Topic

Hey! Where's my optional feeders for my Apple LaserWriter Printers! ?

I know they're installed and working properly, because any machine on the network running Legacy Mac OS (6.x - 9.x) or OS X 10.0.0 - 10.1.5 can see and use the options just fine.

To clarify, yes, I know where the "hidden" options are, but they don't always work. If you don't know where they are, launch Print Center, highlight your printer, and press Command-I; you'll see something like this:

If you're lucky, they'll work for you; for many people, especially those with older machines on mixed networks, they don't always work.

Discussion

Legacy Apple LaserWriter Printers have long been the staple of business and print houses; these incredible workhorses (many based on HP print engines) can crank out well over 500K pages before they need any serious maintenance; many models require generic toner cartridges costing less than US$65.00, and last for over 4K pages (depending on coverage and density settings). Thanks to the Dot-Com blowout, the best models can be found on eBay today for well under US$200.00 -- they originally sold for in excess of US$2500.00 and more.

Unfortunately, Apple broke the PPDs for these precious tools as of OS X 10.2 - 10.2.1 (as of 1 October 2002), and many people can't print to their expensive, and very useful optional add-on devices, such as 500 sheet cassettes, envelope feeders and more.

Not to fear! If you're patient, and can follow directions, you can easily make a workaround for each device you wish to use.

NOTE: I'm still trying to work on a method to automatically print the first page from one feeder, and the rest from another; as soon as I figure it out, I'll publish the procedure. Hopefully, OS X 10.2.2 is on the way, and I won't have to.

Solution

Step One: Open Print Center; Add your Apple LaserWriter Printer; if it is already listed, delete it and re-add it as a precaution.

Step Two: Open any document (preferably not more than one page long) and select Print from the File Menu (Command-P); From the open Print Dialog, select the 'Paper Feed' option and set it to 'Cassette (250 Sheets)' (or whatever option *besides* 'Automatic' is available).

Step Three: Use the 'Presets' popup menu to 'Save' this new basic configuration; give it a name appropriate to the optional cassette you are adding; e.g., 'Cassette (500 Sheets)' .

• Repeat for each optional feeder you need to add; e.g., 'Envelope Feeder'.

Note: The next step requires the application 'PropertyListEditor'; available on the Developer Tools CD. You may also use the excellent PrefEdit, if you choose. I'm sure there's a way to do it with Terminal, but I haven't bothered to figure it out.

Step Four: Locate and highlight the file 'com.apple.print.custompresets.plist' in the current user's folder; e.g., 'Macintosh HD:Users:CurrentUser:Library:Preferences:com.apple.print.custompresets.plist'

If you're using PrefEdit, simply launch it and look for the .plist of that name.

• Control-Click (Right-Click) and use the 'Open With..." menu to select 'PropertyListEditor' to open the file (or Double-Click the file and then find PropertyListEditor, if it doesn't automatically open it using PLE).

Step Five: In the open PLE Window, click on the expansion arrow next to 'Root';
• you will now see an entry for each custom device you created;
• expand the arrow next to the first one (e.g., 'Cassette (500 Sheets)');
• expand the arrow next to 'com.apple.print.preset.settings';
• expand the arrow next to 'com.apple.print.PrintSettings.PMPrimaryPaperFeed Array';
• Double-Click on the 'Value' 'StandardCassette';
• edit the value to read 'OptionalCassette' (watch your spelling!);

• press 'Return'; now 'Save' (Command-S) the change.

Step Six: Repeat for each device you wish to add. Our printers only have the two above-listed devices, so I only know how to add those two so far.

• The correct entry for the Optional Envelope Feeder is 'Envelope'.

That's it! If you return to your Print dialog, and from the 'Preset' popup menu, you choose your corresponding preset, you will find it is now active (though it will remain grayed-out as a selection).

If you need to create additional presets using the "unavailable" optional device, simply choose your existing base preset that activates the device; make any changes or additions to other settings as you wish; use the 'Save As...' option and choose a new name (e.g., 'Cassette (500 Sheets) at 300DPI').

If ALL the users on your machine (and even network) use the same printers and want the same options, you may simply copy your modified and saved 'com.apple.print.custompresets.plist' to the Preferences folder for each user needed.

Conclusion

I hope this article saves the sanity of at least a few users until Apple gets around to fixing the issue.