howto:ppd:test [SavaPage

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===== How to test PPD files =====

==== savaspool.sh ====

Download and install [[https://www.savapage.org/download/PPD/savaspool.sh|savaspool.sh]] on your SavaPage server. 
> Installation instructions are found in the header of the ''savaspool.sh'' file.

Create a CUPS printer with the ''savaspool:/path/to/basefilename'' Device-URI and the PPD to be tested:
  * Spoolfiles are created as ''/path/to/basefilename-[jobid]-[title].prn''
  * Print job Information is written to ''/path/to/savaspool.log'', with:
    * Spoolfile path.
    * CUPS Job ID, User, Title and number of copies.
    * PPD job options
    * Spooling start and finish time. 

Spool files can be saved as reference for all kind of test cases, so they can be raw printed to the actual printer type/model, like this:

<code bash>
# Linux
lpr -P printername -l spoolfile
# This is equivalent to:
lpr -P printername -o raw spoolfile
</code>

<code winbatch>
; Windows
copy spoolfile "\\{Server Name}\\{Printer Share Name}"
</code>

==== lpr ====

''lpr'' submits files for printing.  Files named on the command line are sent to the named printer or the default destination if no destination is specified. If no files are listed on the command-line, ''lpr'' reads the print file from the standard input.

<code bash>
# Use the -o option to set PPD job options. For example:
lpr -P my-printer -o Duplex=None -o Collate=True sample.pdf
</code>

==== ipptool ===

''ipptool'' sends IPP  requests to the specified printer-uri and tests and/or displays the results. It is meant for IPP developers. Read the man pages for more information.

<code bash>
sudo apt install cups-ipp-utils
man ipptool
man ipptoolfile
# Get printer attributes of my-printer using get-printer-attributes
# (other sample .test files are located in /usr/share/cups/ipptool/)
ipptool -X ipp://localhost:631/printers/my-printer /usr/share/cups/ipptool/get-printer-attributes.test 
</code>

==== Troubleshooting ===

<code bash>
# Inspect CUPS logging
cd /var/log/cups
sudo view error_log
sudo view access_log
</code>

<code bash>
# Find driver messages, e.g. for "foomatic"
sudo dmesg -T | grep foomatic
</code>

[[https://ghostscript.com/doc/current/History9.htm|History of Ghostscript Versions 9.xx]]

=== Printer Firmware ===
If same CUPS, Ghostscript and PPD versions leads to different results on different printers, check printer firmware versions.