Printing is slow with iPrint printer installed

  • 7002901
  • 02-Apr-2009
  • 26-Apr-2012

Environment

Novell iPrint

Situation

iPrint is slow from multiple workstations and with multiple applications
iPrint is slow with Adobe Acrobat version 6.0 or higher.
PDF documents print slowly to iPrint printer
The Print dialogue is slow to appear after clicking "File, Print"
Problem occurs when iPrint printer is installed.

Resolution

Install the iPrint printer using the ShortInstallName feature, following the instructions in KB 7003076 at
https://support.microfocus.com/kb/doc.php?id=7003076

Additional Information

Some versions of Windows and/or some applications (such as certain versions of Adobe) do not efficiently handle printer names containing 32 characters or more.  This results in slow printing.  Using the ShortInstallName feature can help keep the name under that limit.  For example, Adobe Acrobat versions 6.0 and higher truncate printer names that are longer than 31 characters. 
 
Trying to print or view a list of printer's through the application's File -> Print option requires the printer names to be resolved.  If the name is truncated, then the name will not be found through the normal provider methods.  Each provider method must be tried and eventually timeout.  The total delay time depends on the number of print providers installed on the workstation and the number of printers with names over 31 characters installed on the workstation.  A packet trace will show this problem.  For example, the trace may contain attempts to resolve ipp using DNS, NDS, NetBios, and SLP.  Some of these protocols will attempt the name resolution multiple times.

The ShortInstallName feature is enabled in sys:\Apache2\htdocs\ippdocs\iprint.ini.  Change ShortInstallName = DEFAULT  to ShortInstallName = [WhateverName].   This will require the printer to be re-installed to the workstation.  Instead of the name in the Windows Printers folder displaying like:

[pa_name] on [ipp://IPorDNS]

The name will display as:

[pa_name] on [WhateverName]

This can shorten the length of the printer name a lot, especially if a DNS name is being used.
Formerly known as TID# 10099085