Re: [hylafax-users] fax4CUPS questions for hylafax use on Linux client

[Brian Zammit <bzammit@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello list,

I am wondering if there has been any work done to make the fax number entry simpler in fax4CUPS? Users don't like figuring out how to enter phone numbers into a lpr line. The suggestion by Glenn to have fax4CUPS popup a phone number questions box would be perfect.

Also, I have not been able to get the hylafax option to show in the CUPS dropdown. I have checked the permissions on the "/usr/share/cups/model/hylafax.ppd" which is 644, and "/usr/lib/cups/backend/hylafax" which is 755, both just like the other files in their respective directories.

Any ideas? Suggestions for other printer-based fax clients with a simple dialling interface?


Thanks,

Brian


Re: [hylafax-users] fax4CUPS questions for hylafax use on Linux client

---

• To: hylafax-users@xxxxxxxxxxx
• Subject: Re: [hylafax-users] fax4CUPS questions for hylafax use on Linux client
• From: Glenn Burkhardt <glenn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
• Cc: Hugo Wau <hugowau@xxxxxxxxxx>
• Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2003 22:09:29 -0500

---

I have it working.

I obtained 'fax4CUPS' from http://gongolo.usr.dsi.unimi.it/~vigna/fax4CUPS

The CUPS backend script in fax4CUPS-1.22.tar.gz had some problems.  First of 
all, the script 'hylafax' didn't have execute permission.  This prevents the 
"Local Hylafax Server" device from showing up in the combo box during the 
CUPS add printer operation.

Second, the order of operations in the sendfax line is incorrect for recent 
Hylafax versions.  The phone number "-d <number>" arguments should be just 
before the filename, viz.,

sudo -u $USER $FAXPRG $RES -n -f $FROM -s $PAGE -d $NUMBER $FAXNAME

Finally, I needed to modify several execution paths to match my system.

Please note that the 'fax4CUPS' package requires the 'sudo' utility, 
available from http://www.courtesan.com/sudo.  I didn't have it installed on 
my Mandrake Linux system, but it was available as part of the distribution.

Although the package implies that it works with a 'local Hylafax server', 
this is not strictly true.  The 'sendfax' program will automatically use a 
remote host if one has been configured in /usr/local/lib/fax/hyla.conf.

For those not familiar with CUPS, the standard location for the log file is 
/var/log/cups/error_log, which can be controlled from /etc/cups/cupsd.conf.
One can insert debug "print" statements in the CUPS backend script with 

	echo "ERROR:  .... your debug statement here ...  1>&2

This backend script has its limitations.  There doesn't appear to be a good 
way to insert the destination phone number.  A phone number can be given for 
the job with:

	lpr -Pfax -J <phone-number> faxjob.ps

If the phone number is not specified as the job name, the error handling 
seems inadequate.

What one really wants is to print to the fax printer with any application, 
and have a window pop up to prompt the user for the phone number.  It would 
also be nice for the pop up window to present saved phone numbers (a 
rolodex).  This has been done with Windows clients (e.g., WHFC), but not with 
Unix clients (to the best of my knowledge).

Sincerely,

Brian
__________________________
Brian Zammit     Consultant

Systems Aligned Inc.
30 Pepertree Cres
Brampton, ON L6R 1N5
Canada

phone: (905) 791-8015 ext 6001
fax: (905) 791-0646
web: www.systemsaligned.com
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