ADDING PRINTERS FOR USE WITH EDG SHOP SOFTWARE
Mentor Graphics

The home directory for all the Mentor Graphics printing files is /etc/lp/mgc. Each machine has its own copy of this directory, which will need to be updated when versions of the Mentor Graphics tree changes.

Procedure for adding printer named xxx:

  • cp $MGC_HOME/shared/pkgs/ps_filter/templates/ps_filter.template /etc/lp/mgc/configs/xxx

    • Uncomment the device line, the paper_size line and if printing to a file, the output_directory line

  • cp $MGC_HOME/pkgs/print_base/examples/fis.template /etc/lp/mgc/fis/xxx

    • Fill in the info requested, such as MGC_HOME, printer name and if printing to an output device, the print command.

  • cp $MGC_HOME/pkgs/print_base/examples/mgc_only_model.template /usr/spool/lp/model/xxx

    • Put in the proper log file and the correct path to the fis file created in the previous step.

  • copy a file already in /etc/lp/interface to /etc/lp/interface/xxx and edit as needed

    • Once the files have been created and edited, the printers must be made known to the operating system. Use the following steps to set up printer xxx:

  • lpshut

  • lpadmin -pxxx -i/usr/spool/lp/model/xxx -v/dev/null

  • lpsched

  • accept xxx -- if you get an error that printer xxx is non-existent, go to /usr/spool/lp/request, create the directory xxx and make sure the permissions match the other directories.

  • enable xxx

    • If you want to create a new printer with the same name as a previously created printer, you must first delete it. This is done right after using lpshut to stop the printing system. To delete a printer named ps, use the command: lpadmin -xps

    To test the printer, use $MGC_HOME/bin/plot_test.

    Cadence Software

    First, make sure that the printer is added using SAM. Once the printer is working with the lp command, use the program plotconfig to set up the printers/plotters for use with Cadence. The document that will help in setting the printers up is the "Plotter Configuration User Guide", called plot.pdf. The plotconfig program is pretty simple, in that, one just copies one of the preset plotters to use and then configures it to the local settings. Make sure to check "Site" for the configuration file, so that any additions are visible to all users. The file that is created is /net/sw/cad2004/ic5141/tools/plot/.cdsplotinit.

    In the list of installed printers, highlight the printer to edit and then select either "Setup" or "Queue". In setup, the page sizes available can be chosen. In queue, the lp command to use when printing is entered.

    HP-UX Issues

    When using SAM to install some of our Jet-direct connected printers, it would sometimes complain that the printer couldn't be pinged. However, the printers could be pinged from a regular terminal window. This was due to the fact that our printers were on the 10 subnet, which is accessible only from campus, while the workstations were on the regular internet-accessible subnet. The error could just be ignored and the installation should continue. Once everything is done, the plotter works fine.

    List of Current (10-November-05) Printers in EDG for use with Mentor Graphics

  • A--Prints to A-size in black and white

  • B--Prints to B-size in black and white

  • colora--Prints to A-size file in color

  • colorb--Prints to B-size file in color

  • A_file--Prints to a black and white file in /usr/tmp

  • B_file--Prints to a black and white file in /usr/tmp

  • C_file--Prints to a color file in /usr/tmp

  • D_file--Prints to a color file in /usr/tmp

  • plota--Prints to A-size on color plotter
  • plotb--Prints to B-size on color plotter
  • plotc--Prints to C-size on color plotter
  • plotd--Prints to D-size on color plotter