PRINTCAP(5-BSD)     RISC/os Reference Manual      PRINTCAP(5-BSD)



NAME
     printcap - printer capability database

SYNOPSIS
     /etc/printcap

DESCRIPTION
     printcap is a simplified version of the termcap(5) database
     used to describe line printers.  The spooling system
     accesses the printcap file every time it is used, allowing
     dynamic addition and deletion of printers.  Each entry in
     the database is used to describe one printer.  This database
     can not be substituted for, as is possible for termcap,
     because it can allow accounting to be bypassed.

     The default printer is normally lp, though the environment
     variable PRINTER can be used to override this.  Each spool-
     ing utility supports an option, -Pprinter, to allow explicit
     naming of a destination printer.

     Refer to Chapter 12, Printer Spooler, in the System
     Administrator's Guide for a complete discussion on how set
     up the database for a given printer.

CAPABILITIES
     Refer to termcap for a description of the file layout.
     Name  Type  Default         Description
     af    str   NULL            name of accounting file
     br    num   none            if lp is a tty, set the baud rate (ioctl call)
     cf    str   NULL            cifplot data filter
     df    str   NULL            tex data filter (DVI format)
     fc    num   0               if lp is a tty, clear flag bits (sgtty.h)
     ff    str   \f              string to send for a form feed
     fo    bool  false           print a form feed when device is opened
     fs    num   0               like `fc' but set bits
     gf    str   NULL            graph data filter (plot(3X) format)
     ic    bool  false           driver supports (non standard) ioctl to indent printout
     if    str   NULL            name of text filter which does accounting
     lf    str   /dev/console    error logging file name
     lo    str   lock            name of lock file
     lp    str   /dev/lp         device name to open for output
     mx    num   1000            maximum file size (in BUFSIZ blocks), zero = unlimited
     nd    str   NULL            next directory for list of queues (unimplemented)
     nf    str   NULL            ditroff data filter (device independent troff)
     of    str   NULL            name of output filtering program
     pl    num   66              page length (in lines)
     pw    num   132             page width (in characters)
     px    num   0               page width in pixels (horizontal)
     py    num   0               page length in pixels (vertical)
     rf    str   NULL            filter for printing FORTRAN style text files
     rm    str   NULL            machine name for remote printer
     rp    str   lp              remote printer name argument



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PRINTCAP(5-BSD)     RISC/os Reference Manual      PRINTCAP(5-BSD)



     rs    bool  false           restrict remote users to those with local accounts
     rw    bool  false           open the printer device for reading and 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 burst page header
     st    str   status          status file name
     tf    str   NULL            troff data filter (cat phototypesetter)
     tr    str   NULL            trailer string to print when queue empties
     vf    str   NULL            raster image filter
     xc    num   0               if lp is a tty, clear local mode bits (tty(4))
     xs    num   0               like `xc' but set bits

     Error messages sent to the console have a carriage return
     and a line feed appended to them, rather than just a line
     feed.

     If the local line printer driver supports indentation, the
     daemon must understand how to invoke it.

EXAMPLE
     #
     # This is a sample of printcap entries used by various printers/plotters
     #
     # DecWriter over a tty line.
     lp|ap|arpa|ucbarpa|LA-180 DecWriter III:\
        :br#1200:fs#06320:tr=\f:of=/usr/lib/lpf:lf=/usr/adm/lpd-errs:
     # typical remote printer entry
     ucbvax|vax|vx|ucbvax line printer:\
        :lp=:rm=ucbvax:sd=/usr/spool/vaxlpd:lf=/usr/adm/lpd-errs:
     varian|va|Benson Varian:\
        :lp=/dev/va0:sd=/usr/spool/vad:mx#2000:pl#58:px#2112:py#1700:tr=\f:\
        :of=/usr/lib/vpf:if=/usr/lib/vpf:tf=/usr/lib/rvcat:cf=/usr/lib/vdmp:\
        :gf=/usr/lib/vplotf:df=/usr/local/dvif:\
        :vf=/usr/lib/vpltdmp:lf=/usr/adm/lpd-errs:
     versatec|vp|Versatec plotter:\
        :lp=/dev/vp0:sd=/usr/spool/vpd:sb:sf:mx#0:pw#106:pl#86:px#7040:py#2400:\
        :of=/usr/lib/vpfW:if=/usr/lib/vpsf:tf=/usr/lib/vcat:cf=/usr/lib/vdmp:\
        :gf=/usr/lib/vplotf:vf=/usr/lib/vpltdmp:lf=/usr/adm/lpd-errs:\
        :tr=\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n:

SEE ALSO
     termcap(5)
     lpc(8), lpd(8) in the System Administrator's Reference
     Manual.
     lpr(1), lpq(1), lprm(1) in the User's Reference Manual.
     Chapter 12, Printer Spooler, in the System Administrator's
     Manual.






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