lpr(1) General Commands Manual lpr(1)
Name
lpr - print files
Syntax
lpr [ options ] [ file... ]
Description
The command puts files in the spooling area used by The files are printed by when the printer is available. If no file names are speci-
fied, the standard input is used.
If options are specified which would cause a conflicting action, the last option specified is the one used. For example, in the command:
lpr -h -Jjob
the -J option overrides the -h option.
Options
-Cclass
Print the argument class as the job classification on the banner page. If this option is not used, the name of the node from where the
command was issued is printed.
-h Do not print the banner page.
-in
Indent the printed output by n spaces. An argument must be supplied with this option. You should note that this is not compatible to
previous versions of
-Jjob
Print the argument job, as the job name on the banner page. If this option is not used, the job name is the name of the first file
specified in the command. If no file name is specified, the job name ``stdin'' is used.
-m Send a mail note to yourself when the job has been completed.
-p Print numbered pages. For PrintServers this option is effective for ANSI and ASCII data types only; it has no effect for any others.
-Pprinter
Send the output to the spool queue for the printer specified. If this option is not used, the output is sent to the spool queue defined
by the PRINTER environment variable. If a queue is not defined by the PRINTER environment variable, the output is sent to the default
printer.
-s Use the system call to link data files, rather than trying to copy them. This can be used if the file size exceeds the spool directory
limit. Refer to the mx capability in Note that the files should not be modified or removed until they have been printed.
-Ttitle
Print the argument title at the head of each page. If a title is not specified, the name of the file is used. If no file name is spec-
ified, then the title part of the header is left blank. The -T option is only meaningful with the -p option.
-wn
Print the job using a page width of n characters. If this option is not used, the page width is taken from the file. If there is no
entry in the file, the page width used is 132 characters.
-zn
Print the job using a page length of n lines. If this option is not used, the page length is taken from the file. If there is no
entry in the file, the page length used is 66 lines.
-1font
-2font
-3font
-4font
Use the font file specified by font in font position 1, 2, 3 or 4. These options can only be used with troff, ditroff and TeX files
(the -n, -t, and -d options respectively).
-#n
Print n copies of the specified file(s).
Options for Use with PrintServers
The following options are for use with the Digital family of PrintServers. For more information, see Each option requires one argument.
The arguments can be abbreviated as long as the abbreviations are unique for each option.
-Ddatatype
Define the data type to the print daemon, The provides ASCII as the default data type in the file. If you do not use the -D option, the
data type is taken from the file. If no entry for the data type is found here, the default data type, PostScript is used and the print
job is sent to the printer without translation. The following are valid arguments for the -D option.
ansi ANSI data
ascii ASCII data
postscript PostScript data
regis REGIS data
tek4014 Tektronix 4014
xyz You can specify other data types, but
you must write an appropriate transla-
tor, refer to
If the datatype argument is misspelled, or an unsupported data type is specified, the job fails and the message "translator not found" is
reported to the error log. In addition, a single sheet is printed to report the error.
-Fpagesize
Select the size of the pages to be printed. The page size is the text intended to be printed on a single sheet. If the -F option is
not used, the page size used is the same as the sheet size; refer to option -S. If the sheet size is not specified, the value is taken
from the file. If there is no entry in the file, the page size is LETTER (8.5 x 11 inches). The -F option is ignored if the data type
is PostScript. The following are valid arguments for the -F option.
letter or a 8.5 x 11 inches, 216 x 279 mm
ledger or b 11 x 17 inches, 279 x 432 mm
legal 8.5 x 14 inches, 216 x 356 mm
executive 7.5 x 10.5 inches, 191 x 254 mm
a5 5.8 x 8.3 inches, 148 x 210 mm
a4 8.3 x 11.7 inches, 210 x 297 mm
a3 11.7 x 16.5 inches, 297 x 420 mm
b5 7.2 x 10.1 inches, 176 x 250 mm
b4 10.1 x 14.3 inches, 250 x 353 mm
-Itray
Select the input paper tray that supplies paper for the print job. The tray name is given by the argument as follows:
top The upper 250-sheet input
tray.
middle The middle 250-sheet input
tray.
bottom or lcit The large capacity input tray.
If the -I option is not used, the -S option selects the input tray. If the -I option and the -S option are both specified, the input
tray must contain the required paper size. If the -I option is not specified, the value for the output paper tray is taken from the
file. If no entry is present there, the default paper tray for the printer is used.
-Ksides
Print the pages of the job on sheets in the way specified by sides. The valid arguments are:
1 or one_sided_simplex Print on one side of the
sheet only.
2 or two_sided_duplex Print on both sides of
the sheet; the second
side is reached by flip-
ping the sheet about its
left edge, as in the
binding of a book.
tumble or two_sided_tumble Print on both sides of
the sheet, but print the
opposite way up on each
side, so the second side
can be read by flipping
the sheet along its top
axis.
one_sided_duplex Print on one side of the
paper only, but retain
the page layout intended
for two_sided_duplex
printing. The layout
refers to such things as
where the margins are,
and where the page num-
bers are.
one_sided_tumble Print on one side of the
paper only, but retain
the page layout intended
for tumble printing.
two_sided_simplex Print on two sides of
the paper, but retain
the page layout intended
for one_sided_simplex.
