Need advice on setup/configuration for HP OJ Pro 1170C

["James B. Hiller" <jhiller@xxxxxxxx>]

Hi.

I've cross-posted this to the two relevant lists for apsfilter and hpoj.
FWIW, I realize that my questions below are probably more towards the
apsfilter universe than the hpoj universe - but it strikes me that
someone with hpoj might have solved these questions.

After pouring through all the docs in software, websites, and list archives
that I can find (both apsfilter and hpoj), I'm stumped.

I have recently gotten my HP OfficeJet Pro 1170C set up to print on my
linux box (2.4.19, SMP, parallel port) using lpd-0.48, hpoj-0.90, hpijs-1.2.2,
apsfilter-7.2.2, and GNU Ghostscript 7.05.  It does print using lpr, and
I am Happy.  Only one thing would make me Happier - knowing that I've got
the best setup that can be had with the software I've installed.
(Best = max features on printer are accessible, right implementation,
best driver; alternative features invocable (?) via lpr options).

Also, I saw the news about the patch to hpijs-1.2.2, and did try that out,
since it is stated to be relevant to HP Deskjet 8xx, which is what the
OJ 1170C looks like, at least as far as using the black cartridge for
black printing in color mode.  For the record:  initial results not as
expected - black text comes out much lighter with the patch than without;
comment forwarded to patch maintainer.

My concern comes from the following:  The latest apsfilter release was
in April, and pre-dates the latest work in the other software packages,
(others were in Jul-Aug, except for gs 7.05, which was also April).

My concern also comes from the fact that the reference docs in the
hpoj/hpijs arena all say that the OJ 1170C works like a Deskjet 890,
which apsfilter maps to the cdeskjet device in gs; but apsfilter maps
the OJ 1170C to its Deskjet 810 driver script, which is handled by
the gs ijs device - which is the device of choice for using hpoj, which
I must use to get the 1170C to work with lpd.

All that said - in order to get things working, I modified the apsfilter
driver script for the Deskjet 810 in order to generate a workable command
to gs to initiate printing using the gs ijs device - but I'm not at all
certain that the changes I made result in the best script-based setup
of the gs cmd by apsfilter.

So my question set would be:

a.  Are there parameters or options to the gs cmd that I should be using
to fully exploit my 1170C, that I may not be aware of given that my only
knowledge comes from blindly modifying a script set up for the DJ 810?
Possible examples that come to mind are the ability to choose between
color and grayscale printing, and within those, to choose between
the printer's "best", "normal", and "fast" modes (i.e. resolutions) via
some lpr options, rather than by punching the button on the printer.  Also,
duplex options that might be coaxed out of the printer come to mind (no
buttons for those, but maybe a way to make it happen).

b.  Is there any real difference between a DJ 810 and DJ 890, or am I making
something out of nothing?

c.  Is there some reason that I should be not using apsfilter to do what
it's doing, and instead using something else?

If those who know these things feel that using apsfilter with lpd is a
bridge too far to get what I expect out of this printer with hpoj, I could
be convinced to go to another printing system, but so far I've not made
that leap, primarily because this setup is at least working, and my
intuition is that there is a solution lurking out there with these
software components, and I'm just not smart enough to know what it is.

Any help in these areas would be most appreciated.  Also, if there's a
more appropriate forum for such questions, I'd be happy to go there
as well/instead.  These just seemed like the best braintrusts for the
components I'm currently using.

Thx!

jbh