Error: "Unable to print to file: client-error-not-possible"

(Last modified: 18Oct2005)

This document (10099373) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

fact

Novell SUSE Linux

Common UNIX Printing System (CUPS)

symptom

Error:  "Unable to print to file: client-error-not-possible"

Print jobs transfer from the application to CUPS, but don't print to printer.

"too many jobs" listed as a reason for failure in the /var/log/cups/error_log file.

cause

The header files of aborted print jobs collect in /var/spool/cups.  If too many files collect there, then jobs will not be received by CUPS.

fix

Run these commands to resolve this problem.
ps -eaf | grep cupsd
                 You will see a process of /usr/sbin/cupsd run by lp

rm -f /var/spool/cups/c*
                 This command removes the header files that are left over in the CUPS 
                 system.  These files will remain if the job is aborted or otherwise didn't print. 

killall -HUP cupsd
                 This command should kill the CUPS daemon.

ps -eaf | grep cupsd
                 This command will verify that /usr/sbin/cupsd is not running.  If /usr/sbin/cupsd is 
                 still listed with ps grep command from above, then run:

                                  kill -9 [pid]
                                                   The pid (process ID) is listed in the ps grep command from 
                                                   above.  Use that number in place of [pid].

                                  ps -eaf | grep cupsd
                                                   Again, verify that /usr/sbin/cupsd is not running.  /usr/sbin/cupsd 
                                                   should not be listed.

cupsd 
                 This command will start the CUPS daemon.

document

Document Title: Error: "Unable to print to file: client-error-not-possible"
Document ID: 10099373
Solution ID: NOVL103920
Creation Date: 18Oct2005
Modified Date: 18Oct2005
Novell Product Class:Novell Printing Services

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