Libreoffice does not update printer list

[Raul Dias]

When Libreoffice is started it reads the printer list and saves it.
When there is a change related to cups (new printers) or change the cups server, libreoffice needs to be restarted (all insteances) to acknowledge the new printers.

When I change offices, I need to update the /etc/cups/client.conf (or use a localhost cups server at home).
If I have libreoffice open, it will not find any printer.

This is a duplicated issue of https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/libreoffice/+bug/911235
But that was focused on a specific printer model while the problem is more abroad.

I have seen it from 12.04 to 15.10.
Libreoffice 3.x to 5.x

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Raul Dias, thank you for reporting this and helping make Ubuntu better.

To confirm this is already resolved in Ubuntu, could you please test http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-live/current/ and advise to the results?

[Raul Dias (rsd)]

Just did a full upgrade to 16.04.
cups is 2.1.3-4
libreoffice is 1:5.1.2-0ubuntu1 (5.1.2.2)

The scenario:
1 - Cups is my localhost:

 raul@nostromo:~$ cat /etc/cups/client.conf
 raul@nostromo:~$ lpstat -a
 EPSON_L355_Series accepting requests since Sáb 23 Abr 2016 17:22:15 BRT
 HP-LaserJet-1200 accepting requests since Sáb 02 Abr 2016 17:45:49 BRT
 Xerox_Phaser_3200MFP accepting requests since Sáb 05 Mar 2016 15:31:34 BRT

The Libreoffice Printer Dialog is attached to comment #2.
So far so good.

2 - Change client.conf to use a remote server:

 raul@nostromo:~$ cat /etc/cups/client.conf
 ServerName impressoras2
 raul@nostromo:~$ lpstat -a
 CPD accepting requests since Seg 25 Abr 2016 08:06:59 BRT
 CPD-Cond accepting requests since Qua 26 Ago 2015 17:28:58 BRT
 CPD-Normal accepting requests since Qua 26 Ago 2015 17:36:20 BRT
 CPD-P-C-2 accepting requests since Qua 26 Ago 2015 17:39:08 BRT
 CPD-P-Cond accepting requests since Qua 26 Ago 2015 17:38:39 BRT
 CPD-P-Norm accepting requests since Qua 26 Ago 2015 17:37:30 BRT
 ECOMMERCE accepting requests since Seg 25 Abr 2016 08:00:07 BRT
 EPSON_LX-300-RAW accepting requests since Ter 12 Abr 2016 08:00:05 BRT
 HP_LaserJet_1200 accepting requests since Qui 10 Mar 2016 08:01:21 BRT
 LX-300-A accepting requests since Sex 16 Mai 2014 14:43:17 BRT
 LX-300-B accepting requests since Sex 16 Mai 2014 14:43:36 BRT
 Padrao accepting requests since Sex 16 Mai 2014 14:39:28 BRT
 saci accepting requests since Sex 22 Abr 2016 14:26:00 BRT
 Zebra accepting requests since Sex 16 Mai 2014 14:44:48 BRT

The Libreoffice Printer Dialog is still the attached to comment #2.
The printer list is not refreshed. Some libreoffice internal cache.

3 - Close every instance of libreoffice running and start it again.

The Libreoffice Printer Dialog is the attached to comment #3.
This is what was expected on step 2.

This seems to be the same bug in https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/libreoffice/+bug/911235, except that it does not work in this situation.

As I mentioned, this is present for many years now.

[Raul Dias (rsd)]

I did some digging and the printer list is pulled when I first hit CONTROL-P (File->Print).

So, if I change the client.conf before trying to use the printer, it will get the current list even after it has started up.
It will not update any time later on.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Marc Kolly (makuser)]

Were you able to find out the root cause of this?

I am also seeing this on a 16.04 machine. I've several other 14.04 machines in the same network, that don't have this issue.

I have a central cups:amd64/stable 1.7.5-11+deb8u1 server, that broadcasts the list of printers to all of our workstations, but interestingly only the new 16.04 machine, that I set up to test the new LTS release, shows these symptoms. When this happens, only the "Generic Printer" will be shown, instead of the actual printer list.