Bug#982925: libgtk: print dialog lists autodetected printer twice

[Brian Potkin]

On Sun 13 Mar 2022 at 14:38:13 +0100, Daniel Gröber wrote:

> Hi Brian and Simon,
> 
> On Sat, Mar 12, 2022 at 08:56:38PM +0000, Brian Potkin wrote:
> > You have just confirmed that the printing system (CUPS + cups-filters
> > + (optionally) cups-browsed) works effieiently and as designed.
> > 
> > > Resultion: printing is still hell on earth :]
> > 
> > libgtk is not part of the printing system; 
> 
> Erm, sorry but it is part of the printing experience from a user's POV.

True.
 
> I wasn't trying to imply cups is the problem in fact if you read the
> backlog much of my frustration is with libgtk, but hell at least I'm here
> proposing patches so I feel I get to poke som fun at it. No offence
> intended Simon :)
> 
> Besides in the end it turned out libgtk with the right patch does work so
> *shrug*.

Having the GTK dialog on bullseye as a good citizen would be gratifying.
 
> > > - Printing via libgtk's fallback entry always fails
> > 
> > I wouldn't see libgtk as providing a fallbac. Why would a fallback be
> > needed when the printing system does the jobi, as you have demonstrated?
> > On bullseye libgtk treads its own path and ignores the CUPS APIs. It is
> > little wonder users (like the bug submitter) experience consternation.
> 
> Here I also don't quite understand libgtk upstream. I assume the intention
> for the fallback is to have printing to at least work with some printers
> when cups isn't running/installed. While I think that's a terrible idea we
> still didn't want to break that behaviour since some users might now be
> depending on it.

I cannot provide code but can supply information. Perhaps there is some
enlightenment at

  https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=688956

This is what began the process. Comments 5 and 6 look interesting.

Printing via a GTK destination to an IPP printer has never worked for
me. Even if printer information could be obtained, a Cairo-produced PDF
would go to the printer and PDF is not a PDL understood by it. In what
circumstances does such a destination work?

Regards,

Brian.