foo2hbpl2-wrapper

foo2hbpl2-wrapper

The foo2hbpl2-wrapper command acts as a filter for printing to HP LaserJet 1000, 1005, 1018, and 1020 series printers. These printers use a host-based printing system, meaning the rasterization and processing of the print job are handled by the host computer (your Linux system) rather than the printer itself. foo2hbpl2-wrapper converts the standard PostScript or PDF print job into a format that these printers can understand. It works by taking the input (usually PostScript), converting it to a bitmap image, and then wrapping it in a printer-specific protocol (HBPL2 - Host Based Printing Language Level 2). This wrapper is a crucial component of the foo2zjs driver set, enabling printing on these printer models under Linux. Without it, the printer would simply receive raw PostScript data that it wouldn't know how to process, resulting in a blank page or an error.

This is a wrapper script and is not usually run directly by the user. It is intended to be called by a print spooler such as CUPS.

The foo2hbpl2-wrapper is typically installed as part of the foo2zjs driver package. Install instructions can vary depending on your Linux distribution. Usually you can install using the package manager, and can consult the foo2zjs project website or repository for further information.
Ensure the printer is connected and powered on during the driver installation process.

When configuring the printer in CUPS (Common Unix Printing System), you will select the appropriate foo2zjs driver. CUPS will then automatically use foo2hbpl2-wrapper as a filter when processing print jobs for that printer. You don't typically need to manually configure or call foo2hbpl2-wrapper directly.

The foo2zjs driver and its associated tools, including foo2hbpl2-wrapper, were developed by Rick Richardson. It was created because HP did not provide a native Linux driver for certain laser printer models, relying instead on Windows' GDI-based printing. The foo2zjs project reversed engineered the printing protocol and provided a free, open-source solution to enable Linux support for these printers. It has been a popular choice for users of these HP printers on Linux systems for many years and continues to be maintained, though less actively than in its earlier days.

foo2zjs(1), hpijs(1), lpr(1), lp(1)