Canon iRC2380i with Mac OS 10.6.3

Question

Hi all,
Our office has a number of iMacs running OS 10.6.1 that can print to our Canon iRC2380i using the UFR II driver, but we recently bought a number of new iMacs running 10.6.2 and lost the ability to print (Error -170).
Does anyone know if and how we can get printing again? Also could anyone please explain PostScript printing and PPDs and whether we could/should be using it?
Huge thanks,
Anthony
P.S. We also using print job IDs for accounting.

Answer 1

Hello Anthony,
The error could be occurring if you have selected the incorrect protocol when creating the printer queue. For the Canon UFR2 v2.06 driver, you need to use LPD for the protocol and I also generally suggest you have a queue name of LP. You can then select the "Canon iR C2380/2550 UFR II" in the Print Using menu.
With the printer created, if you then select to print something, such as PDF in Preview, then before actually printing change the menu to Special Features. Here you will see an picture of the copier and under that picture will be the button Printer Info. When you press this button a small message may appear "Acquiring Printer Info" and then another window should appear showing the Configuration of the iRC2380i and the amount of paper in the copier. If this works then you can OK this window to close it. Now, still at the Special Features menu, you should see that the Job Accounting button is ticked. Next to that will be the Settings button. Press this to open the ID/Password Settings pane where you can enter your job ID and password. Also here you can enable the 'Confirm ID when printing' checkbox, which will make this ID window appear every time you print in case you need to enter a different ID for different clients. If you just use the same ID every time you print then don't enable this checkbox. With your ID/Password entered, you can OK this window which will take you back to the print dialog, where you can press Print to send the job to the copier.
With regards to Postscript printing, there is currently no PS driver that supports your model and that works on 10.6. The current Canon PS v3.00 for 10.6 only supports the new imageRUNNER Advanced models. Canon will be releasing a new PS driver in May that is listed to support your iRC2380i, so if this copier does have the Postscript option enabled, then you will be able to use this new driver.
As for the PPDs, they also require that Postscript is enabled in the copier, and if it is, then the PPDs allow you to print from the Mac and select a variety of finishing functions, like stapling and booklets. However the PPDs do not support the extended functions of the copier, like Job Accounting and Mailbox printing. So since your office is using Dept IDs in the copier, then the PPD is not an option for your Mac users.
Hope this helps. Please reply if you need more assistance.
Pahu