pdf printer provided by cups-pdf has disappeared since update to 18.04

[pigs-on-the-swim]

Since the update from Ubuntu 16.n to Ubuntu 18.04 the PDF printer functionality provided by cups-pdf has disappeared (on several machines). The "printer" just disappeared from the list of available printers. In all cases the functionality worked properly before. It is possible to install or re-install the cups-pdf via "apt-get install" and it does run the install. However, the "printer" remains unavailable, no trace. There is no error message visible of whatever kind. Printing from applications using Cups-PDF-printer is no longer possible because there is no Cups-PDF printer no more. Same bug applies to 18.10, too. Please advise how to get back the PDF printer functionality in 18.04.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.10
Package: cups 2.2.8-5ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.18.0-7.8-generic 4.18.5
Uname: Linux 4.18.0-7-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.10-0ubuntu13.1
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Mon Nov 5 23:12:26 2018
InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-09-02 (793 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04.4 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20160217.1)
KernLog:
 [ 871.633929] audit: type=1400 audit(1541455672.543:64): apparmor="DENIED" operation="open" profile="/usr/lib/telepathy/mission-control-5" name="/usr/local/lib/libgcrypt.so.20.1.3" pid=6089 comm="mission-control" requested_mask="r" denied_mask="r" fsuid=1002 ouid=0
 [ 871.634375] audit: type=1400 audit(1541455672.543:65): apparmor="DENIED" operation="open" profile="/usr/lib/telepathy/mission-control-5" name="/usr/local/lib/libgpg-error.so.0.20.0" pid=6089 comm="mission-control" requested_mask="r" denied_mask="r" fsuid=1002 ouid=0
Lpstat:
 device for DESKJET-990C-2: hp:/usb/DeskJet_990C?serial=ES0B81C11DLG
 device for Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-MFP-M725: hp:/net/HP_LaserJet_MFP_M725?zc=NPI02EAAF
 device for HP-LaserJet-5: socket://192.168.22.65:9100
Lsusb:
 Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
 Bus 001 Device 003: ID 8087:0a2b Intel Corp.
 Bus 001 Device 002: ID 04f2:b563 Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd
 Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
MachineType: FUJITSU LIFEBOOK A556/G
Papersize: a4
PpdFiles:
 Error: command ['fgrep', '-H', '*NickName', '/etc/cups/ppd/DESKJET-990C-2.ppd', '/etc/cups/ppd/Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-MFP-M725.ppd', '/etc/cups/ppd/HP-LaserJet-5.ppd'] failed with exit code 2: grep: /etc/cups/ppd/DESKJET-990C-2.ppd: Permission denied
 grep: /etc/cups/ppd/Hewlett-Packard-HP-LaserJet-MFP-M725.ppd: Permission denied
 grep: /etc/cups/ppd/HP-LaserJet-5.ppd: Permission denied
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-4.18.0-7-generic root=UUID=1f7b9a32-c877-4663-b036-c761cde32cfd ro plymouth:debug drm.debug=0xe
SourcePackage: cups
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 09/22/2016
dmi.bios.vendor: FUJITSU // Insyde Software Corp.
dmi.bios.version: Version 1.18
dmi.board.name: FJNBB47
dmi.board.vendor: FUJITSU
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: FUJITSU
dmi.chassis.version: LIFEBOOK A556/G
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnFUJITSU//InsydeSoftwareCorp.:bvrVersion1.18:bd09/22/2016:svnFUJITSU:pnLIFEBOOKA556/G:pvr:rvnFUJITSU:rnFJNBB47:rvr:cvnFUJITSU:ct10:cvrLIFEBOOKA556/G:
dmi.product.family: LIFEBOOK-FTS
dmi.product.name: LIFEBOOK A556/G
dmi.sys.vendor: FUJITSU

[Martin-Éric Racine (q-funk)]

Does this issue still affect cups-pdf 3.0.1 packages?

[Dietmar Wilkens (dietmar-wilkens)]

Hallo,

I can not observe the issue any more.
So I do not know the correct answer,
I conclude: no.
Currently I have no environment to do any meaningful test. Sorry.

I'd assume the issue does not happen any longer. I did not observe it
any more.

Thanks a lot for your effort!!

Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Dietmar Wilkens, Duisburg

Am 17.12.20 um 19:18 schrieb Martin-Éric Racine:
> Does this issue still affect cups-pdf 3.0.1 packages?
>

[Martin-Éric Racine (q-funk)]

Thanks. Let's close it then.