General:

Please read the full chapter up to the end, especially the statement for the usage of the key ELP_MAX_HEAP, which influences the requested printer memory.

Some functions like Distributed Printing and time functions are not supported on the printer implementation of ELP.

Before implementing ELP into your environment, it could be a good idea to emulate first the printer internal version using the

Note: In very rare cases, the printer internal version may cause problems with bidirectional communication between the printer and the host. This does not affect Windows printing.

The product does not support the following status read back Escape sequences: Esc*s#X, Esc*s#I, Esc*s#U, Esc*s#T, Esc*s#M. The good thing about that is, that we have never seen them being used by any type of software.


Supported Ricoh devices:

Ricoh: You find here http://stethos.com/ibs the installation software and descriptions how to install.


Software Installation and special settings:

Please follow the instructions coming with the product itself.

Again: Especially for the testing outside of the device it is recommended to use the MS Windows version and set it into as described above into the DIMM mode.

Finally we recommend to do those two important settings in the convert.ini, rule GLOBAL :

 

Installation:

You find at http://stethos.com/ibs the installation software and some white papers for quick installation. If you are form Ricoh we can supply you the IBS technical reference manual upon request by filling out our reply form.

The product goes either on the printers hard disk, or if NONE is available in the device on a standard maximum 128MB SD card. Some of the devices can also use SD cards with up to 1GB. For a small uplift, stethos can supply such cards. If they do have more memory on the label, then please note that the product usable memory size was reduced by us. If the product meets your requirements you may purchase a magic number from Ricoh and turn it here into a valid license key for your device.

If the MFP printer does print black bars, and another doesn't, then open the Admin part of the device web-page and change the memory usage form "Priority Frame" to "Priority Font".


Test the installation

The easiest way is to send the first provided demo file from the Windows/Linux installation to the printer.

LPR -S ###.###.###.### -P prn A_SIMPLE_ELP_TEST.PCL
copy /B A_SIMPLE_ELP_TEST.PCL \\WindowsPrintServerName\PrintQueuShareNameForPrinter

(Ricoh IBS utility:) tcpsend ###.###.###.### 9100 A_SIMPLE_ELP_TEST.PCL

# is the IP address of the printer

Just in case you have a tool which can communicate with the printer and displays the returned information (or Wireshark) you may echoing the printer and get the ELP version back (since ELP Version 8.26). The activated filter does parse all incoming data streams.
In order to get the information back from the printer just send the following data stream to the printer:

Esc%-12345X@PJL ECHO Get ELP Version
Esc%-12345X

The activated ELP does change that request in a way, that the printer will return ECHO ELP Vx.x.
Meaning if the original ECHO Argument comes back from the printer, no ELP is active or installed. If the printer returns ECHO ELP Vx.x you even have then the ELP version running on the printer or in the box.


Configuration:

Ricoh with Hard Disk: Same as HP LaserJet. If your forms are NOT used, then please get in contact with This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ricoh SD card: Plug the card into your PC and copy all files to the root directory. If your forms are NOT used, then please get in contact with This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


Special convert.ini keys:

Those keys need to be set in the rule GLOBAL:

Key Description Ricoh
LJ_PARSE_PCL6 Parses PCL6 data streams as well

-

LJ_PARSE_Postscript Parses Postscript data streams as well

-

LJ_Mode_TimeOut This key may change the time out behaviour of the printer in printing mode using the parallel port (Centronics). Please ask the distributor for details. Especially when not all pages are printed, and the rest of the first job is printed on arrival of the next job, try to solve this problem by setting the keys value to 1.

-

LJ_Mode_OverRead_EOF Can only be turned on in a Searched_... section. Once set, ELP will not exit on a found UEL command

-

ELP_MAX_HEAP Maximum available memory, See for important details above!

yes