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Some Frequently Asked Questions in regards to printers and printing reports are listed here. If you have suggestions for an additional item for this list, please send E-mail.

• Do Banner reports have any special printing requirements?
• What type of printer do I need to print Banner reports?
• What kind of printer is recommended?
• I already have a printer. Can I use it to print Banner reports?
• What types of printers are currently being used for Banner reports?
• How can I conserve my printer's toner consumption?
• I got toner on my hands and clothes. How do I clean up?

Do Banner reports have any special printing requirements?

Most Banner reports have no special print requirements. They consist of printable ASCII text (letters, numbers, national symbols, etc) and control codes (carriage-return, line-feed, form-feed, tab, etc). Almost any printer can print these reports, including simple dot-matrix printers. However, depending on the size of the report, it's not adviseable to use a slow speed, low duty cycle printer. For large volume reports, a 12 page-per-minute (or faster) printer is recommended.

Some Banner reports require the printer to support PostScript®. The advantage to using PostScript® is that the page layout (columns, rows, text size, etc.) can be set at the time the output is generated before sending it to the printer. This avoids problems where the printer default settings (e.g., Portrait) does not match the report's expected orientation (e.g., Landscape).

A few special Banner reports are generated using embedded HP-PCL (Hewlett Packard Printer Command Language) control sequences. Not all non-HP printers support HP-PCL, but some do.
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What type of printer do I need to print Banner reports?

Although this is the usually the first question asked, answering it requires asking a few questions to determine your needs.

• Are you printing a little or a lot? What volume of output do you expect to print?
• Will you be printing any reports that require PostScript® or HP-PCL?
• Do you need or desire duplex printing (printing on both sides of the paper)?
• How much money do you have to spend? (This usually narrows down the choices rather quickly.)

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What kind of printer is recommended?

It is recommended that you buy a printer that works. It's that simple.

If you have a specific brand or model of printer that you would like to buy and it's one that is not known to already work for Banner printing, try to get it on trial-loan so that we can test it under real conditions (not just sales hype). A table of printer brands and models used for Banner printing is given here, (Banner Printers). There are many printer resellers and here are bound to be printers that just do not work well in our environment. "Try, before you buy" is a good motto, however, this is not always an option (particularly if you are not buying large quantities).

One printer brand that has worked quite well is an HP LaserJet with PostScript® and a JetDirect Ethernet card installed. HP makes many models that function well and have different paper trays, print speeds, and features enough to suit just about anyone. Check out HP's Web Page for details.

Before someone thinks the University has bought stock in Hewlett Packard or that we are endorsing a specific vendor, it should be noted that Xerox is another printer manufacturer that makes good printers. As yet, only one of these printers (Xerox N32) is in use for Banner printing, but the printer has been trouble free from day one. If you would like to check the Xerox printer product line options go to: Xerox's Full Line of Products, and visit their Demo Room.

There are several Apple 16/600PS printers in use for Banner reports, too. So, if you're a Apple Macintosh based work group, your existing printers may very well work for Banner too.
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I already have a printer. Can I use it to print Banner reports?

The Banner UNIX host transmits the report output via the ethernet network to a Line Printer Daemon (LPD) program which receives the report and sends it to the printer. The LPD software may be included as part of an internal network card (i.e., HP JetDirect card), or it may be enclosed in an external Printer Server unit (i.e., NETQue or RapidPrint), or the software may be running on another computer (i.e., Windows PC, Macintosh, Unix host, etc.). In this last case, you must ensure there is sufficient free disk space locally on the computer to hold all of your report's output as these workstation LPD programs usually don't send the report to the printer until after it has received and stored all of the report from the UNIX host. Also, your printer would be directly connected to the workstation and reports would be received and print only when the workstation is turned on and connected to the ethernet network.

If your printer is not already connected to the Ethernet and if it has an option to install a network interface card, this is preferred. For example, if you have an HP printer with an MIO/EIO/(network card) slot that can receive a JetDirect card, then this is the way to go. The JetDirect card connects to the ethernet network and contains software that functions as an LPD server. Most vendors printers that are in the "Work Group" catagory allow for this type of connectivity.

If you have a printer that only has a parallel interface, then get an HP JetDirect EX Plus Print Server. This device has an ethernet connection and a parallel port (the HP JetDirect EX Plus3 Print Server has three parallel ports) and functions the same as the internal card mentioned above. There are a variety of similar devices on the market, however, the HP model has been tested and is known to work. If you think you might like to try "Brand X" of this device type, please throughly check to see that it really does work in our environment, or make sure you have a "100% money back guarantee if not satisified" clause.

If you wish to use your workstation as the LPD spooler, there are several commercial products available that should work. There may also be Public Domain or Shareware versions, as well. Some computer systems are sold with the LPR and LPD capability supplied with the operating system. Check your owner's manual or online documentation.
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How can I conserve my printer's toner consumption?

If your printer is set to a resolution greater than 300 dpi (dots per inch), check to see if you can reduce the default to 300 dpi. Most text reports are perfectly readable at 300 dpi, and use a lot less toner. Printer memory usage is also reduced when the resolution is lower.

If your printer has a print density (light vs dark) control, try setting it to a lighter setting. Some printers control this via a dial (possibly inside the printer), others use software (i.e., the front control panel).

If your printer has a draft or economy mode, try it. Some printers, however, just do not print dark enough in the draft mode for suitable reading of Banner reports, so your mileage may vary.

Some of these settings can be changed through your software application (PC program) on a job by job basis, depending on the make/model of the printer (not all printers allow this feature). The processes specified below will change the default behaviour for the printer for all future jobs, unless specifically overridden by a job and only for the duration of that job. You can find out the current printer settings by printing a "test page" or "configuration page" via your printer's front control panel (may vary from printer to printer). Please consult your printer's user guide for additional information.

HP LJ 5siMX - Print Resolution (Printer User's Guide, C3166-90901, page 6-2)

1. Press MENUS until PRINT QUALITY MENU appears.
2. Press ITEMS until RESOLUTION= 600 DOTS PER INCH appears.
3. Use + to switch between 600-dpi and 300-dpi.
4. Press SELECT * to save the 600-dpi or 300-dpi setting.

HP LJ 5siMX - Print Density (Printer User's Guide, C3166-90901, page 6-3)

1. Press MENUS until PRINT QUALITY MENU appears.
2. Press ITEMS until PRINT DENSITY=3* appears.
3. Use + until the desired setting appears. Your choices are 1-5; 1=lightest; 5=darkest.
4. Press SELECT * to save the setting.

HP LJ 5siMX - EconoMode (Printer User's Guide, C3166-90901, page 6-10)

1. Press MENUS until PRINT QUALITY MENU appears.
2. Press ITEMS until ECONOMODE=OFF appears.
3. Use + to choose ON.
4. Press SELECT * to save your choice.

HP LJ 4siMX - Print Resolution (Printer User's Guide, C2010-90901, page 2-28)

1. Press MENU until JOB MENU appears.
2. Press ITEM until RESOLUTION= 600 appears.
3. Use + to switch between 600 and 300 dpi.
4. Press ENTER to save the 600- or 300-dpi setting.