printers(4) File Formats 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 directory. 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 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 ter-
minated 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 or POSIX-style
(server:destination) names. See printers.conf(4) for information regarding the naming conventions for atomic 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 or POSIX-style (server:destination) names. See printers.conf(4) for information regarding
the naming conventions for atomic and names. This list of destinations can 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 or
POSIX-style (server:destination) names. See printers.conf(4) for information regarding the naming conventions for atomic 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 nss-
witch.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:
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.
The lpr, lpq, and lprm commands locate the default destination 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.
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.
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:
_all ps,secure,west:dog/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:
insecure 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.
ATTRIBUTES
See attributes(5) for descriptions of the following attributes:
+-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
| 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), stan-
dards(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 differ-
ent systems. This could cause output to be sent to an unintended destination if the user is logged in to a different system.
SunOS 5.10 23 May 2003 printers(4)