problem with page accounting

System Config
-------------

OS : RedHat Linux 9.0
CUPS version: 1.1.17
PPD File: HP_LaserJet_2200.ppd
          (vendor provided ppd for HP LaserJet 2200DTN)


Files used for testing printing
-------------------------------
test.txt (two page plain ASCII file)
test.doc (two page Microsoft Word Document)
test.prn (generating by installing the HP LaserJet 2200 PS
          drivers in Windows XP and then printing test.doc
          to this file)


Problem
------- 

Initially I printed "test.txt", a plain ASCII file. This passed thru the
"pstops" filter (this i came to know from error_log file) and so the page
accouting was done correctly.

Next I tried to print "test.doc" but the following error was generated
        Unable to convert file 0 to printable format for job 2!
I guess this is because the drivers were unable to interpret the word 
document "test.doc".

So what I did was install the HP LaserJet 2200 PS drivers in Windows XP 
and then print the word document "test.doc" to a file "test.prn" in 
windows. This file I copied onto my linux machine and then gave it for 
printing.

The pages were printed perfectly. But the problem was with page accouting.  
Though it printed 2 pages, it showed as only 1. I checked the "error_log"
file and I saw that while printing test.prn the "pstops" filter was not
called.

>From what I know and could comprehend, it seems that the page accoutning 
by CUPS is done when the file passes through the "pstops" filter. As 
"test.prn" is already in ready to print format, it does not pass through 
"pstops" filter and therefore the number of pages defaults to 1.


MY DOUBTS
---------

I have given a detialed description of the problem . Now I would be really
grateful to someone who could provide me with answers for the following
questions.

(1) Is there some way by which I can make the file "test.prn" (and all 
other files) pass through this "pstops" filter so that I can have the 
exact page count ?

(2) Is there any accounting software which will take the page account from 
the printer directly rather than from "page_log" ??

(3) I've heard that CUPS next version shall generate the "page_log" file
 after querying the printer rather than from the "pstops"  filter. Is this
true ? If so, which version of CUPS is it and when will it release?


I would really appreciate any kind of help.


- Rahul.


-- 
Stop regretting about the past and worrying about the future.
Instead start learning from the past and planning for the future.