HOWTO: Install Cups-PDF

[LoKi128]

THIS TUTORIAL IS OUTDATED

Thanks to everyone from this thread for all their guidance. The sticking point in this whole process is that you need to be root to edit the permissions on the executable.

1. Install the cups-pdf package (I used version 2.2.0-1)
2. Go to System -> Administration -> Printing
3. Doubleclick "New Pinter"
4. Notice that there is no mention of a CUPS PDF printer
5. Open a terminal and tpe "sudo nautilus" and then your password
6. Go to Filesystem -> usr -> lib -> cups -> backend
7. Rightclick "cups-pdf" and select Properties
8. Go to the Permissions tab and click the "Set user ID" special flag
9. Again try to add a new printer
10. There is now a "PDF Printer" detected, select it
11. Select the Generic, Postscript Color Printer (Rev 3b)
12. Give it a name, like PDF Printer
13. Right click on the newly created printer, and select Properties
14. Click "Print a Test Page"
15. The file should be in your Home folder, under the PDF folder

[jbaloul]

Dude thanks, just at the right time....

but you know, how are we supposed to ask grandma to do something like that...
stuff like this should be as simple as possible.

[simplyw00x]

Once it's set up then it's easy to use. Would you really expect 'grandma' to install _any_ kind of printer, or a PDF printer on windows? Or know what a PDF is? Or know what a printer is?

On a related note, thanks for the HOWTO.

[KillerBOB]

Thanks for this, it's really useful. I hope this gets enabled by default in future Ubuntu releases.

[Canguçu]

Originally Posted by KillerBOB I hope this gets enabled by default in future Ubuntu releases.

Well, KillerBOB, I'm waiting for that since Warty...

[sailorxyz]

Hi,
I am running a clean install of Dapper. There is no cups-pdf in my usr/lib/cups/backend. What now?

Regards,

Paul

[jbaloul]

Originally Posted by sailorxyz I am running a clean install of Dapper. There is no cups-pdf in my usr/lib/cups/backend. What now?

try this...

sudo updatedb
locate cups-pdf

if you still don't see it then...

sudo apt-get install cups-pdf

like i said before, I wish for nuB user's sake, that this kinda stuff is to be enabled by default or "grandma" intuitive.

[seuaniu]

Good howto - and easy as pie to do. This is an easy feature, that should be enabled by default though. I think Apple has it in OSX, so in order to compete on a feature to feature basis, we should have it too

[simplyw00x]

seuaniu:
Look at any desktop OS. Is installing a PDF printer 'grandma intuitive'? No. If grandma can't follow a set of simple typed commands then grandma doesn't get PDF printing either way. Do you think 'grandma' even knows what a PDF _is_?

[shuttleworthwannabe]

Thanks worked like a charm! Poor Granny..leave her alone...