printcap(5)

Name

printcap − printer capability data base

Syntax

/etc/printcap

Description

The printcap file describes the printers available on a system. There is one entry in the file for each printer, and the entry describes the printer capabilities. A change to the printcap file immediately affects the spooling system, unless the affected queue is active. In this case, the spooling queue should be stopped and restarted. For more information, refer to lpc(.).

Entries in the printcap file comprise a number of fields separated by colons (:). The first entry for each printer gives the names that are known for the printer. The names are separated by the pipe character (|). The first name is the name of the printer that is displayed when you use the lpc command to show the status of a queue. Second and subsequent names are alternative names for the printer. You can use the last name to fully identify the printer, including blanks for readability if necessary.

The /etc/printcap file is created when the system is installed. After this, you can modify the printcap file by using the lprsetup script or a suitable editor. The lprsetup script is described on the lprsetup() reference page and in the Guide to System and Network Setup.

When a file is printed using the lpr command, the file can be sent to a named printer. If a printer is not named, and a print name is not defined by the PRINTER environment variable, the file is sent to the printer with the name “lp” in the printcap file. The printcap file should always have a printer with the name “lp”.

Examples

The following examples show the format of entries created using the lprsetup script.

A typical entry for a printer in the printcap file is:

lp|lp0|nlp|ln03 in room 4:\
:af=/usr/adm/lpacct:\
:br#4800:\
:fc#0177777:\
:fs#03:\
:if=/usr/lib/lpdfilters/ln03of:\
:lf=/usr/adm/lperr:\
:lp=/dev/tty00:\
:mx#0:\
:of=/usr/lib/lpdfilters/ln03of:\
:pl#66:\
:pw#80:\
:sd=/usr/spool/lpd:\
:xc#0177777:\
:xs#044000:

A typical entry for a PrintServer in the printcap file is:

lp0|lp|0:
     :ct=network:\
     :lf=/usr/adm/lpd-errs/ex1:\
     :of=lpscomm dotty %U %H %J:\
     :ps=LPS:\
     :sd=/usr/spool/lpd/ex1:\
     :uv=4.0:\
     :Da=ascii:\
     :Dl=/usr/lib/lpdfilters/lps_v3.a:\
     :Sd=a:\

For more information, refer to the Guide to System and Network Setup .

Capabilities

There are three types of capabilities in the printcap file: Boolean, string, and numeric. String valued capabilities are processed before use. For more details, refer to termcap(.). The following list contains the names of capabilities that can be used in the printcap file:

Name	Type	Default	Description
af	str	not set	Accounting file name

br	num	not set	Baud rate, set if lp is a tty
			(ioctl call)

cf	str	not set	Cifplot data filter

ct	str	dev	Connection type - only valid
			when uv=psv4.0 (choices are:
			dev, lat, remote, network)

db	num	0	Debugging level (choices are:
			0 (none), 1 (normal), 10
			(do not execute job, describe
			actions to log file))

df	str	not set	Text data filter (DVI format)

du	num		Daemon user id

fc	num	0	If lp is a tty, clear octal
			flag values ( tty() sg_flags)

ff	str	\f	String to send for a form feed

fo	bool	false	Print a form feed when device
			is opened

fs	num	0	If lp is a tty, set octal flag
			values ( tty() sg_flags)

gf	str	not set	Graph data filter (plot(1g)
			format)

if	str	not set	Text filter that does
			accounting

lf	str	/dev/console	Error logging file name

lo	str	lock	Lock file name

lp	str	/dev/lp	Device name to open for output

mc	num		Maximum number of copies allowed

mx	num	1000	Maximum file size (in 1kbyte
			blocks), 0 = unlimited

nf	str	not set	Ditroff (device independent
			troff) data filter

of	str	not set	Output filtering program name

op	str	not set	The entry in the “Name” field
			for LAT port characteristics

os	str	not set	Service name supported on some
			terminal servers

pl	num	66	Page length (in lines)

pp	str	/bin/pr	Print filter

ps	str	non_PS	Printer type (choices are:
			non_PS, PS, LPS)

pw	num	132	Page width (in characters)

px	num	0	Page width in pixels

py	num	0	Page length in pixels

rf	str	not set	Filter for printing Fortran style
			text files

rm	str	not set	Machine name for remote printer

rp	str	lp	Remote printer name argument

rs	bool	false	Restrict remote users to those
			with local accounts

rw	bool	false	Open the printer device for
			reading as well as writing

sb	bool	false	Short banner (one line only)

sc	bool	false	Suppress multiple copies

sd	str	/usr/spool/lpd	Spool directory

sf	bool	false	Suppress form feeds

sh	bool	false	Suppress printing of banner
			page header

st	str	status	Status file name

tf	str	not set	Troff data filter (CAT
			phototypesetter)

tr	str	not set	Trailer string to print when
			queue empties

ts	str	not set	LAT terminal server node name

uv	str	3.0	ULTRIX version number (choices
			are: 3.0, 4.0)

vf	str	not set	Raster image filter

xc	num	0	If lp is a tty, clear local
			mode octal values ( tty() “Local mode”)

xf	str	not set	Transparent mode filter

xs	num	0	If lp is a tty, set local mode
			octal values ( tty() “Local mode”)

The ct entry specifies the connection type; these are device, LAT, remote or network. To enable print server support you must ensure the :ct=network: entry is included in the printcap file for the appropriate print queue.

The uv entry specifies the version number of the ULTRIX operating system. This entry allows backward compatibility with earlier versions of the print system. Ensure that :uv=4.0:, otherwise the print queue functions as it did in Version 3.1 or earlier and you will not be able to access the features for PostScript support.

The ps entry specifies the printer type. You must ensure the :ps=LPS: entry is included in the printcap file for all print queues using print server features.

The following capabilities set defaults for PostScript printers. You should refer to the lpr() reference page for the choices available for each capability. The equivalent lpr options are shown for reference purposes.

Name	Type	Default	Description	lpr Option
Da	str	postscript	Data type	−D
It	str	not set	Input tray	−I
Lu	str	not set	Layup definition file	−L
Ml	str	not set	Record messages	−M
Nu	str	not set	Number up	−N
Or	str	portrait	Orientation	−O
Ot	str	not set	Output tray	−o
Ps	str	not set	Page size	−F
Sd	str	a	Default sheet size
			(see below)
Si	str	not set	Sides	−K
Ss	str	not set	Sheet size	−S
Tr	bool	true	Trailer page
Ul	str	<last page>	Upper page limit	−Z
Xf	str	xlator_call	Translator dispatch
			program
Lf	str	layup	Layup to PostScript
			translator
Dl	str	not set	Name of the device

The Ss capability specifies a mandatory sheet size. The print job fails if this sheet size is not available with the printer.

The Sd capability specifies a preferred sheet size and is overridden by the Ss capability and the lpr −S command. For American A size paper (8.5 x 11 inches) ensure the entry is :Sd=a:. For European A4 size paper (8.3 x 11.7 inches) ensure the entry is :Sd=a4:. If the sheet size specified by the Sd capability is not available, the print job does not fail, but is printed on the default sheet size for the printer.

The Dl capability specifies the name of the device control module library file. If the print server supporting host is Version 2.0 or 2.1, the Dl entry should be:

:Dl=/usr/lib/lpdfilters/lps_v2.a:\

If the print server supporting host is Version 3.0, the Dl entry should be:

:Dl=/usr/lib/lpdfilters/lps_v3.a:\

If the Dl entry does not match the version of the PrintServer supporting host software, the job flag page prints, but the job itself may not.

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