Cannot print duplex on HP Officejet Pro 8500 a909g

Asked by John Grant

When printing from LibreOffice 3.4.2 OOO340m1 (Build:1206) no option to print double sided.
Ho do I set up the option to Print duplex?

HP Officejet Pro 8500 a909g
HP Linux Imaging and Printing System (ver. 3.11.5)
Dependency/Version Check Utility ver. 14.3
Basic system information:
Linux linux-b9r1 2.6.37.6-0.7-desktop #1 SMP PREEMPT 2011-07-21 02:17:24 +0200 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
Distribution: suse 11.4

Created document in LibreOffice
Selected File Print
Selected Printer and Properties
Under tab Device, Duplexer Installed = "Installed"
Under tab Duplex shows only two options "off" and "<ignore>"

Neither Duplex option prints double-sided

Note Duplex does work in Copy mode

john@linux-b9r1:~> hp-check -t

HP Linux Imaging and Printing System (ver. 3.11.5)
Dependency/Version Check Utility ver. 14.3

Copyright (c) 2001-9 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP
This software comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.
This is free software, and you are welcome to distribute it
under certain conditions. See COPYING file for more details.

Note: hp-check can be run in three modes:
1. Compile-time check mode (-c or --compile): Use this mode before compiling the HPLIP supplied tarball (.tar.gz or .run) to determine if the proper dependencies are installed to successfully
compile HPLIP.
2. Run-time check mode (-r or --run): Use this mode to determine if a distro supplied package (.deb, .rpm, etc) or an already built HPLIP supplied tarball has the proper dependencies installed
to successfully run.
3. Both compile- and run-time check mode (-b or --both) (Default): This mode will check both of the above cases (both compile- and run-time dependencies).

Saving output in log file: hp-check.log

Initializing. Please wait...

---------------
| SYSTEM INFO |
---------------

Basic system information:
Linux linux-b9r1 2.6.37.6-0.7-desktop #1 SMP PREEMPT 2011-07-21 02:17:24 +0200 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Distribution:
suse 11.4

Checking Python version...
OK, version 2.7.0 installed

Checking PyQt 4.x version...
OK, version 4.8.3 installed.

Checking for CUPS...
Status: scheduler is running
Version: 1.4.6
warning: /etc/cups/cupsd.conf file not found or not accessible.

Checking for dbus/python-dbus...
dbus daemon is running.
python-dbus version: 0.83.2

------------------------------------
| COMPILE AND RUNTIME DEPENDENCIES |
------------------------------------

note: To check for compile-time only dependencies, re-run hp-check with the -c parameter (ie, hp-check -c).
note: To check for run-time only dependencies, re-run hp-check with the -r parameter (ie, hp-check -r).

Checking for dependency: CUPS - Common Unix Printing System...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: CUPS devel- Common Unix Printing System development files...
error: NOT FOUND! This is a REQUIRED/COMPILE TIME ONLY dependency. Please make sure that this dependency is installed before installing or running HPLIP.
To install this dependency, execute this command:
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses cups-devel cupsddk"

Checking for dependency: CUPS image - CUPS image development files...
error: NOT FOUND! This is a REQUIRED/COMPILE TIME ONLY dependency. Please make sure that this dependency is installed before installing or running HPLIP.
To install this dependency, execute this command:
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses cups-devel"

Checking for dependency: DBus - Message bus system...
error: NOT FOUND! This is a REQUIRED dependency. Please make sure that this dependency is installed before installing or running HPLIP.
To install this dependency, execute this command:
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses dbus-1-devel python-gobject2"

Checking for dependency: gcc - GNU Project C and C++ Compiler...
error: NOT FOUND! This is a REQUIRED/COMPILE TIME ONLY dependency. Please make sure that this dependency is installed before installing or running HPLIP.
To install this dependency, execute this command:
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses gcc-c++"

Checking for dependency: GhostScript - PostScript and PDF language interpreter and previewer...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: libcrypto - OpenSSL cryptographic library...
error: NOT FOUND! This is a REQUIRED dependency. Please make sure that this dependency is installed before installing or running HPLIP.
To install this dependency, execute this command:
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses openssl"

Checking for dependency: libjpeg - JPEG library...
error: NOT FOUND! This is a REQUIRED dependency. Please make sure that this dependency is installed before installing or running HPLIP.
To install this dependency, execute this command:
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses libjpeg-devel"

Checking for dependency: libnetsnmp-devel - SNMP networking library development files...
error: NOT FOUND! This is a REQUIRED dependency. Please make sure that this dependency is installed before installing or running HPLIP.
To install this dependency, execute this command:
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses net-snmp-devel"

Checking for dependency: libpthread - POSIX threads library...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: libtool - Library building support services...
error: NOT FOUND! This is a REQUIRED/COMPILE TIME ONLY dependency. Please make sure that this dependency is installed before installing or running HPLIP.
To install this dependency, execute this command:
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses libtool libgphoto2-devel"

