Re: [hpoj-devel] Revised "gamma.ps info" + screenshot

[<pa...@rc...>]

> I'm attaching a text file that contains a revised and augmented version o=
> f  the
> "gamma.ps info" that I posted earlier to the hpoj-devel mailing list. It =
> needed
> a little correction and more information. Please add to your docs if you =
> choose.
Hi, Joe.  Thank you very much for the updated information.  I will see about
putting it into a future version of the software.  Lou, does this updated
information help you any?

> According to your hpoj "TODO" list you are planning to expand the xojpane=
> l app.
> I don't really know how much functionality the hpoj project will eventual=
> ly
> have, but I'm assuming that some day there might be a need for a GUI.
> 
> Needing something new to learn, I slapped together the beginning of a Qt =
> -
> based GUI that could serve as a main window for a "hpoj control" front en=
> d. It
> builds and runs with no problems. It was done with the new Qt designer an=
> d
> Gimp.=20
Thanks for putting this together.  That's a really cute picture!  However,
a printer with its tongue sticking out isn't quite the emotion I wanted to
convey here.  :-)

I haven't done a lot of serious thinking on the matter yet, but basically
my vision was to have a list of attached devices (which would probably be
only one for most people, but many for me:-) on the left side (for example,
mlc:mlcpp0, hpjd:my-jdex.my-domain.com:1, etc.), and when you clicked on
one you would get a bunch of tabbed dialog boxes in the remainder of the
window, which would provide various status information and control options
for the selected device.  To list some possibilities by tab:
- general -- device's model name and number, and a summary of its capabilities
(print, scan, fax send, fax receive, copy, etc.).  An option to test
communication with the device (via the MLC echo channel).
- status -- LCD contents (if available), and other general status info that
can be gathered via PML (online, offline, errors, etc.).
- print -- ink/toner levels, buttons to print various test pages and
initiate print cartridge alignment and cleaning operations.
- print queue -- to check on status of lpd print queue, cancel jobs, etc.
- scan -- buttons to launch various SANE frontends (xscanimage, xsane),
since there's no reason to re-invent the wheel.
- copy -- set options (copy count, color/b&w, image enhancement, special
features), start copy button.  Maybe options to assist the user with
advanced copying operations, such as double-sided copying.  Maybe somehow
take advantage of a duplex unit on the G series (if installed).
- fax configuration -- numerous options here (local phone number and station
name, dial-out access code, beep and volume options, country, blacklist
management, flash/line type, ring/answer/redial/forward options, dial mode,
speed dials, fax send/receive modes, etc.).
- fax status -- view/clear fax log of device and/or system.  Presumably
fax send/receive would be handled externally.  Fax send could be handled
by lpd queues, and fax receive could be done either manually from SANE
or automatically from some daemon, which could e-mail you the fax images.
- maybe some "geek options", for example to play around with PML: probe for
supported PML objects and display current values, get/set specific PML
objects, etc.

Did I say I haven't thought about this very much?  :-)  In any case, this
is a lot of functionality, and it would be a good idea to start small.
I also still need to try to get specs on some things, like how to determine
ink/toner levels and clean/align cartridges.

Does anyone have ideas to add to this wishlist for xojpanel-on-steroids?

David