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What PCL XL Class/Revision level does LJ M451dw support?

Does anyone know what Class/Revision level is supported by the PCL XL interpreter in the HP LaserJet Pro Colour Printer M451dw (or the HP LaserJet Pro Colour MFP M475dw multi-function equivalent)?

The printer specifications for most LaserJet printers state what Page Description Languages (PDLs) are supported; e.g. for the models in question:

HP PCL 6,
HP PCL 5c
HP postscript level 3 emulation

Note that for PCL5 and PostScript, some indication is given of the version or level of the languages, but not for PCL6 (the marketing/generic name for PCL XL).

I've asked:

- HP via their US 'ask a presales question' web page; I've spent a week sending and receiving emails from various different units, and two long (20 minute plus) telephone conversations (UK numbers), both ending in me being cut-off whilst waiting.
But no-one appears to have much idea what I'm asking the question about.

- HP via our UK presales number - they say they are unable to answer technical questions unless I already own the printer in question (which rather defeats the object - I want to know the answer before deciding whether or not to purchase!).

- A UK reseller (HP presales suggested I call them); although they were very helpful, they couldn't answer the question with the documentation supplied to them by HP.

DansDadUK

ASKER

If anyone has one of these models, and access to snmpwalk, we could find the information relatively easily.

The command would be something like this one I used with my local LJ1320 printer (IP address 192,168.1.65):

snmpwalk -Os -c public -v 1 192.168.1.65 1.3.6.1.2.1.43.15.1.1

which produced this output:

mib-2.43.15.1.1.2.1.1 = INTEGER: 37
mib-2.43.15.1.1.2.1.2 = INTEGER: 5
mib-2.43.15.1.1.2.1.3 = INTEGER: 3
mib-2.43.15.1.1.2.1.4 = INTEGER: 6
mib-2.43.15.1.1.2.1.5 = INTEGER: 47
mib-2.43.15.1.1.3.1.1 = STRING: "Version 2.0"
mib-2.43.15.1.1.3.1.2 = STRING: "Version 2.0"
mib-2.43.15.1.1.3.1.3 = STRING: "Version 5.00E"
mib-2.43.15.1.1.3.1.4 = STRING: "Version 2014.116"
mib-2.43.15.1.1.3.1.5 = STRING: "Version 2.0"
mib-2.43.15.1.1.4.1.1 = STRING: "19990105"
mib-2.43.15.1.1.4.1.2 = STRING: "19990105"
mib-2.43.15.1.1.4.1.3 = STRING: "19990105"
mib-2.43.15.1.1.4.1.4 = STRING: "19990105"
mib-2.43.15.1.1.4.1.5 = STRING: "19990105"
mib-2.43.15.1.1.5.1.1 = STRING: "Automatic Language Switching"
mib-2.43.15.1.1.5.1.2 = STRING: "PJL"
mib-2.43.15.1.1.5.1.3 = STRING: "PCL"
mib-2.43.15.1.1.5.1.4 = STRING: "POSTSCRIPT"
mib-2.43.15.1.1.5.1.5 = STRING: "PCLXL"
mib-2.43.15.1.1.6.1.1 = STRING: "19990105"
mib-2.43.15.1.1.6.1.2 = STRING: "19990105"
mib-2.43.15.1.1.6.1.3 = STRING: "19990105"
mib-2.43.15.1.1.6.1.4 = STRING: "19990105"
mib-2.43.15.1.1.6.1.5 = STRING: "19990105"
...etc. etc.

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where the relevant lines (all ending with .5 in this example) are:

mib-2.43.15.1.1.2.1.5 = INTEGER: 47
mib-2.43.15.1.1.3.1.5 = STRING: "Version 2.0"
mib-2.43.15.1.1.4.1.5 = STRING: "19990105"
mib-2.43.15.1.1.5.1.5 = STRING: "PCLXL"

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which (I think) provides the required PCL XL interpreter data (id, version, datecode, name respectively).

