issue while printing arabic text

[maroun2]

i have a laserJetPrinting P1606dn  on solaris 10 (sparc 5.10). i setup the printer up using cups and it is working well except when i print arabic. 

the arabic characters are showing encrypted.

do you have any suggestion on how can i print arabic words. 

[dansdaduk]

>> ... the arabic characters are showing encrypted ...

Can you explain what you mean by this, or (better still) post an image of what you expect versus what gets printed.

The Laserjet Pro P1606dn is a host-based printer (which means that its usual Page Description Language is a (proprietary) encapsulated, compressed, raster-based language.

However, it also appears to support the PCL5e PDL.

I don't have access to a solaris (or any other CUPS) system, so I don't know which PDL is used when print jobs are generated using this system.

I suspect (but don't know for sure) that the printer itself either does not support any Arabic symbol (character) sets at all, or that it may support a few such symbol sets, if it has built-in fonts such as Koufi or Naskh (and the print jobs are PCL5).

If this character set support is not there, then printing Arabic characters would be achieved by one of the following techniques:

• Rasterising the characters on the host-workstation, then converting them to the printer equivalent encapsulated rasters; this would be the only option if the PDL in use is the host-based one.
• Dynamically generating and downloading a printer-format soft font equivalent of the donor (TrueType?) font on the host workstation - this is only relevant if the PCL5 PDL is in use. Note that the downloaded font may be 'obfuscated', which means that the text characters appear to be encoded, but they will print OK in the context of using the downloaded (subset) soft font.

[Shiralinnea]

Yes i agree with him. By rasterising the characters on the host-workstation, converting them to the printer equivalent encapsulated rasters, you can print arabic letter.

[maroun2]

Hi;

kindly note that i use the same way on linux ( i installed CUPS and imported the laser ppd file below ) thus the printer were capable to print arabic words. 

After when using the same ppd file for solaris it is not printing the arabic words 

