lp" -- Command" "

llpp [[--dd_p_r_i_n_t_e_r]] [[--tt _t_i_t_l_e]] [[--nn_c_o_p_i_e_s]] [[--RR _p_a_g_e [[_p_a_g_e]]]] [[--SSmmwwss]] _f_i_l_e _._._.

lp prefaces the spooled text with a header that describes, among other things, on what device you want to print the text; then it copies the text into directory /usr/spool/mlp/queue, where it remains until it is removed by the printer daemon lpsched. The spooled text, which may comprise multiple files, plus its header is called a job.

The following describes the header with which lp prefaces each file:

  _O_f_f_s_e_t  _L_e_n_g_t_h  _D_e_s_c_r_i_p_t_i_o_n
     0      14    User who spooled the file
    14      14    Name of the printer on which to print file
    28      10    Type of file (application specific)
    38       3    Length of output page (default, 66 lines)
    41       4    Number of pages (maximum, 9,999)
    45       2    Number of copies to print (default, one; maximum, 99)
    47       1    Set life expectancy of job (see below)
    48       1    If `M', send user mail after printing
    49       1    If `W', write user after printing
    50      14    Name of data base (application specific)
    64      14    Name of program (application specific)
    78      10    Date/time stamp (no. of seconds since 1/1/1970)
    88      60    Description or title

Note that the fields marked ``application specific'' are not use by lp or lpsched. Rather, they are available to applications, such as filters, that may be used with lp to print files.

The ``life expectancy'' byte of the header defines how long the job remains alive in /usr/spool/mlp/queue. Jobs labeled TT (temporary) live for 30 minutes after being spooled; those labeled SS (short-term) live for 24 hours; and those labeled LL (long-term) live for 72 hours. Once a job's life expectancy has expired, the printer daemon lpsched removes it. The default is life expectancy is SS. To change the life expectancy of a job, use the command chreq. You can also change the above default ``lifetimes'' by editing the file /usr/spool/mlp/controls.

When lp creates a job, it gives the job a seven-character name. The name's first character gives the status of the job: R indicates that the file is being printed or is pending printing, whereas r indicates that the job has already been printed. The second character gives the job's priority status, from 0 through 9: zero gives highest priority, nine the lowest. The default priority is 2. The last five characters of the name give a zero-padded sequence number. To change a job's status or priority, use the command chreq; or the system administrator can alter either simply by renaming the file.

lp recognizes the following options:

--RR _r_e_q_u_e_s_t

Print a job beginning from the first _p_a_g_e and continuing either to the second _p_a_g_e or to the end of the document (if no second _p_a_g_e is specified). Note that the printer daemon lpsched identifies pages by counting lines of input, so this feature works only with straight text. It does _n_o_t work correctly with ``cooked'' input, such as files of PostScript or PCL.

--SS9

Shut down the spooler daemon llppsscchheedd.

--dd_p_r_i_n_t_e_r

Print the job on _p_r_i_n_t_e_r.

--mm

Send mail to the user once the spooled job has been printed.

--nn_c_o_p_i_e_s

Print _c_o_p_i_e_s copies of the job.

--ss

Silent -- do not acknowlege submissions. Normally, lp writes on the standard output the sequence number of the job you just spooled. You can use that number to remove or abort a job, or otherwise manipulate it.

--tt _t_i_t_l_e

Give this job _t_i_t_l_e. This is the title that appears in the queue displayed by the command lpstat.

--ww

Write a message on the user's screen once the job has been printed.

For more information on lp and its related commands, see the Lexicon entry printer.

See Also

• chreq,
• commands,
• controls,
• lp [device driver],
• lpadmin,
• lpsched,
• pclfont,
• printer
A

Notes

A If you wish to use lp to download a PCL bitmapped font to your PCL printer, you must first process the font with the command pclfont. For details, see its Lexicon entry.