Checking for dependency: libusb - USB library...
error: NOT FOUND! This is a REQUIRED dependency. Please make sure that this dependency is installed before installing or running HPLIP.
To install this dependency, execute this command:
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses libusb-1_0-devel libusb-1_0-0"

Checking for dependency: make - GNU make utility to maintain groups of programs...
error: NOT FOUND! This is a REQUIRED/COMPILE TIME ONLY dependency. Please make sure that this dependency is installed before installing or running HPLIP.
To install this dependency, execute this command:
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses make"

Checking for dependency: PIL - Python Imaging Library (required for commandline scanning with hp-scan)...
warning: NOT FOUND! This is an OPTIONAL/RUNTIME ONLY dependency. Some HPLIP functionality may not function properly.
To install this dependency, execute this command:
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses python-imaging"

Checking for dependency: PolicyKit - Administrative policy framework...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: PyQt 4 DBus - DBus Support for PyQt4...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: Python DBus - Python bindings for DBus...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: Python devel - Python development files...
error: NOT FOUND! This is a REQUIRED/COMPILE TIME ONLY dependency. Please make sure that this dependency is installed before installing or running HPLIP.
To install this dependency, execute this command:
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses python-devel python-xml"

Checking for dependency: Python libnotify - Python bindings for the libnotify Desktop notifications...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: Python XML libraries...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: Python 2.3 or greater - Required for fax functionality...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: Python 2.2 or greater - Python programming language...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: Reportlab - PDF library for Python...
warning: NOT FOUND! This is an OPTIONAL/RUNTIME ONLY dependency. Some HPLIP functionality may not function properly.

Checking for dependency: SANE - Scanning library...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: SANE - Scanning library development files...
error: NOT FOUND! This is a REQUIRED/COMPILE TIME ONLY dependency. Please make sure that this dependency is installed before installing or running HPLIP.
To install this dependency, execute this command:
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses sane-backends-devel"

Checking for dependency: scanimage - Shell scanning program...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: xsane - Graphical scanner frontend for SANE...
OK, found.

----------------------
| HPLIP INSTALLATION |
----------------------

Currently installed HPLIP version...
HPLIP 3.11.5 currently installed in '/usr/share/hplip'.

Current contents of '/etc/hp/hplip.conf' file:
# hplip.conf. Generated from hplip.conf.in by configure.

[hplip]
version=3.11.5

[dirs]
home=/usr/share/hplip
run=/var/run
ppd=/usr/share/cups/model/manufacturer-PPDs/hplip
ppdbase=/usr/share/cups/model/manufacturer-PPDs
doc=/usr/share/doc/packages/hplip
icon=/usr/share/applications
cupsbackend=/usr/lib/cups/backend
cupsfilter=/usr/lib/cups/filter
drv=/usr/lib/cups/driver

# Following values are determined at configure time and cannot be changed.
[configure]
network-build=yes
pp-build=yes
gui-build=yes
scanner-build=yes
fax-build=yes
dbus-build=yes
cups11-build=no
doc-build=yes
shadow-build=no
hpijs-install=yes
foomatic-drv-install=no
foomatic-ppd-install=yes
foomatic-rip-hplip-install=yes
hpcups-install=yes
cups-drv-install=no
cups-ppd-install=yes
internal-tag=3.11.5
restricted-build=no
ui-toolkit=qt4
qt3=no
qt4=yes
policy-kit=no
hpijs-only-build=no
lite-build=no
udev-acl-rules=no
hpcups-only-build=no
hpijs-only-build=no

Current contents of '/var/lib/hp/hplip.state' file:
# hplip.state - HPLIP runtime persistent variables.

[plugin]
installed=0
eula=0

Current contents of '~/.hplip/hplip.conf' file:
[settings]
systray_visible = 0
systray_messages = 0

[last_used]
device_uri = "hp:/usb/Officejet_Pro_8500_A909g?serial=CN03C6R074"
printer_name =
working_dir = .

[commands]
scan = /usr/bin/xsane -V %SANE_URI%

[refresh]
rate = 30
enable = false
type = 1

[polling]
enable = false
interval = 5
device_list =

[fax]
voice_phone =
email_address =

[installation]
date_time = 25/10/11 20:39:06
version = 3.11.5

--------------------------
| DISCOVERED USB DEVICES |
--------------------------

  Device URI Model
  -------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
  hp:/usb/Officejet_Pro_8500_A909g?serial=CN03C6R074 HP Officejet Pro 8500 A909g

---------------------------------
| INSTALLED CUPS PRINTER QUEUES |
---------------------------------

Officejet-Pro-8500-A909g
------------------------
Type: Printer
Device URI: hp:/usb/Officejet_Pro_8500_A909g?serial=CN03C6R074
PPD: /etc/cups/ppd/Officejet-Pro-8500-A909g.ppd
PPD Description: HP Officejet Pro 8500 a909g, hpcups 3.11.5
Printer ready to printr Officejet-Pro-8500-A909g is idle. enabled since Tue 25 Oct 2011 17:37:06 SAST
Communication status: Good

Officejet-Pro-8500-A909g-Fax
----------------------------
Type: Fax
Device URI: hpfax:/usb/Officejet_Pro_8500_A909g?serial=CN03C6R074
PPD: /etc/cups/ppd/Officejet-Pro-8500-A909g-Fax.ppd
PPD Description: HP Fax hpijs
Printer status: printer Officejet-Pro-8500-A909g-Fax is idle. enabled since Sun 16 Oct 2011 10:12:41 SAST
Communication status: Good

----------------------
| SANE CONFIGURATION |
----------------------

'hpaio' in '/etc/sane.d/dll.conf'...
OK, found. SANE backend 'hpaio' is properly set up.

