Update: It appears that it is now, you have to do a combination of the placing of the three files and then remove and re-add the printer and share it and then run the AirPrint Hacktivator, it appears that the files may not have been copied properly when the install was done.
Your Mac does appear to need to be on otherwise it does not print.
And you may need to let the Printer dialog on the iPad stay on for a minute until the printers are found.
Are you not prepared to spend money on an AirPrint “certified” printer? There may be a few options for those of you.
Well until Apple releases a feature that can print to the existing thousands and tens of thousands of printer models, we have to resort to tricking the system into believing that it is one of the compatible printers.
So far I have tried these steps with a Lexmark printer from a Mac and had no luck, I just get the message “No Printers Found” I am on the same network, installed all the necessary files deleted and readded the printer and still no luck.
There’s a tool called AirPrint Activator.
You need to remove the printer you want to share, add it back to the printer list and then share it. Kind of sound strange but this is what it takes. Watch the following video for an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id5VOiO8Jd8
It is essential that you remove the printer and add it back again otherwise Airprint doesn’t know how to print to it.
It doesn’t appear that you need to install anything on the iPad.
Download the latest version: AirPrint Activator v1.0
Apple requested that I take down the AirPrintHacktivator page as they stipulate that the application is distributing copyrighted source code and/or software. AirPrint Activator is now replacing the defunct AirPrint Hacktivator application. It provide the same functionality without the use of any Apple files.
You can use AirPrint Activator as a replacement of the previous generation Hacktivator application. If present, it will take care of cleaning any Apple files installed by the previous generation Hacktivator when you “deactivate” AirPrint. It will only inject a single line in a CUPS configuration when you select to “activate” AirPrint.
System Requirements:
- OSX Snow Leopard 10.6.5
- iTunes 10.1
HOW TO activate AirPrint:
1. Launch AirPrint Activator
2. Click on the togle switch:
3. Enter the admin password:
4. A window will appear instructing you to remove/add/share the printer you want to use with AirPrint:
Click OK.
5. The Print & Fax System Preference window should now open to allow you to perform the remove/add/share task. If it does not then simply open System Preferences/Print & Fax. The following youtube clip will show you how:
Make sure you select your printer that is listed on your Mac and not “CUPS-PDF” as in this video.
Support:
Get some basic support in the discussion forum.
Software revisions:
- Initial release of AirPrint Activator
Steps to Enable AirPrint Feature on OS X 10.6.5
- Make sure that your system is updated to latest Mac OS X 10.6.5
- Download the AirPrint Activation files given here and copy them into following three specific system locations:
- Copy file urftopdf to location /usr/libexec/cups/filter/
- Copy file apple.convs to location /usr/share/cups/mime/
- Copy file apple.types to location /usr/share/cups/mime/
* Overwrite any existing files if prompted.
- Go to system preferences and delete your saved printer.
- Restart your Mac.
- Re-add any printers you want to share.
That’s it! Enjoy the wireless printing experience on your iOS device. [via lifehacker]
Update1: How to Enable AirPrint Service on Windows 7/Vista/XP (32-bit/64-bit)?
