Bug 482409 - Unclear how to add printer / button disabled
Summary: Unclear how to add printer / button disabled
Status: RESOLVED FIXED
Alias: None
Product: systemsettings
Classification: Applications
Component: kcm_printer_manager (show other bugs)
Version: 6.0.0
Platform: Other Linux
: NOR grave
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Plasma Bugs List
URL:
Keywords: qt6
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2024-03-04 20:26 UTC by Sam Barrow
Modified: 2024-04-18 15:05 UTC (History)
5 users (show)

See Also:
Latest Commit:
Version Fixed In: 6.0.4


Attachments
screenshot (275.31 KB, image/png)
2024-03-04 20:26 UTC, Sam Barrow
Details

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Description Sam Barrow 2024-03-04 20:26:44 UTC
Created attachment 166401 [details]
screenshot

SUMMARY
***
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***

Trying to add a printer, it detects it via the network but I'm not sure how to proceed from here. Drivers are installed (brother-brgenml1 on arch which I've used previously). Screenshot attached.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Add a printer

OBSERVED RESULT
I get an empty page with a disabled button titled "select recommended driver"

EXPECTED RESULT
Anything. Either an error if something is not working, or a way to continue.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Windows: 
macOS: 
Linux/KDE Plasma: 6.7.6-arch1-2 (64-bit)
(available in About System)
KDE Plasma Version: 6.0.0
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.0.0
Qt Version: 6.6.2

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Comment 1 Mike 2024-03-05 20:47:51 UTC
Sam,
I do not see that CUPS has a driver listed for this Brother model.  The Plasma Printer Manager uses the CUPS driver list as well as the Open Printing System to pick recommended drivers and it appears it just can't find the driver from this source.  If you have a .ppd file that came with the drivers you installed, you should be able to install it manually, but first let's check a couple of things:

Can you run this command from a terminal and see if  your printer can be added?  kde-add-printer --add-printer
Comment 2 Sam Barrow 2024-03-05 20:56:54 UTC
(In reply to Mike from comment #1)
> Sam,
> I do not see that CUPS has a driver listed for this Brother model.  The
> Plasma Printer Manager uses the CUPS driver list as well as the Open
> Printing System to pick recommended drivers and it appears it just can't
> find the driver from this source.  If you have a .ppd file that came with
> the drivers you installed, you should be able to install it manually, but
> first let's check a couple of things:
> 
> Can you run this command from a terminal and see if  your printer can be
> added?  kde-add-printer --add-printer

It does seem to show the drivers I have installed when I do kde-add-printer --add-printer

https://imgur.com/a/JZiQyOS
Comment 3 Mike 2024-03-05 21:09:25 UTC
Okay, that is good info.   In the meantime, you can add the printer using kde-add-printer; you'll pick the driver then continue to finish.  At that point, the printer should show up in your system settings/printer manager.

If you would, once you're at system settings/printers, click to configure the printer (the configure button for that printer) and then click the "Select" button for Make/Model and post a screen shot of that.  It may or may not be able to show the model, but that will be another hint for me to check.
Comment 4 Sam Barrow 2024-03-05 21:12:47 UTC
(In reply to Mike from comment #3)
> Okay, that is good info.   In the meantime, you can add the printer using
> kde-add-printer; you'll pick the driver then continue to finish.  At that
> point, the printer should show up in your system settings/printer manager.
> 
> If you would, once you're at system settings/printers, click to configure
> the printer (the configure button for that printer) and then click the
> "Select" button for Make/Model and post a screen shot of that.  It may or
> may not be able to show the model, but that will be another hint for me to
> check.

This? Looks about the same as the add printer screen.

https://imgur.com/a/At7G2lB

Just to double check, I tried to add it again from system settings and it still looks like the original screenshot.
Comment 5 Mike 2024-03-05 21:18:59 UTC
Yes, that's perfect and kind of what I expected to see.  