Checking output of 'scanimage -L'...
device `hpaio:/usb/Officejet_Pro_8500_A909g?serial=CN03C6R074' is a Hewlett-Packard Officejet_Pro_8500_A909g all-in-one

---------------------
| PYTHON EXTENSIONS |
---------------------

Checking 'cupsext' CUPS extension...
OK, found.

Checking 'pcardext' Photocard extension...
OK, found.

Checking 'hpmudext' I/O extension...
OK, found.

Checking 'scanext' SANE scanning extension...
OK, found.

-----------------
| USB I/O SETUP |
-----------------

Checking for permissions of USB attached printers...

HP Device 0x3912 at 001:010:
    Device URI: hp:/usb/Officejet_Pro_8500_A909g?serial=CN03C6R074
    Device node: /dev/bus/usb/001/010
    Mode: 0664
getfacl: Removing leading '/' from absolute path names
# file: dev/bus/usb/001/010
# owner: root
# group: lp
user::rw-
user:john:rw-
group::rw-
mask::rw-
other::r--

---------------
| USER GROUPS |
---------------

users video

-----------
| SUMMARY |
-----------

error: 14 errors and/or warnings.

Summary of needed commands to run to satisfy missing dependencies:
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses cups-devel cupsddk"
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses cups-devel"
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses dbus-1-devel python-gobject2"
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses gcc-c++"
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses openssl"
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses libjpeg-devel"
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses net-snmp-devel"
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses libtool libgphoto2-devel"
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses libusb-1_0-devel libusb-1_0-0"
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses make"
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses python-imaging"
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses python-devel python-xml"
su -c "zypper --non-interactive --no-gpg-checks in --auto-agree-with-licenses sane-backends-devel"

Please refer to the installation instructions at:
http://hplip.sourceforge.net/install/index.html

Done.

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Solved
For:
HPLIP Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Solved by:
goutam kodu
Solved:
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
John Grant (john-vez) said :
#1

I am able to print pdf double sided from ocular so the problem seems to be related to LibreOffice integration.

Revision history for this message
Best goutam kodu (goutam-hplip) said :
#2

Hi John,

Yes there is a problem printing duplex with LibreOffice. But there is a work around for this. You need to set the duplex option in cups web interface (http://localhost:631) and set the duplex to <ignore> in printer setting properties in LibreOffice.

Thanks & Regards,
Goutam Kodu

Revision history for this message
John Grant (john-vez) said :
#3

Thanks Goutam,

Setting default to duplex in CUPS does provide the option to print duplex in LibreOffice but only the the same orientation as the default set in CUPS. i.e. only long edge or short edge.

I also created a new new printer in cups using model HP Officejet Pro 8500 a909g hpijs, 3.11.5 instead of HP Officejet Pro 8500 a909g, hpcups 3.11.5. This allows all options of duplex in LibreOffice.

I also ran /usr/lib64/libreoffice/program/spadmin to add the printer, but that may not be necessary.

Regards,
John

Revision history for this message
John Grant (john-vez) said :
#4

I have had a chance to check in more detail and wanted give the results in case they help others. The principles probably apply to non-HP printers and other programs that support defaults the same way. I have used A4 in my examples but the same applies to Letter, Folio and other paper sizes. If you are in a hurry and do not want to know why but only how to fix the problem see The solution in the bottom paragraph of this message.

Note. This explanation is based on observation and not any detailed knowledge of the drivers etc. Any improvements welcome :-)

There are two different drivers which support my printer:
HP Officejet Pro 8500 a909g hpijs, 3.11.5
HP Officejet Pro 8500 a909g, hpcups 3.11.5
The problem only occurs with the hpcups for reasons shown below.

The hpcups 3.11.5 driver has a number of different but similar "page sizes" (probably to allow better fine tuning of defaults as when duplexer supports less page sizes than normal print). For example there are two A4 size options: "A4" and "A4 AutoDuplex".

When LibreOffice.org prints it sets the default page size of the printers to the page size of the document being printed. e.g. "A4". That is good practice but causes the problem of not printing duplex using hpcups 3.11.5 driver. The problem is that only size "A4 AutoDuplex" allows duplex printing.

The solution for double-sided printin using the cups driver is:
Open Print dialogue as usual
Select Printer and Properties.
Change paper size to "A4 AutoDuplex".
Select the appropriate Duplex option which will all be available.