NAME

lp − line printer

SYNOPSIS

/sys/conf/SYSTEM:
NLPlp_printers# Line Printer
LP_MAXCOL132 # Maximum number of columns on line printers
 /etc/dtab:
#NameUnit#AddrVectorBrHandler(s) # Comments
lp?1775142004lpintr # lp-11 line printer
 major device number(s):
raw: 5
minor device encoding:
bit 01 specifies 64-character set (instead of 96-character set)
bits 06 are reserved
bits 0370 specify line printer unit: <lp_unit> ∗ 8

DESCRIPTION

Lp provides the interface to any of the standard DEC line printers on an LP-11 parallel interface.  When it is opened or closed, a suitable number of page ejects is generated.  Bytes written are printed. 

The unit number of the printer is specified by the minor device after removing the low 3 bits, which act as per-device parameters.  Currently only the lowest of the low three bits is interpreted: if it is set, the device is treated as having a 64-character set, rather than a full 96-character set.  In the resulting half-ASCII mode, lower case letters are turned into upper case and certain characters are escaped according to the following table:

{ -
(

} -
)

` -
´

| −
!

~ −
^

The driver correctly interprets carriage returns, backspaces, tabs, and form feeds.  Lines longer than the maximum page width are truncated.  The page width is specified via the LP_MAXCOL definition, set to 132 in the GENERIC distribution. 

FILES

/dev/lp
/dev/MAKEDEVscript to create special files
/dev/MAKEDEV.localscript to localize special files

SEE ALSO

lpr(1), dtab(5), autoconfig(8)

DIAGNOSTICS

None. 

BUGS

Although the driver supports multiple printers this has never been tried. 

2nd Berkeley Distribution  —  January 28, 1988