Bored? Got a Networked HP printer around?

[Garp]

http://www.hackszine.com/blog/archive/2007/10/change_the_message_on_hp_print.html

A lesser-known feature of the HP Printer Job Language (HPPJL) command set is that you can change the ready message" from "READY" to whatever you like. Yaakov wrote a Perl script that will change the message for you, and he also came up with the clever "INSERT COIN" replacement. Very nice.

You can think up your own funny, confusing or scary messages. My personal favorite is "INSERT COIN" which fits perfectly on the small LCDs. You can even sit in sight of the printer and change the message while watching the reaction of your victim. Don't be surprised, though, if a large fraction don't even notice. I was quite surprised myself but, it appears, some people don't look at what is in front of them.

I haven't been able to test yet (no HP printer here), but if I'm reading the code right, you can actually do this right from the command line using telnet. Just telnet to port 9100 and type in the following:

\e%-12345X\@PJL JOB
\@PJL RDYMSG DISPLAY="MESSAGE HERE"
\@PJL EOJ
\e%-12345X

We've had "INSERT COIN", "OMGWTFBBQ", "YEAH, RIGHT" and "TGI Friday" on our printer so far this week..

[Flibster]

Thats this afternoon sorted then. :D

Cool. :D

Simon/~Flibster

[Daz]

Frickin Awesome :D:D:D

[Joe 90]

ooo oh so tempting - wonder if someone would say anything...

get some students saying that the printer is asking for coins :|


*edit*
noooo
HP Laserjet 4050s are not supported :(

[Feek]

ooo oh so tempting - wonder if someone would say anything...

get some students saying that the printer is asking for coins :|


*edit*
noooo
HP Laserjet 4050s are not supported :(

Arse.

Read the first post, teletted to our printer to try it, did the INSERT COIN thing and nothing happened.

Came back, read down the thread. We've got a 4050 :(

[Daz]

I've just done it on a 4050 and it worked fine :/

It now thinks 'DAZ RAWKS'

I'm using the perl script though, not the telnet method.

[Feek]

Don't think I can use a perl script here :(

[Feek]

Can you compile it into something I can use, two versions one to set it to INSERT COIN and the other to reset back to READY on 10.119.1.22 ?

[Belmit]

All our network printers are HP. Tee hee!

[Daz]

Can you compile it into something I can use, two versions one to set it to INSERT COIN and the other to reset back to READY on 10.119.1.22 ?
Quick and dirty Windows binary:

http://dwuk.net/misc/hpsetdisp.zip

Unzip, and execute:

hpsetdisp.exe 10.0.0.1 "MESSAGE"
Remember the quotes, and obviously use the correct IP :)

[Feek]

Bwahahah, ta :D

[Joe 90]

Legendary :D works like a charm!

[Desmo]

What's the telnet prompt I'm supposed to type?

Isn't it just IP -p9100?

[Daz]

No -p if you're using the windows cli client. Just telnet host port

[Desmo]

I'm using Terminal on OSX.

[Desmo]

Oooh, looks like I'm in :D

[Daz]

Don't know about that one, but it's the same on the standard *nix client too, so I'd imagine it'd be the same. If not, then put your switch just after the command, and put a space in thar:

telnet -P 9100 1.2.3.4
[edit] :)

Fwiw I though OSX came with a perl interpreter by default.

[Desmo]

Hmmm, once I'm in, it doesn't seem to work on our 5100.

I type in the first line and it says "invalid command"

[Feek]

Shame the window isn't big enough for

"HELP, I'M STUCK IN THE PRINTER"

[Daz]

:D

[Desmo]

Boooo, I wanna play :(

I can use terminal and I type "telnet 10.0.0.110 -p9100" and it gets me into the printer with a menu. But hwne I start typing the commands it doesn't like them :/

[Belmit]

Helpdesk printer now says JOG ON!

[Daz]

Try the perl script Des. Download this:

http://kovaya.com/perl/hpsetdisp.pl

To somewhere, then from a terminal type:

perl hpsetdisp.pl 1.2.3.4 "MESSAGE"
I'm fairly sure OSX has perl so it should work, if the printer supports it anyway.

[edit];D @ Belmit

[Haly]

Do I dare wind my Mum up or not :D

[Desmo]

:D

http://www.jmartworks.co.uk/odds/printerdisplay.jpg

Dual line goodness ;D

[Desmo]

Gonna leave it on this...

http://www.jmartworks.co.uk/odds/printerdisplay2.jpg

:D

[Garp]

ours currently says:
"Save Trees
Use Full Duplex"

[Daz]

Splendid ;D

One of the dev's here is actually planning to properly mod that thing. He wants to pipe the output of fortune to the printer, and have it scroll along the display until it's over, then put 'READY' back. He's proper geek him.

[Nutcase]

Ha ha I have a 4050, so next time I plug it in, I'll give it a whirl :D

[Mark]

We're all HP too. I don't know the IP address of the local printers, though if I could be bothered I know I could find it. :)

[Feek]

Heh heh heh, it does fit..

http://www.ukrm.org/feek/lj4000.jpg

That's on mine at home, the one at work is doing the insert coin thing and nobody has noticed.

[karbon]

damn working for dell and all our printers being rebranded xerox nonsense.

[Dymetrie]

I'm off work for a week now and may have missed any script which was written...

Tried it on my 4700 today and all it did was print out the commands I sent :(

scripts to make it work and make me giggle when I get back to work on the 29th (and **** knows I'll need it with 10 days of paperwork to catch up on) would be much appreciated :)

Beers shall be bought :D

[Mark]

Just had a look - the nearest printer is a 4250. Dunno what the big printer over t'other side of the building (which gets more use) is though. :)

[Feek]

Bah, turning the printer off and on clears the message :(

[kaiowas]

Wahey, ours works. I've got 16 characters to play with (or it scrolls if I give it more)

Laserjet 5N btw.

/EDIT - Our printer now scrolls "WARNING: Morale Level Low"

[Daz]

Laserjet 5's! Good printers those, little slow but we have some still working now.`