG
TC

 

[70 Tango Charlie]

while i'm here on printing and fonts have you got something similar to a /usr/share/fonts folder with OTF or TTF inside. because i can show you how to get extra fonts put them in the right folder and make them available to LibeOffice etc

Cap,
Here is what I get in my fonts folder:

 

[wizardfromoz]

charlie

1. remind me if you use cinnamon or mate?
2. do you perform your updates through the mint update shield?

wiz

 

[70 Tango Charlie]

1. Mate.
2. Yes.

 

[wizardfromoz]

mate, a little later in my day i can put together a short vid showing you how to track updates that have been installed that way

cheers and safe easter

 

[70 Tango Charlie]

Thanks. I look forward to it.
Must be getting towards beer time for you, isn't it? LOL. Well, maybe in 4 or 5 hours.
Old Man C.

 

[wizardfromoz]

Thanks. I look forward to it.

no worries - we are journeymen on the road to linux wisdom and have to look out for each other

beer time for you

haha maybe in 3 hours

later

 

[jglen490]

@wizardfromoz
Congrats to you and the wife!
Here is what I come up with 'show hplip'.

View attachment 6002
View attachment 6003
View attachment 6004

I have difficulty knowing what I should be looking for.

I did do a Timeshift restore to my Jan 16 save, but that did not seem to do any good. {I wonder if it kept the updated 3.20.3. instead of going back to the 3.15.7}
OG
TC

So, TC, did you install the HPLIP GUI? It has a diagnosis tool that opens a terminal, runs a bunch of internal checks and returns errors or warnings that you can act on, such as missing software or drivers.

According to HPLIP the minimum version is 3.15.7 and the apt show hplip, above, shows 3.17.10 repack, which comes from the Ubuntu repos, which shouldn't be a problem. Sometimes a font pack will show up as an equivalent for a font that the office software or the printer are expecting to use. Sometime ago I went through an exercise to remove a bunch of fonts that were causing issues for my printer, also (HP Deskjet 3755). I had to do a Google search for the procedure to remove fonts, and don't remember off the top what that was. My printer is now generally fine.

If you don't have the GUI, I would recommend installing it. It handles the HP printers a little better than the Ubuntu based OSes do, natively.

 

[wizardfromoz]

...did you install the HPLIP GUI?

sounds good advice

charlie, before i get to that video, can you run an exercise for me?

1. in terminal, type and enter

du -ah /var/cache/apt/archives

btw you could go as far as /var/cache/apt/arc and press tab once and it will complete.

you'll see a lot of output spool by, when it ends, let us know the figure at bottom left.

2. follow that up with

ls /var/cache/apt/archives/ | grep -i hplip

and let us know the output

cheers

wiz