Add AirPrint functionality to a USB printer?

Hi,
my mother in law has trouble learning how to use her MacBook and is now planning to ditch it and get an iPad instead, she knows how to use iOS devices. However, even if her printer (Epson) is failry new (about a year or so) it does not do wireless so it is USB connected to her Mac. Is it possible to keep her printer and use it from the iPad somehow (without a Mac in the middle) or does she need to get a new printer as well?
Thanks...
/Mans

You'll need something else. Either a new printer, or look into how to make your printer work with an airport extreme. I believe that it supports it but don't have one to experiment. You can read up on it and see if that can help her print without buying a new printer.

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How to add generic USB printer

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Never mind, I figured it out. Thanks anyway!

Error when trying to add printer on USB Print Server

I'm attempting to connect to a Canon MP530 printer via a Netcomm NP3680 USB Print Server.
When attempting to add the printer via the Print & Scan process, the USB port is seen by the MacBook and listed - ie: mini_me-3-usb2, and the driver is selected automatically without any problem after gathering printer information, however the macbook is unable to connect and returns the error: "An error occurred while trying to add the selected printer."
If a manual configuration is attempted the message returned is: "An error occurred while trying to add the selected printer. Unable to communicate with the printer at this time." Further manual config via the IP address will allow the printer to be entered, however the printer is non-responsive.
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I'm currently running OSX 10.8.1, however my son is running 10.7.x and has the same problem. My wife's macbook is also running 10.7.x and is working fine.
Can anyone throw any light on this issue - it is truely frustrating, especially when I know it has worked in the past.
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After 55 views and 0 replies, and a number of calls to Applecare (without success) , I decided to once again troubleshoot the problem.
Fixed!
Bearing in mind, I had no other printers already set up in the Print and Scan window....
I removed the following items from the /library/preferences directory:
"com.apple.print.makequeues.plist",
"jp.co.canon.ij.print.filter.raster2canonij.plist",
"jp.co.canon.ij.print.utility.command2canonij.plist",
"org.cups.printers.plist"
I also removed all items from the /library/printers directory (including Canon, PPDs, plist files and icons)
Then I retried to install the printer..... (holidng my breath) and the Console showed:
Repairing access permissions of "/Library/Printers/InstalledPrinters.plist"
All is fine now

Trying to add usb printer to my airport express.

trying to add usb priinter to my airport express. Using airport utility on my iphone and it only list add wps printer. I see no add USB printer in utility.

Brad0416-
Search the iTunes App store to see if there is a free Brother printing App. Other Apps like Print n Share will work for non-AirPrint printers, but are not as convenient as using AirPrint. They generally require you to use their own text, mail, browser and photo programs, and do not work from within other iOS Apps. One exception is that some Apps have an "Open In" option, that allows you to open a document in the printing App and then print it.
Another alternative is to use one of the computers to share its printer as AirPrint over WiFi. Printopia on the Macintosh is one program that can do that. For a free solution, search the web for AirPrint Activator. There are versions for both PC and Mac computers. Of course the computer has to be turned on and awake anytime you want to print!
Fred

Is there a difference between AirPrint and printing via usb printer plugged into an airport extreme?

My printer does not show up in the add a printer option on my iMac when plugged into the extreme. I have a HP officejet 5610 All-in-One. I want to be able to print wirelessly using my Airport Extreme. Thank you

Is there a difference between AirPrint and printing via usb printer plugged into an AirPort Exreme?
Big difference.
AirPrint for one will not work via USB, so you will not be able to print from an iOS device like an iPhone or iPad using this type of connection unless you look at additional software....that may or may not allow this option.
Assuming that you get the All-in-One setup using the USB port on the AirPort.......only printing is supported.
You will not be able to use any other advanced features like maintenance, scan, copy, fax, etc when the device is connected to the USB port on an AirPort.
If you plan to use the HP for other things, I would strongly recommend that you connect it to your computer.
My printer does not show up in the add a printer option on my iMac when plugged into the extreme.
This usually indicates that your printer model is not supported. Check with HP Support to see if they have any updated Macintosh drivers for the 5610 that you could download and install that might allow this.
HP Officejet 5610 All-in-One Printer Drivers - Hewlett Packard

TS1398 I have an iPad mini, because of my work network firewalls I am not able to use the airprint function to print. I was told you can direct connect to a printer. I am not sure how as I have not seen any cables for a lightning connection to a printer c

I have an iPad mini, I am connected to my work wireless connection. My printer also is on the same wireless network, however I am not able to print to my airprint enabled printer through this wireless connection. Is there a way to direct connect to the printer via a cable ?
I am missing something here on the connection. I am thinking possibly a firewall here at work will not allow me to use the airprint function. Help ?