In this example, "Version 2.0" indicates that the supported protocol is Class=2, with Revision=0.
I want the equivalent information from a LJ M451 (or M475).

As an aside, I think that if I had the correct MIBs installed (or perhaps configured snmp differently - it's not something I'm that familiar with), my snmpwalk output would have been something like:

prtInterpreterLangFamily.1.1 = INTEGER: 37
prtInterpreterLangFamily.1.2 = INTEGER: 5
prtInterpreterLangFamily.1.3 = INTEGER: 3
prtInterpreterLangFamily.1.4 = INTEGER: 6
prtInterpreterLangFamily.1.5 = INTEGER: 47
prtInterpreterLangLevel.1.1 = STRING: "Version 2.0"
prtInterpreterLangLevel.1.2 = STRING: "Version 2.0"
prtInterpreterLangLevel.1.3 = STRING: "Version 5.00E"
prtInterpreterLangLevel.1.4 = STRING: "Version 2014.116"
prtInterpreterLangLevel.1.5 = STRING: "Version 2.0"
prtInterpreterLangVersion.1.1 = STRING: "19990105"
prtInterpreterLangVersion.1.2 = STRING: "19990105"
prtInterpreterLangVersion.1.3 = STRING: "19990105"
prtInterpreterLangVersion.1.4 = STRING: "19990105"
prtInterpreterLangVersion.1.5 = STRING: "19990105"
prtInterpreterDescription.1.1 = STRING: "Automatic Language Switching"
prtInterpreterDescription.1.2 = STRING: "PJL"
prtInterpreterDescription.1.3 = STRING: "PCL"
prtInterpreterDescription.1.4 = STRING: "POSTSCRIPT"
prtInterpreterDescription.1.5 = STRING: "PCLXL"
prtInterpreterVersion.1.1 = STRING: "19990105"
prtInterpreterVersion.1.2 = STRING: "19990105"
prtInterpreterVersion.1.3 = STRING: "19990105"
prtInterpreterVersion.1.4 = STRING: "19990105"
prtInterpreterVersion.1.5 = STRING: "19990105"
 ... etc. etc.

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which is a bit clearer than what I get.

DansDadUK

ASKER

... or test the capabilty of the printer, by sending the contents of the attached sample print file direct to the printer port.
The file is disguised with an additional .txt extension, because I don't think that the forum accepts .prn attachments.

If the printer supports Class/Revision 3.0, the printer should print a single page (A4 Portait), containing several lines with the text:

Line generated using PCL XL

and other lines with the text:

Line generated using PCL5

If it doesnt support this C/R level, it will probably print an error page indicating an UnsupportedProtocol error.
Embed-PCL5Snippet.prn.txt

DansDadUK

ASKER

For reference, attached is an analysis of the sample print file.
Embed-PCL5Snippet.prn.txt-analys.txt

DansDadUK

ASKER

... and to 'send' the contents of the sample file to the printer, from a Windows command-prompt session, use the lpr command, as per the following example:

lpr  -S 192.168.1.65  -P any  Embed_PCL5Snippet.prn

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which would send the contents of the nominated file to the printer with IP-address 192.168.1 65.

The lpr command may only be available if a certain Windows feature (Print and Document Services | LPR Port Monitor) is enabled.

hdhondt

The question has either no comments or not enough useful information to be called an "answer".

DansDadUK

ASKER

Some-one in a different forum has successfully printed some test files for me, which indicates that the M475 device (the MFP variant of the M451 printer) supports Class/Revision 3.0 of the PCL XL protocol.

So this question does have a (belated) answer.

On this basis, I've ordered one, and I'll update this topic when I get the device and run some further tests.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

DansDadUK

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DansDadUK

ASKER

Eventually got an answer (although this raises other questions!) via a combination of responses/tests from an M475 owner, my own purchase (and tests) of one of these devices, and some responses from HP's 'Ask an Expert Day' on their support forums.