Ubuntu – Unable to print PDF correctly

I have found a way to configure CUPS so that it calls pdfbook for me. The process boils down to the following:

1. In your CUPS server (e.g., http://localhost:631), create a copy of the configuration for the printer you want to enable brochure printing for. Let's call the new printer "Print-booklet".

2. Edit /etc/cups/ppd/Print-booklet.ppd as root. Add the following line, e.g., before the *cupsFilter entry: *cupsPreFilter: "application/pdf 0 booklettopdf".

3. (This step is a bit messy, perhaps it can be done in a cleaner way.) In /usr/lib/cups/filter, create the script booklettopdf (as root):

   #!/bin/sh
   for e in "$@"; do echo DEBUG: $0: $e 1>&2; done
   TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
   echo DEBUG: $0: $TMPFILE 1>&2
   if [ "$6" = "" ]; then
       cat
   else
       cat "$6"
   fi | pdfbook --scale 0.97 --outfile $TMPFILE && cat $TMPFILE && rm $TMPFILE
   

4. Make the script executable: chmod +x booklettopdf.

5. Print a test page.

Now, whenever you want to print in booklet format, choose the new printer "Print-booklet".

The cupsPreFilter is a CUPS PPD extension, and it seems that the application/pdf format will always appear in the filter chain (Ubuntu 12.10, perhaps earlier?).

I'd vote for integrating this functionality into CUPS.

I had a very similar problem with my Brother printer: it always said that the printer was "processing" the document, but my problem was that I was using IPP instead of AppSocket/JetDirect.

How is your printer connected to your computer? Is it connected via a Parallel port? Is it simply wired in through USB? Or are you and the printer both connected to a router?

My setup was: printer wired into router via Ethernet, computer connected to router's Wi-Fi.
Here's what I had to do:

I'll need more information on your setup to really help you a lot, but if your printer is set up like mine, that might be worth a shot.

NOTE: if that doesn't work for you, see if you have any luck with Brother's official drivers.