There is no support for wired printing.
It is probably a firewall issue, possibly where all inbound communications are blocked. Since you're at work, I'd call your work IT department and find out from them what you can/can't do.

Cannot add USB printer in Printer Setup Utility

I have an Olympus P400 photo printer that I previously was able to hook up directly as USB printer to my PB G4. Upgraded to OS 10.4.10 and now no longer have an option for adding a USB printer. This is a problem since I no longer see my P400 printer and I wanted to reinstall it. How do I add a USB printer if there are no options other than Default and IP Printer to choose from.

Elliott,
Click to add a printer, and then in the Printer Browser, click on the More Printers button at the bottom. Do you see any references to your printer in this list? If you do, that printer should allow the discovery of the driver.
Ernie

[Gnome 3] cant print from USB printer, Fail to add new printer

HI all!
I installed the following:
cups
libcups
gutenprint
Then add your CUPS server's IP address or hostname into /etc/cups/client.conf, after ServerName. That is all you need. Every application should quickly find the printer(s) shared by that CUPS server.
did not understand what am i suppose to write in the client.conf: 127.0.0.1 or my hostname (thegrid)
it says that later version on cups does not require to blocklist the usblp but i did anyways
but it didnt work
i restarted the computer too
any suggestion

entodoays wrote:I have similar issue. Whenever I try adding a USB printer in Gnome Settings, it is recognised but when I click add, I get a "Adding printer failed" popup. However, I can add printers through the CUPS web interface http://localhost:631/admin.
Hi, you can install "system-config-printer" ( i think resolve your issue).
sudo pacman -S system-config-printer.
I have a Cannon PIXMA 280. My steps to install the drivers( may be help you ) :
$ sudo pacman -S cups ghostscript gsfonts
$ sudo pacman -S kdeutils-print-manager gutenprint */KDE.
$ sudo pacman -S system-config-printer gutenprint */GNOME.
$ sudo systemctl start cups.service
$ sudo systemctl enable cups.service
Best Regards.

I have an airport extreme with a USB printer attached (non-airprint). Can i print from my ipad?

I have an airport extreme with a USB printer attached, it is a non airprint printer.
I can print via my network from my desktop but I want to know if i can print from my ipad 2 and ipad 1

Printing from an iPad or iPhone
To print directly from an iPad you need an AirPrint - enabled printer on the same wireless network as the iPad. All AirPrint printers are wireless but not all wireless printers are AirPrint-enabled.
If you do not have an AirPrint printer, a number of workarounds exist that enable the use of any printer you normally use, even older ones that may predate AirPrint by decades. Search for the following products:
handyPrint (Mac only, donation-supported)
Printopia (Mac only, $19.95 with free trial)
These are utilities you install on the Mac you normally use for printing, enabling it to act as an AirPrint print server. The Mac must be "on" but may be asleep for them to work. The iPad needs nothing else, no iOS apps need to be installed and no configuration is necessary. If your computer can print, so can the iPad, using one of these utilities on your Mac.
Equivalent utilities may exist for PCs but I have no experience with them - I suggest https://www.collobos.com
You can also buy this standalone hardware print server, bypassing the need for a computer altogether:
http://www.lantronix.com/it-management/xprintserver/xprintserver.html
Otherwise you will need to buy an AirPrint printer or multifunction device.

Can I plug any USB printer that supports AirPrint into the AirPort Express?

I'm interested in getting the new AirPort Express to print from my iPhone. Will any Airprint printer work with my iPhone and iPad?

Hi autefrum,
It sounds like we are confusing AirPrint printers with printers capable of being used with an AirPort Express for wireless printing.
AirPrint capable printers have wireless built in so you can print "directly" from your iPhone, no AirPort Express needed.
The AirPort Express has a USB port to which you connect a "regular" USB printer so you can print to that wirelessly. Effectively, it makes your standard USB printer an AirPrint printer by supplying the wireless connection. So if you have a USB printer already, the AirPort Express may allow you to print to that.
From the spec page, "USB 2.0 port for connecting a USB printer" and "Wireless printing over USB requires a compatible printer and OS X v10.2.7 or later, Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7.
ivan

