NAME

lpq − spool queue examination program

SYNOPSIS

lpq [ options ] [ jobs ] [ users ]

DESCRIPTION

Lpq examines the spooling area used by lpd(8) for printing files on the line printer, and reports the status of the specified jobs or all jobs associated with a user.  Lpq invoked without any arguments reports on any jobs currently in the queue. 

For each job submitted (i.e., for each invocation of lpr(1)) lpq reports the following:  user’s name; current rank in the queue; the names of the files comprising the job; the job identifier (a number which may be supplied to lprm(1) for removing a specific job); and the total size in bytes.  Normally, only as much information as will fit on one line is displayed.  Job ordering is dependent on the algorithm used to scan the spooling directory and is supposed to be first in, first out.  Filenames comprising a job may be unavailable (when lpr(1) is used as a sink in a pipeline), in which case the file is indicated as “standard input.”

If lpq warns that there is no daemon present (due to some malfunction), the lpc(8) command can be used to restart the printer daemon. 

OPTIONS

+ Displays the spool queue until it empties. 

+ n Sleeps n seconds between displays of queue. 

−l Prints information about each of the files comprising the job. 

−Pptr Used to specify a particular printer;  otherwise the default line printer is used (or the value of the PRINTER variable in the environment). 

jobs Reports status of specified jobs only. 

users Reports status of jobs of specified users only. 

FILES

/etc/termcapto manipulate the screen for repeated display
/etc/printcapto determine printer characteristics
/usr/spool/∗the spooling directory, as determined from printcap
/usr/spool/∗/cf∗control files specifying jobs
/usr/spool/∗/lockthe lock file to obtain the currently active job

SEE ALSO

lpr(1), lprm(1), lpc(8), lpd(8)

BUGS

Due to the dynamic nature of the information in the spooling directory, lpq may report unreliably.  Output formatting is sensitive to the line length of the terminal; this can result in widely spaced columns. 

DIAGNOSTICS

Messages may include the following: inability to open various files; lock file malformed;  garbage files when there is no daemon active, but files in the spooling directory. 

4th Berkeley Distribution  —  1 August 1985