create command to launch printer-specific print queue viewer

[ethanay]

This is a feature request:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=11540606

I am using a Linux computer as a print server for a computer lab. The volunteers who monitor the lab and operate the print server (release, cancel or move print jobs) are computer and linux novices. The print queue viewer needs to autostart on login, and autorefresh, so all the monitor needs to know is whether to release, move or cancel the job. The viewer already autorefreshes. But the autostart on login capacity is missing:

Currently the only way to see the queue for all jobs on a specific printer from ANY user via GUI is

$ system-config-printer
then I right click on the printer in question, and select "View Print Queue Ctrl+F"

There currently appears to be no command-line hook to launch this window directly, which is a major limitation in the functionality of a Linux-based CUPS print server.

Another option to add this functionality is to add an option in the system-config-printer-applet --no-tray-icon GUI to display jobs from any users (including those submitted to the server from client computers), which is what I believe the web-based interface does by default.

thank you!

[Lars Karlitski (larsu)]

Ha, I just started implementing that in gnome-control-center (the UI that will eventually replace the system-config-printer ui).

[ethanay (ethan-y-us)]

ha! good timing, wonderful and thank you!

[Lars Karlitski (larsu)]

Unfortunately, the switch to gnome-control-center's printer panel didn't get finished this cycle.

I squeezed in a small patch to system-config-printer before feature freeze yesterday that adds a command line switch "--show-jobs" that opens the print queue for that printer:

  system-config-printer --show-jobs <printername>

[ethanay (ethan-y-us)]

hi Lars,

when/where will this feature be available??

Is there also a way to view/manage system-wide queues across all printers?

thank you very much, this is wonderful!

[Lars Karlitski (larsu)]

It's in Ubuntu precise since today (final release of precise will be in April).

The patch is in my branch here (hit the "download diff" link to get a raw version):

  http://bazaar.launchpad.net/~larsu/system-config-printer/remove-applet/revision/214

It's a fairly simple patch that does from the command line what Ctrl+F did in the GUI. I don't think that system-config-printer can show queues across all printers right now. Adding that would be a bit more work.

[ethanay (ethan-y-us)]

The functionality you added before feature freeze is exactly what i've been
looking for in a dedicated user-controlled print server. I can just set up
the different print queues as startup programs. thank you!!

On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 4:17 AM, Lars Uebernickel <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> It's in Ubuntu precise since today (final release of precise will be in
> April).
>
> The patch is in my branch here (hit the "download diff" link to get a
> raw version):
>
> http://bazaar.launchpad.net/~larsu/system-config-printer/remove-
> applet/revision/214
>
> It's a fairly simple patch that does from the command line what Ctrl+F
> did in the GUI. I don't think that system-config-printer can show queues
> across all printers right now. Adding that would be a bit more work.
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/905528
>
> Title:
> create command to launch printer-specific print queue viewer
>
> Status in “system-config-printer” package in Ubuntu:
> Fix Released
>
> Bug description:
> This is a feature request:
> http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=11540606
>
> I am using a Linux computer as a print server for a computer lab. The
> volunteers who monitor the lab and operate the print server (release,
> cancel or move print jobs) are computer and linux novices. The print
> queue viewer needs to autostart on login, and autorefresh, so all the
> monitor needs to know is whether to release, move or cancel the job.
> The viewer already autorefreshes. But the autostart on login capacity
> is missing:
>
> Currently the only way to see the queue for all jobs on a specific
> printer from ANY user via GUI is
>
> $ system-config-printer
> then I right click on the printer in question, and select "View Print
> Queue Ctrl+F"
>
> There currently appears to be no command-line hook to launch this
> window directly, which is a major limitation in the functionality of a
> Linux-based CUPS print server.
>
> Another option to add this functionality is to add an option in the
> system-config-printer-applet --no-tray-icon GUI to display jobs from
> any users (including those submitted to the server from client
> computers), which is what I believe the web-based interface does by
> default.
>
> thank you!
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/system-config-printer/+bug/905528/+subscriptions
>

[ethanay (ethan-y-us)]

FYI, this feature is being used in two local open source computer labs to handle printing control through a lab monitor computer that doubles as a print server without tying up a web browser running the CUPS web interface!

This implementation will be much more volunteer and user friendly as it will provide a dedicated print management interface that automatically updates as new jobs appear.

thank you!!!

[Roland65 (roland65)]

A little patch that allows to display the printer queue for all jobs (whatever the printer). To use it, just type :
system-config-printer --show-jobs=all

The patch is for Ubuntu Trusty 14.04 (system-config-printer version 1.4.3+20140219-0ubuntu2.1
RB