printers(4)
NAME
printers - user-configurable printer alias database
SYNOPSIS
$HOME/.printers
DESCRIPTION
The $HOME/.printers file is a simplified version of the
system /etc/printers.conf file (see printers.conf(4)).
Users create the $HOME/.printers file in their home direc-
tory. This optional file is customizable by the user.
The $HOME/.printers file performs the following functions:
1. Sets personal aliases for all print commands.
2. Sets the interest list for the lpget, lpstat, and cancel
commands. See lpget(1M), lpstat(1) and
cancel(1).
3. Sets the default printer for the lp, lpr, lpq, and lprm
commands. See lp(1), lpr(1B), lpq(1B), and lprm(1B).
Entries
Use a line or full screen editor to create or modify the
$HOME/.printers file.
Each entry in $HOME/.printers describes one destination.
Entries are one line consisting of two fields separated by
either BLANKs or TABs and terminated by a NEWLINE. Format
for an entry in $HOME/.printers varies according to the pur-
pose of the entry.
Empty lines can be included for readability. Entries may
continue on to multiple lines by adding a backslash (`\') as
the last character in the line. The $HOME/.printers file can
include comments. Comments have a pound sign (`#') as the
first character in the line, and are terminated by a NEW-
LINE.
Setting Personal Aliases
Specify the alias or aliases in the first field. Separate
multiple aliases by a pipe sign (`|'). Specify the destina-
tion in the second field. A destination names a printer or
class of printers (see lpadmin(1M)). Specify the destina-
tion using atomic, POSIX-style (server:destination), or
Federated Naming Service (FNS) (.../service/printer/...)
names. See printers.conf(4) for information regarding the
naming conventions for atomic and FNS names, and stan-
dards(5) for information regarding POSIX.
Setting the Interest List for lpget, lpstat and cancel
Specify _all in the first field. Specify the list of desti-
nations for the interest list in the second field. Separate
each destinations by a comma (`,'). Specify destinations
using atomic, POSIX-style (server:destination), or FNS names
(.../service/printer/...). See printers.conf(4) for informa-
tion regarding the naming conventions for atomic and FNS
names. This list of destinations may refer to an alias
defined in $HOME/.printers.
Setting the Default Destination
Specify _default in the first field. Specify the default
destination in the second field. Specify the default desti-
nation using atomic, POSIX-style (server:destination), or
FNS names (.../service/printer/...). See printers.conf(4)
for information regarding the naming conventions for atomic
and FNS names. The default destination may refer to an alias
defined in $HOME/.printers.
Locating Destination Information
The print client commands locate destination information
based on the "printers" database entry in the
/etc/nsswitch.conf file. See nsswitch.conf(4).
Locating the Personal Default Destination
The default destination is located differently depending on
the command.
The lp command locates the default destination in the fol-
lowing order:
1. lp command's -d destination option.
2. LPDEST environment variable.
3. PRINTER environment variable.
4. _default destination in $HOME/.printers.
5. _default destination in /etc/printers.conf.
6. _default destination in FNS.
The lpr, lpq, and lprm commands locate the default desti-
nation in the following order:
1. lpr command's -P destination option.
2. PRINTER environment variable.
3. LPDEST environment variable.
4. _default destination in $HOME/.printers.
5. _default destination in /etc/printers.conf.
6. _default destination in FNS.
Locating the Interest List for lpget, lpstat, and cancel
The lpget, lpstat, and cancel commands locate the interest
list in the following order:
1. _all list in $HOME/.printers.
2. _all list in /etc/printers.conf.
3. _all list in FNS.
EXAMPLES
Example 1: Setting the interest list
The following entry sets the interest list to destinations
ps, secure, and dog at server west and finance_ps at site
bldg2:
_all ps,secure,west:dog,site/bldg2/service/printer/finance_ps
Example 2: Setting aliases to a printer
The following entry sets the aliases ps, lp, and lw to
sparc_printer:
ps|lp|lw sparc_printer
Example 3: Setting an alias as a default destination
The following entry sets the alias pcl to hplj and sets it
as the default destination:
pcl|_default hplj
Example 4: Setting an alias to a server destination
The following entry sets the alias secure to destination
catalpa at server tabloid:
secure tabloid:catalpa
Example 5: Setting an alias to a site destination
The following entry sets the alias insecure to destination
legal_ps at site bldg2:
insecure site/bldg2/service/printer/legal_ps
FILES
$HOME/.printers
User-configurable printer database.
/etc/printers.conf
System printer configuration database.
printers.conf.byname
NIS version of /etc/printers.conf.
printers.org_dir
NIS+ version of /etc/printers.conf.
fns.ctx_dir.domain
FNS version of /etc/printers.conf.
ATTRIBUTES
See attributes(5) for descriptions of the following attri-
butes:
____________________________________________________________
| ATTRIBUTE TYPE | ATTRIBUTE VALUE |
|_____________________________|_____________________________|
| Availability | SUNWpcu |
|_____________________________|_____________________________|
| Stability Level | Stable |
|_____________________________|_____________________________|
SEE ALSO
cancel(1), lp(1), lpq(1B), lpr(1B), lprm(1B), lpstat(1),
lpadmin(1M), lpget(1M), nsswitch.conf(4), printers.conf(4),
attributes(5), fns(5), standards(5)
System Administration Guide: Basic Administration
NOTES
$HOME/.printers is referenced by the printing commands
before further name resolution is made in
/etc/printers.conf or the name service. If the alias refer-
ences a destination defined in /etc/printers.conf, it is
possible that the destination is defined differently on dif-
ferent systems. This could cause output to be sent to an
unintended destination if the user is logged in to a dif-
ferent system.
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