error during the cups operation 'client-error-document-format-not-supported'

Question

Once I add my network printer in 18.04, it shows : there was an error during the cups operation 'client-error-document-format-not-supported'

Answer 1

Legacy (non-modern) printers require printer drivers.

sudo apt-get install printer-driver-all
sudo systemctl restart cups

Also, make sure your printer is being added in Settings > Printers

You could also add the printer from the cups web interface at localhost:631.

Under administration click on Find New Printers. If your printer is plugged in you'd find it under the local printers.

Answer 2

I had the same problem with an Epson LQ-500 on ubuntu 16.04 (and DELL Optiplex 780). I am not fully satisfied with the present installation which runs slowly (1 page prints in about 5...10mn); at least the test page seems to be correct. Previous install of ubuntu 16.04 on a different PC was working very well; idem for lubuntu 17 on an old laptop (ACER Aspire 1350).

The parameters listed in /etc/cups/printers.conf are:

...
MakeModel Epson LQ-500 Foomatic/epson (recommended)
DeviceURI parallel:/dev/lp0
...
Type 8433668
Accepting Yes
Shared Yes
JobSheets none none
QuotaPeriod 0
PageLimit 0
KLimit 0
OpPolicy default
ErrorPolicy retry-job

Except for the choices of MakeModel and parallel port, all parameters have default values.

I hope this will help.