Does Job Center Work For Anyone with Z3200?

[Mark Lindquist]

Just wondering why the "Job Center" (see attached illustration) never works in HP Utility for the plain vanilla DesignJet Z3200 24" Printer?

It always displays "We are very sorry.  The server encountered a problem when serving your request: etc., etc...."

Is this the way it is with everyone, or just me?

Does it work for you?  It does with my Z3200ps 44".

[Phil Indeblanc]

Hi Mark,

It doesn't with my 44, and I think may have to do with it being photo vs postscript version.
But I'm not sure.

I was told by a technician that the Photo version is upgradable to the PS, and I was thinking of going that route so I could just tell the printer I have a roll of 24, or 36, etc, instead of having to give both a width AND length.
But at $500 for parts, plus install of $250, I'm ok with entering the info for now.

[Mark Lindquist]

Thanks Phil - The nice thing about job center is that you can monitor the progress of the print, you can see a lot of things, plus you can submit a job, or repeat a specific job.

I really don't know why it doesn't work in the plain versions, it seems odd that it would be a feture in ps versions but be visible in non-ps versions.

The price to purchase doesn't seem bad, I think it's a really easy install.

Would LOVE to hear from some other Z3200 users if they have a job center working...

Thanks Phil -

-Mark

[Ernst Dinkla]

It is a PS feature. My plain Z3100 does not have it working, the Z3200PS has it working.

Anyway, in the Windows print queue you can see the progress of a print job and when finished you can relaunch the job there too which then will print without the rasterising etc done by for example Qimage. Saves time.  Be aware that you should not relaunch a job from the Windows printer queue when the system or application has been ended. I experienced odd scale issue with the prints then. I guess the printer still checks some data in the application which are not available when the application is not running. If HP Preview is set the time gain is not much better, set preview off when repeating jobs after another.

Windows>Configure>Printers>Z>properties>keep printed jobs in Advanced settings.
After a job right click on the Z icon there for the print queue and repeat the job. Delete job when not needed anymore.

Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
December 2014 update, 700+ inkjet media white spectral plots

[Phil Indeblanc]

It is a nice feature, and it should at least check something and give a new message, like "PS feature only".
When the time comes, I think I'll do the upgrade.

That's a nice workaround for the multiple jobs to keep stored for reprint. I don't know if I will be using is just yet, but the paper length is a limitation, and really a bad one!

How does HP sell a roll printer without having a roll paper size setting? An old $1200 HP 130 has the roll sizes, and this $5K-8K printer driver does not. Bizarre!

[Mark Lindquist]

It is a PS feature. My plain Z3100 does not have it working, the Z3200PS has it working.

Anyway, in the Windows print queue you can see the progress of a print job and when finished you can relaunch the job there too which then will print without the rasterising etc done by for example Qimage. Saves time.  Be aware that you should not relaunch a job from the Windows printer queue when the system or application has been ended. I experienced odd scale issue with the prints then. I guess the printer still checks some data in the application which are not available when the application is not running. If HP Preview is set the time gain is not much better, set preview off when repeating jobs after another.

Windows>Configure>Printers>Z>properties>keep printed jobs in Advanced settings.
After a job right click on the Z icon there for the print queue and repeat the job. Delete job when not needed anymore.

Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
December 2014 update, 700+ inkjet media white spectral plots

Thanks very much for all that Ernst.  This explains it then.  I will probably rely on Qimage for reprinting as I'm begining to become more familiar with it after much use.  Thanks again for pushing me in that direction. 
I'm finding Qimage to be a bit squirelly- I got out a ruler today and measured the print on the page and it was 7/8" less than it was supposed to be.  Went back in to QI and tracked down the issue.  Phil and I looked at QI together during a Facetime call a while back and both conclude it's a little buggy.

I'm becoming a little discouraged that many of the graphics programs are actually favoring Windows these days, and the interfaces are superior.  It may be that I'll have too rethink getting another Mac Tower someday, and eventually, instead, become more Windows centric.

-Mark

[artreddin]

So, what exactly is involved in upgrading to PS? 

[Mark Lindquist]

So, what exactly is involved in upgrading to PS? 

I believe it involves just changing the hard drive and software.  Could be a board involved, but I can't remember.
phil knows, I'm pretty sure.

By the way, welcome to the forum.

-Mark

[Phil Indeblanc]

What I was told is the HDDrive and the Mech board.
The MECH board has to be written with the drive, so there is something about having to sync them to work.
Once you do it, you cannot reverse unless you start over with other parts.

[artreddin]

Thank you, Mark... and thanks once again for your help with an earlier question.

I assume that the MECH board is the same as the Formatting board advertised elsewhere for around $800. It's not clear to me, however, if a person could pull a used one from a "parts" unit and then program it to work with an existing Hard Drive (SATA or IDE).

BTW, Mark, I've decided to take the plunge...! Wish me luck on getting my 44" machine operational!

[Phil Indeblanc]

The format board is not the same as mech board.

[Mark Lindquist]

Thank you, Mark... and thanks once again for your help with an earlier question.

I assume that the MECH board is the same as the Formatting board advertised elsewhere for around $800. It's not clear to me, however, if a person could pull a used one from a "parts" unit and then program it to work with an existing Hard Drive (SATA or IDE).

BTW, Mark, I've decided to take the plunge...! Wish me luck on getting my 44" machine operational!

This is a different board as Phil mentioned.  Here is the one I believe is needed:

http://www.ambry.com/Q6675-67801.html

This is about twice what they should be - I have seen it for around $90.00.

I really don't think it's a good idea to buy a used one.  If you're going to start customizing anything, better get the manual and read it through.

I have not done an upgrade, and can not advise you on it.  Also, I don't have the time right now to read up on it, to help you.

I urge caution getting a used Z Series printer - it's a steep hill to climb.

-M

[artreddin]

Mark,

I appreciate your words of caution. Sometimes, though, when one doesn't have the financial wherewithal, the only option is to use one's brains, mechanical skills, and time!

I should be all right with the purchase - already made, BTW, a z3200PS 44" model - if the only problem is the lift assembly code indicated. I do have the service manual at the printers, and have noted that there are a lot of videos for this machine. I don't know if that's good or bad  but figured it'd better to pick up something that's been around a few years and accumulated info on the various problems that can crop up (...or hit you in the middle of an urgent job: in your own immortal words: "like light bulbs going out"!)

I didn't mean to imply with my comment on the MECH board that I myself would be doing an upgrade from plain vanilla to a PS model... just curious what the procedure is and if there exist any workarounds.

My first challenge with the machine will be to move it: all 130 kg/2 m from Houston, Texas down into southern Mexico! Wish me luck!

[Mark Lindquist]

My first challenge with the machine will be to move it: all 130 kg/2 m from Houston, Texas down into southern Mexico! Wish me luck!

OK - good luck.  Confidence is a big thing with these printers, and you seem to have lots of it, which is great.
Southern Mexico?  Do they have HP repair there, LOL?

You'll do fine, have fun, you should enjoy it.

Mark