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 directory. This optional file is customizable by the user.
The $HOME/.printers file performs the following functions:
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1. |
Sets personal aliases for all print commands. | ||
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2. |
Sets the interest list for the lpget, lpstat, and cancel commands. See lpget(1M), lpstat(1) and |
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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 purpose 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 NEWLINE.
Setting Personal Aliases
Specify the alias or aliases in the first field. Separate multiple aliases by a pipe sign (’|’). Specify the destination in the second field. A destination names a printer or class of printers (see lpadmin(1M)). Specify the destination 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 standards(5) for information regarding POSIX.
Setting the Interest List for lpget, lpstat and cancel
Specify _all in the first field. Specify the list of destinations 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 information 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 destination 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 following order:
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1. |
lp command’s -d destination option. |
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2. |
LPDEST environment variable. |
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3. |
PRINTER environment variable. |
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4. |
_default destination in $HOME/.printers. |
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5. |
_default destination in /etc/printers.conf. |
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6. |
_default destination in FNS. |
The lpr, lpq, and lprm commands locate the default destination in the following order:
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1. |
lpr command’s -P destination option. |
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2. |
PRINTER environment variable. |
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3. |
LPDEST environment variable. |
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4. |
_default destination in $HOME/.printers. |
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5. |
_default destination in /etc/printers.conf. |
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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:
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1. |
_all list in $HOME/.printers. |
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2. |
_all list in /etc/printers.conf. |
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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 attributes:
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 references a destination defined in /etc/printers.conf, it is possible that the destination is defined differently on different systems. This could cause output to be sent to an unintended destination if the user is logged in to a different system.