View Full Version : Network printing? on a smb shared printer...
i was wondering if it would be likely (i know it's possible) to include the ability to print to a network printer using the smb protocol. i was just thinking that feature would be great for pictures in my pictures. what do you think?
i have the tools necessary now so i'm going look into assisting with development. i've done most of my programming in vb but some c++ .net doesn't seem too intimidating.
thanks dev team! great work!
no prob guys. i know you're all very busy so i'll just throw this idea into my bin. hopefully i'll get to it when i get a little more familiar with the xbmc src. thanks!
any body looked into this? i know i'm not the only one interested in this. it would really help xbmc to be more of a true media center. i've been trying to find info on the smb protocol. if anybody might know of some good resources let me know. thanks!
according to the number of replies here, it looks like you are the only one :)
this is a feature request, so you should have posted it in the correct forum.
ts
hmmm... maybe so. if so, i'll let'er rest. :sleep:
MidnighToker
2005-05-23, 00:14
i was completely inregued when i saw the topic title, but that might just be me....
as far as i understand it (which could very well be wrong) is that the smb printing allows for the network transport of printer controle data.
so instead of being able to use a common set of commands to print to any printer, you still have to use the correct printer drivers for the specific printer in question, so
you would need to code a printing subsystem into xbmc which would allow the picture to be converted/rendered/printed into printer data (the same (ish) file you would get if you 'print[ed] to file' -but this being printer (make/model) specific), and then the smb protocall would only facilitate in getting it to the printer over a standard network protocal.
hope this made some sense...
i figured as much. i've actually done network printer setup on xp and win 98 machines before. i remember having to setup the printer using specific drivers but i was hoping there might be a way around it. guess not.
thanks for the info toker.
FastShow
2005-05-23, 14:11
ah, but it would be possible if you had a pc dedicated as a print server, as all the drivers are installed server-side, and the client then simply sends a standard output that is the same regardless of printer. the server then does all the gubbins that requires a driver.
i was actaully looking into writing a print server in vb. i've already written a text to speech server that can be used in conjunction with xbmc python scripts to bring text to speech to the xbox. but no one seemed interested in that. not sure if anyone would be interested in this either. so far after doing a little poking around i think making it possible to print single images (with adjustable size), and text (basic font abilities) doesn't seem too hard.