ppd file

======

*PPD-Adobe: "4.3"
*%%%% PPD file for LaserJet Series PCL 4/5 with CUPS.
*%%%% Created by the CUPS PPD Compiler CUPS v1.4.2.
*% Copyright 2007-2008 by Apple Inc.
*% Copyright 1997-2007 by Easy Software Products.
*%
*% These coded instructions, statements, and computer programs are the
*% property of Apple Inc. and are protected by Federal copyright
*% law. Distribution and use rights are outlined in the file "LICENSE.txt"
*% which should have been included with this file. If this file is
*% file is missing or damaged, see the license at "http://www.cups.org/".
*FormatVersion: "4.3"
*FileVersion: "1.4"
*LanguageVersion: English
*LanguageEncoding: ISOLatin1
*PCFileName: "laserjet.ppd"
*Product: "(LaserJet Series PCL 4/5)"
*Manufacturer: "HP"
*ModelName: "HP LaserJet Series PCL 4/5"
*ShortNickName: "HP LaserJet Series PCL 4/5"
*NickName: "HP LaserJet Series PCL 4/5"
*PSVersion: "(3010.000) 0"
*LanguageLevel: "3"
*ColorDevice: False
*DefaultColorSpace: Gray
*FileSystem: False
*Throughput: "8"
*LandscapeOrientation: Plus90
*TTRasterizer: Type42
*% Driver-defined attributes...
*cupsBackSide: "Normal"
*cupsVersion: 1.4
*cupsModelNumber: 0
*cupsManualCopies: False
*cupsFilter: "application/vnd.cups-raster 50 rastertohp"
*cupsLanguages: "en"
*UIConstraints: *Duplex *Option1 False
*UIConstraints: *Option1 False *Duplex
*UIConstraints: *PageSize A3 *InputSlot Envelope
*UIConstraints: *InputSlot Envelope *PageSize A3
*UIConstraints: *PageSize A4 *InputSlot Envelope
*UIConstraints: *InputSlot Envelope *PageSize A4
*UIConstraints: *PageSize A5 *InputSlot Envelope
*UIConstraints: *InputSlot Envelope *PageSize A5
*UIConstraints: *PageSize B5 *InputSlot Envelope
*UIConstraints: *InputSlot Envelope *PageSize B5
*UIConstraints: *PageSize Executive *InputSlot Envelope
*UIConstraints: *InputSlot Envelope *PageSize Executive
*UIConstraints: *PageSize Legal *InputSlot Envelope
*UIConstraints: *InputSlot Envelope *PageSize Legal
*UIConstraints: *PageSize Letter *InputSlot Envelope
*UIConstraints: *InputSlot Envelope *PageSize Letter
*UIConstraints: *PageSize Tabloid *InputSlot Envelope
*UIConstraints: *InputSlot Envelope *PageSize Tabloid
*OpenUI *PageSize/Media Size: PickOne
*OrderDependency: 10 AnySetup *PageSize
*DefaultPageSize: Letter
*PageSize Letter/US Letter: "<</PageSize[612 792]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageSize Legal/US Legal: "<</PageSize[612 1008]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageSize Executive/US Executive: "<</PageSize[522 756]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageSize Tabloid/Tabloid: "<</PageSize[792 1224]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageSize A3/A3: "<</PageSize[842 1191]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageSize A4/A4: "<</PageSize[595 842]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageSize A5/A5: "<</PageSize[420 595]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageSize B5/B5: "<</PageSize[516 729]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageSize EnvISOB5/ISO B5 Envelope: "<</PageSize[499 709]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageSize Env10/#10 Envelope: "<</PageSize[297 684]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageSize EnvC5/C5 Envelope: "<</PageSize[459 649]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageSize EnvDL/DL Envelope: "<</PageSize[312 624]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageSize EnvMonarch/Monarch Envelope: "<</PageSize[279 540]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*CloseUI: *PageSize
*OpenUI *PageRegion/Media Size: PickOne
*OrderDependency: 10 AnySetup *PageRegion
*DefaultPageRegion: Letter
*PageRegion Letter/US Letter: "<</PageSize[612 792]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageRegion Legal/US Legal: "<</PageSize[612 1008]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageRegion Executive/US Executive: "<</PageSize[522 756]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageRegion Tabloid/Tabloid: "<</PageSize[792 1224]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageRegion A3/A3: "<</PageSize[842 1191]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageRegion A4/A4: "<</PageSize[595 842]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageRegion A5/A5: "<</PageSize[420 595]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageRegion B5/B5: "<</PageSize[516 729]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageRegion EnvISOB5/ISO B5 Envelope: "<</PageSize[499 709]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageRegion Env10/#10 Envelope: "<</PageSize[297 684]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageRegion EnvC5/C5 Envelope: "<</PageSize[459 649]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageRegion EnvDL/DL Envelope: "<</PageSize[312 624]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*PageRegion EnvMonarch/Monarch Envelope: "<</PageSize[279 540]/ImagingBBox null>>setpagedevice"
*CloseUI: *PageRegion
*DefaultImageableArea: Letter
*ImageableArea Letter/US Letter: "18 36 594 756"
*ImageableArea Legal/US Legal: "18 36 594 972"
*ImageableArea Executive/US Executive: "18 36 504 720"
*ImageableArea Tabloid/Tabloid: "18 36 774 1188"
*ImageableArea A3/A3: "18 36 824 1155"
*ImageableArea A4/A4: "18 36 577 806"
*ImageableArea A5/A5: "18 36 402 559"
*ImageableArea B5/B5: "18 36 498 693"
*ImageableArea EnvISOB5/ISO B5 Envelope: "18 36 481 673"
*ImageableArea Env10/#10 Envelope: "18 36 279 648"
*ImageableArea EnvC5/C5 Envelope: "18 36 441 613"
*ImageableArea EnvDL/DL Envelope: "18 36 294 588"
*ImageableArea EnvMonarch/Monarch Envelope: "18 36 261 504"
*DefaultPaperDimension: Letter
*PaperDimension Letter/US Letter: "612 792"
*PaperDimension Legal/US Legal: "612 1008"
*PaperDimension Executive/US Executive: "522 756"
*PaperDimension Tabloid/Tabloid: "792 1224"
*PaperDimension A3/A3: "842 1191"
*PaperDimension A4/A4: "595 842"
*PaperDimension A5/A5: "420 595"
*PaperDimension B5/B5: "516 729"
*PaperDimension EnvISOB5/ISO B5 Envelope: "499 709"
*PaperDimension Env10/#10 Envelope: "297 684"
*PaperDimension EnvC5/C5 Envelope: "459 649"
*PaperDimension EnvDL/DL Envelope: "312 624"
*PaperDimension EnvMonarch/Monarch Envelope: "279 540"
*OpenUI *Resolution/Resolution: PickOne
*OrderDependency: 10 AnySetup *Resolution
*DefaultResolution: 300dpi
*Resolution 150dpi: "<</HWResolution[150 150]/cupsBitsPerColor 1/cupsRowCount 0/cupsRowFeed 0/cupsRowStep 0/cupsColorSpace 3>>setpagedevice"
*Resolution 300dpi: "<</HWResolution[300 300]/cupsBitsPerColor 1/cupsRowCount 0/cupsRowFeed 0/cupsRowStep 0/cupsColorSpace 3>>setpagedevice"
*Resolution 600dpi: "<</HWResolution[600 600]/cupsBitsPerColor 1/cupsRowCount 0/cupsRowFeed 0/cupsRowStep 0/cupsColorSpace 3>>setpagedevice"
*CloseUI: *Resolution
*OpenUI *InputSlot/Media Source: PickOne
*OrderDependency: 10 AnySetup *InputSlot
*DefaultInputSlot: Default
*InputSlot Default/Printer Default: "<</MediaPosition 0>>setpagedevice"
*InputSlot Tray1/Tray 1: "<</MediaPosition 8>>setpagedevice"
*InputSlot Tray2/Tray 2: "<</MediaPosition 1>>setpagedevice"
*InputSlot Tray3/Tray 3: "<</MediaPosition 4>>setpagedevice"
*InputSlot Tray4/Tray 4: "<</MediaPosition 5>>setpagedevice"
*InputSlot Manual/Manual Feed: "<</MediaPosition 2>>setpagedevice"
*InputSlot Envelope/Envelope Feed: "<</MediaPosition 3>>setpagedevice"
*CloseUI: *InputSlot
*OpenUI *Duplex/2-Sided Printing: PickOne
*OrderDependency: 10 AnySetup *Duplex
*DefaultDuplex: None
*Duplex None/Off (1-Sided): "<</Duplex false>>setpagedevice"
*Duplex DuplexNoTumble/Long-Edge (Portrait): "<</Duplex true/Tumble false>>setpagedevice"
*Duplex DuplexTumble/Short-Edge (Landscape): "<</Duplex true/Tumble true>>setpagedevice"
*CloseUI: *Duplex
*OpenGroup: InstallableOptions/Installable Options
*OpenUI *Option1/Duplexer: Boolean
*OrderDependency: 10 AnySetup *Option1
*DefaultOption1: False
*Option1 False/Not Installed: ""
*Option1 True/Installed: ""
*CloseUI: *Option1
*CloseGroup: InstallableOptions
*DefaultFont: Courier
*Font AvantGarde-Book: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font AvantGarde-BookOblique: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font AvantGarde-Demi: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font AvantGarde-DemiOblique: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Bookman-Demi: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Bookman-DemiItalic: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Bookman-Light: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Bookman-LightItalic: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Courier: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Courier-Bold: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Courier-BoldOblique: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Courier-Oblique: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Helvetica: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Helvetica-Bold: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Helvetica-BoldOblique: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Helvetica-Narrow: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Helvetica-Narrow-Bold: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Helvetica-Narrow-BoldOblique: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Helvetica-Narrow-Oblique: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Helvetica-Oblique: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font NewCenturySchlbk-Bold: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font NewCenturySchlbk-BoldItalic: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font NewCenturySchlbk-Italic: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font NewCenturySchlbk-Roman: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Palatino-Bold: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Palatino-BoldItalic: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Palatino-Italic: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Palatino-Roman: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Symbol: Special "(001.005)" Special ROM
*Font Times-Bold: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Times-BoldItalic: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Times-Italic: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font Times-Roman: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font ZapfChancery-MediumItalic: Standard "(1.05)" Standard ROM
*Font ZapfDingbats: Special "(001.005)" Special ROM
*% End of laserjet.ppd, 09570 bytes.