Cannot add HP USB printer to 1 user on my computer

I hooked up via USB an HP Photosmart C4480 to my iMac, which has a non-admin account (my daily account) and an admin account. The C4480 worked, but my non-admin account has lost touch w/it after I added a new ink cartridge this weekend. This is what happens:
No apps in the non-admin account see the printer -- not Word, TextEdit, Safari, Mail. When I open Print & Fax in System Preferences, it shows no printer (while the admin account sees the printer and has it set as default). When I click the plus sign, the computer shows the "Photosmart C4400 series" as a USB printer in a new dialog box. I select that description, a box drops down telling me it is seeing whether it is configurable, and then after a few moments it disappears leaving the System Pref pane empty w/out explanation. My non-admin user account's Library folder has a printer queue named "HP Photosmart C4400 series" but when clicked it starts to open, then closes w/out doing anything. In my admin account, I can open this queue app and see that the printer is ready.
When I could not get the non-admin account to work, I opened the admin account and used the HP uninstaller to remove C4400 software that came w/the printer on a CD. I then attached the printer and my iMac, running Snow Leopard, downloaded the HP drivers from Apple automatically -- all while signed in to the admin account. The admin account continues to function just fine and is even sharing the printer over WiFi w/my wife's Macbook.
This has happened before w/this printer, and I reset the printing system. I figure I should reset again, but wanted to know whether I can do something to prevent my non-admin account from getting amnesia the next time.

Try repairing permissions and then restart your computer.

Can I convert a USB printer, Canon IP3000 to AirPrint for the Ipad

Can I convert a USB printer, namely a Canon Pixma IP3000 to an Ipad? This printer has pict bridge but not air print. Are there adapters available to purchase to make this happen.

The only printing the iPad supports is wireless printing. You could look into connecting that printer to a router and see if there's some support (I've never tried it but you could look into an airport express and see if it might work)

Printer "Airprint" functions

Can I update my HP Officejet 7410 to include airprint functions for my iPad? If yes - how?

No.
The list of printers with AirPrint support can be found here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4356

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Long story. I had a home network with my iMac, my wife's PC and a Brother Multi-Function (networkable) printer...everything worked great. Tried to add an Epson Photo R260 so I can print photos and DVDs. Purchased a Buffalo LPV3 USB Print Server. Spent two long nights on the phone with Buffalo Tech Support (great guys!) and got the printer working with both the iMac and PC...so it seemed. Turns out the Epson would print documents from the iMac, but not CD/DVDs...it kept telling me that the CD Printer Driver wasn't installed. After several calls to Epson Tech Support (not so great), found out that the culprit was the Gutenprint Printer Driver that the Epson was using with the Buffalo Server via Bonjour. Replaced the Gutenprint with the proper Epson driver and everything is hunky-dory...as long as the Epson printer is plugged directly into the back of my iMac. As soon as I connect it to the Buffalo Print Server, it stops working.
I'm no rocket surgeon, but it seems to me that if when I'm setting up the printer with Bonjour, if I could direct it to find the proper driver, everything would be happy and I could print away. Any ideas how I can make all this wonderful stuff work together? I'd even be willing to forgo using the Epson on the network if there's a good (and relatively inexpensive) way of making the printer work with my iMac via Bluetooth. Thanks...

For the record, I have successfully been able to print with the printer connected straight to the Macbook.
Is the new 7.1.1 firmware going to do magic?

Cant use by WLAN an USB Printer connected to Router

Hello, Please help my by solving this Problem. I have connected a USB Printer to a Router. The Router recognizes the Printer an shows a Connection. But I cant use the Printer from my MacBook Pro by IP over WLAN. Can somebody help?

Hi ColinR,
Looking at the specifications of your BT HomeHub 3 I see that it does not support MAC spooling. To test for sure we can try connecting the printer directly to your Mac which would prove that the printers network function along with the USB function are working.
We need to restore your network defaults. On page 129 of your User Guide it explains how to restore the network defaults
To reset the printer's network settings
1. Touch (right arrow), touch Setup, and then touch Network. Touch Restore
Network Defaults, and then touch Yes. A message appears stating that the network
defaults have been restored.
2. Touch (right arrow), touch Setup, touch Reports, and then touch Print Network
Configuration Page to print the network configuration page and verify that the
network settings have been reset.
Then follow these steps to connect your printer directly to your computer.
Put the computer on the printers network (temporary)
Click on the air port symbol on the top left side of the Mac screen
Choose the network that look relative to the printer (might say HP setup or some variation of the printer name)
Find the IP address on the test report we printed.
Open an internet browser (Safari) and enter the IP address into the URL (address bar).
Click on the network tab, on the left click on wireless or 802.11.
At this point we are looking for "start wizard" should be on the right hand side.
Once we have successful configured the printer for your network you can put your computer back on your network. Now you can add the printer to the system preferences and print.
Let me know how it goes.
Thank you,
I worked on behalf of HP.

Add AirPrint functionality to a USB printer?

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