-Lfilename
Use the commands in the layup definition file, specified by filename, to alter the appearance of the printed output. For example, layup
files may be found in the directory. If filename does not begin with /, the current directory is searched, followed by This is the
ideal location for your system administrator to store site specific layup files. Refer to the documentation for your printer for com-
mands available.
-Mmessage
Use the messages generated by the print job in the way specified by message. If the -M option is not used, messages are not recorded,
unless indicated by an entry in the file.
keep Record the messages in the
message file and mail the file
to you.
ignore Do not record messages.
-Nn
Print n pages on a single sheet. The number must be in the range 0 to 100. If you specify lpr -N0 the entry is overridden and the
default layup file is not used. If you specify lpr -N1 the pages are printed ``1-up'' but with a border; if the -N option is not used,
one page is printed on one sheet.
-otray
Select the output tray where the printed job is be deposited. The tray name is given by the argument as follows:
top Top tray, with face-down stacking.
side Side tray, with face-down stacking.
face-up Side tray, with face-up stacking.
upper Upper tray if there are two trays on top
of the printer.
lower Lower tray if there are two trays on top
of the printer.
lcos Large capacity output stacker
If the -o option is not specified, the value for the input paper tray is taken from the file, and if no entry is present there, from the
printer.
-Oorientation
Print the page in the way specified by orientation. The orientation is given by the argument as follows:
portrait The printed output is parallel to the
short side of the page.
landscape The printed output is parallel to the
long side of the page.
If the -O option is not specified, the value orientation is taken from the file, and if no entry is present there, it defaults to por-
trait.
For ASCII data type the format is controlled by width and length values supplied to the filter. For more information, see If the width
is greater than 80 columns landscape mode is selected. If you specify the option, or a default has been set for the parameter in the
file, fixed values of width and length are used. These are as follows:
portrait 80 columns and 66 lines
orientation 132 columns and 66 lines
To set portrait as the default for ASCII data type, your system administrator should add to the entry. Without it, ASCII data type uses
the defaults of 132 columns and 66 lines which print in landscape mode.
You can use or to select the fixed values already described. But if you specify width and or length using the and the options you can
override the default set in the file.
-Spagesize
Select the physical size of the sheets to be printed. If the -S option is not used the sheet size used is the same as the page size;
refer to option -F. If the page size is not specified, the value is taken from the file. If there is no entry in the file, the sheet
size is LETTER (8.5 x 11 inches). The valid arguments for the -S option are the same as for the -F option.
-Xn
Print each page n times. The number must be in the range 1 to 100. The output is uncollated; for a collated output use the -# option.
If the -X option is not used, each page is printed once.
-Zlowlim,uplim
Print the pages of the job between lowlim and uplim. If lowlim is not specified, the first page printed is the first page of the job.
If uplim is not specified, the last page printed is the last page of the job. The maximum value which can be specified for uplim is
10000. Banner pages are not included in the count. Note that these limits apply to the entire print job, not to individual files
within a multi-file job.
The following options are used to notify the spooling daemon for the printer that the files are not standard text files. Any of these
options override the -D option regardless of the order in which they appear. The print daemon uses the appropriate filters to ensure the
files are printed correctly.
-g Assume the files contain standard plot data produced by the routines.
-l Print the files using a filter which prints the control characters and suppresses the page breaks.
-t Assume the files contain data produced by troff.
-x Assume the files do not require filtering before printing.
The following options also notify the spooling daemon for the printer that the files are not standard text files. The filters for the fol-
lowing options are not supplied as part of the standard ULTRIX operating system.
-c Assume the files contain data produced by cifplot.
-d Assume the files contain data produced by TeX (DVI output from Stanford).
-f Interpret the first character of each line as a standard FORTRAN carriage control character.
-n Assume the files contain data produced by device independent troff (ditroff).
-v Assume the files contain a raster image for devices like Versatec.
Restrictions
Fonts for troff and TeX reside on the host with the printer. It is not possible to use local font libraries.
Diagnostics
Files with more than x bytes are truncated to x bytes. The default value for x is 1025024 bytes, but this can be changed by using the mx
capability in the file. The command does not print files which appear to be in or format. If a user other than root prints a file and
spooling is disabled, prints a disabled message and does not put jobs in the queue. If a connection to on the local machine cannot be
made, informs you that the daemon cannot be started.
Files
Personal identification
Printer capabilities data base
Line printer daemon
Directories used for spooling
Daemon control files
Data files specified in ``cf'' files
Temporary copies of ``cf'' files
See Also
lpq(1), lprm(1), pr(1), symlink(2), printcap(5), lpc(8), lpd(8)
lpr(1)