does exist any ppd that can help for solaris sparc 5.10

[dansdaduk]

As I've already stated, i know very little about solaris, and not very much about PPDs.

The PPD that you've posted details of includes the following:

*LanguageEncoding: ISOLatin1

ISOLatin1 is a reference to the 8-bit ISO-8859-1 coded character set -this set does not include any Arabic characters. 

[maroun2]

this ppd file work well on linux.

in case i need to change it to unicode UTF-8 as unicode conver arabic letters. do you know the language enconding parameter to set to solve this issue.

[dansdaduk]

>> ... change it to unicode UTF-8 as unicode conver arabic letters ...

But if the printer itself does not support the characters you need, with the font that you have selected, then you are dependent on something (what, I've no idea), within the solaris spooling sub-system, which can either rasterise the characters on the host workstation (and then convert those to the appropriate printer-format raster images), or generate and download an appropriate printer-format soft font.

You need to establish first which printer-resident fonts (if any) support your required Arabic coded characters.

It would also perhaps be useful to check what is being sent to the printer (and what Page Description Language (probably one of PCL5, PCL6, PostScript) is being used.

On a Windows system, you'd select the 'print to file' option in the Print dialogue, in order to 'capture' the print job to a nominated .prn file (instead of sending the 'instructions' to the printer).

I've no idea whether or not solaris offers any equivalent to this mechanism.

... and you still haven't explained (preferably with images) what you mean by "... the arabic characters are showing encrypted ...".

[maroun2]

[dansdaduk]

... and what should the "IMPRESSION DE MESSAGES" look like? 

Do you know what the code-points (preferably in hexadecimal notation) of the required missing/corrupt characters should be?

I suspect that to get any further forward with diagnosing this problem will require the 'capture' of a sample print job, and subsequent analysis of the content of the capture file (as I indicated before, I've no idea if/how you can do such a 'capture' on solaris).

If the print job uses PCL (PCL5 or PCL6 (PCL XL)), I can perform a certain amount of analysis.

But if the print job uses PostScript, I can't perform the same level of analysis.