The hint from your prev screeny is the msg that shows the "name was not activatable".  It looks like plasma printer manager is not properly falling back to manual driver selection after that name failure received from CUPS/Open Printing System.  I'll see about getting that fixed up, but, meantime,  your printer is actually now configured and should work from your applications.
Comment 6 Sam Barrow 2024-03-05 21:33:56 UTC
(In reply to Mike from comment #5)
> Yes, that's perfect and kind of what I expected to see.  
> 
> The hint from your prev screeny is the msg that shows the "name was not
> activatable".  It looks like plasma printer manager is not properly falling
> back to manual driver selection after that name failure received from
> CUPS/Open Printing System.  I'll see about getting that fixed up, but,
> meantime,  your printer is actually now configured and should work from your
> applications.

Thanks!
Comment 7 Mike 2024-03-05 21:52:48 UTC
Sam,
Would you mind one more little task?  Could you go to system settings/printers and try adding the printer again, this time when the empty list comes up, try clicking on each listed printer option in the list and see if anything happens.
Comment 8 Sam Barrow 2024-03-05 21:54:00 UTC
(In reply to Mike from comment #7)
> Sam,
> Would you mind one more little task?  Could you go to system
> settings/printers and try adding the printer again, this time when the empty
> list comes up, try clicking on each listed printer option in the list and
> see if anything happens.

You mean the two printers listed on the left? they both show the same thing.
Comment 9 Mike 2024-03-05 22:12:06 UTC
Ok, that's good, thx, that narrows it down for sure.
Comment 10 Bug Janitor Service 2024-03-06 01:44:48 UTC
A possibly relevant merge request was started @ https://invent.kde.org/plasma/print-manager/-/merge_requests/115
Comment 11 Mike 2024-03-06 20:50:49 UTC
Git commit ab7c5e31debfd179209a85ae442000f3a2b0a57f by Mike Noe.
Committed on 06/03/2024 at 20:22.
Pushed by noee into branch 'master'.

kcm: Handle recommended drivers not found scenario

For discovered devices, we query open systems printing for
recommended drivers.  It could be that there are no recommended
drivers found or the service is not installed, so give the ability
to select the driver manually as a fallback.

M  +30   -4    src/kcm/ui/Drivers.qml
M  +4    -0    src/kcm/ui/FindPrinter.qml
M  +5    -0    src/kcm/ui/PrinterSettings.qml

https://invent.kde.org/plasma/print-manager/-/commit/ab7c5e31debfd179209a85ae442000f3a2b0a57f
Comment 12 Mike 2024-03-27 19:44:08 UTC
Git commit fd2cc22dd442e85f58d16c312d0dac57518108b2 by Mike Noe.
Committed on 27/03/2024 at 19:42.
Pushed by noee into branch 'Plasma/6.0'.

:cherry-pick: kcm: Handle recommended drivers not found scenario

For discovered devices, we query open systems printing for
recommended drivers.  It could be that there are no recommended
drivers found or the service is not installed, so give the ability
to select the driver manually as a fallback.

M  +30   -4    src/kcm/ui/Drivers.qml
M  +4    -0    src/kcm/ui/FindPrinter.qml
M  +5    -0    src/kcm/ui/PrinterSettings.qml

https://invent.kde.org/plasma/print-manager/-/commit/fd2cc22dd442e85f58d16c312d0dac57518108b2
Comment 13 Mike 2024-03-27 20:22:45 UTC
Git commit 7a26960e456dfe570f631b0a7b9f311e8b291429 by Mike Noe.
Committed on 27/03/2024 at 19:57.
Pushed by noee into branch 'Plasma/6.0'.

kcm: Handle recommended drivers not found scenario

For discovered devices, we query open systems printing for
recommended drivers.  It could be that there are no recommended
drivers found or the service is not installed, so give the ability
to select the driver manually as a fallback.
(cherry picked from commit ab7c5e31debfd179209a85ae442000f3a2b0a57f)

M  +30   -4    src/kcm/ui/Drivers.qml
M  +4    -0    src/kcm/ui/FindPrinter.qml
M  +5    -0    src/kcm/ui/PrinterSettings.qml

https://invent.kde.org/plasma/print-manager/-/commit/7a26960e456dfe570f631b0a7b9f311e8b291429