`/etc/printcap`

Printer capability database

The printcap database is a simplified version of the termcap database for describing printers. The spooling system accesses the printcap file every time it's used, so you can dynamically add or remove printers. Each entry in the database describes one printer.

Note that you can't replace this database -- as you can for termcap -- because that might allow accounting to be bypassed.

The default printer is normally lp, although you can use the environment variable PRINTER to override this. Each spooling utility supports a -Pprinter option to explicitly name a destination printer.

Each entry in the printcap file describes a printer. An entry is a line consisting of a number of fields separated by : characters. The first entry for each printer gives the known names for the printer, separated by | characters.

The first name is conventionally a number. The second name is the most common abbreviation for the printer; the last name should be a long name fully identifying the printer. The second name should contain no blanks; the last name may well contain blanks for readability. Entries may continue onto multiple lines by giving a \ as the last character of a line. Empty fields may be included for readability.

Capabilities in printcap are all introduced by two-character codes and are of these types:

Boolean

Indicates that the printer has some particular feature. Boolean capabilities are simply written between the : characters.

Numeric

Information such as baud rate, number of lines per page, and so on. Numeric capabilities are given by the two-character capability code followed by the # character, followed by the numeric value. The following example is a numeric entry stating that this printer should run at 1200 baud:

:br#1200:

String

A sequence that can be used to perform particular printer operations such as cursor motion. String-valued capabilities are given by the two-character capability code followed by an = sign and then a string ending at the next following :. For example:

:rp=spinwriter:

states that the remote printer is named spinwriter.

Capabilities

Name	Description	Type	Default
`af`	Name of accounting file	String	NULL
`br`	If lp is a tty, set the baud rate (ioctl() call)	Numeric	None
`cf`	`cifplot` data filter	String	NULL
`df`	TeX data filter (DVI format)	String	NULL
`du`	Userid of user `daemon`	String	0
`fc`	If lp is a tty, clear flag bits	Numeric	0
`ff`	String to send for a form feed	String	`\f`
`fo`	Print a form feed when device is opened	Boolean	False
`fs`	Similar to `fc` but set bits	Numeric	0
`gf`	Graph data filter (plot(3X) format)	String	NULL
`hl`	Print the burst header page last	Boolean	False
`ic`	Driver supports (non standard) ioctl() to indent printout	Boolean	False
`if`	Name of input/communication filter (created per job)	String	NULL
`lf`	Error logging filename	String	`/dev/console`
`lo`	Name of lock file	String	`lock`
`lp`	Device name to open for output	String	`/dev/lp`
`mc`	Maximum number of copies	Numeric	0
`ms`	List of terminal modes to set or clear	String	NULL
`mx`	Maximum file size (in BUFSIZ blocks); zero = unlimited	Numeric	1000
`nf`	`ditroff` data filter (device independent troff)	String	NULL
`of`	Name of output/banner filter (created once)	String	NULL
`pc`	Price per foot or page in hundredths of cents	Numeric	200
`pl`	Page length (in lines)	Numeric	66
`pw`	Page width (in characters)	Numeric	132
`px`	Page width in pixels (horizontal)	Numeric	0
`py`	Page length in pixels (vertical)	Numeric	0
`rf`	Filter for printing FORTRAN style text files	String	NULL
`rg`	Restricted group -- only members of group allowed access	String	NULL
`rm`	Machine name for remote printer	String	NULL
`rp`	Remote printer name argument	String	`lp`
`rs`	Restrict remote users to those with local accounts	Boolean	False
`rw`	Open printer device read/write instead of write-only	Boolean	False
`sb`	Short banner (one line only)	Boolean	False
`sc`	Suppress multiple copies	Boolean	False
`sd`	Spool directory	String	`/usr/spool/output/lpd`
`sf`	Suppress form feeds	Boolean	False
`sh`	Suppress printing of burst page header	Boolean	False
`st`	Status filename	String	`status`
`tc`	Name of similar printer; must be last	String	NULL
`tf`	`troff` data filter (C/A/T phototypesetter)	String	NULL
`tr`	Trailer string to print when queue empties	String	NULL
`vf`	Raster image filter	String	NULL
`xc`	If lp is a tty, clear local mode bits	Numeric	0
`xs`	Like `xc` but set bits	Numeric	0

If the local line printer driver supports indentation, the daemon must understand how to invoke it.

Note that the fs, fc, xs, and xc fields are flag masks rather than values. Certain default device flags are set when the device is opened by the line printer daemon if the device is connected to a terminal port. The flags indicated in the fc field are then cleared; the flags in the fs field are then set (or vice versa, depending on the order of fc#nnnn and fs#nnnn in the /etc/printcap file).

The bits cleared by the fc field and set by the fs field are those in the sg_flags field of the sgtty structure, as set by the TIOCSETP ioctl() call, and the bits cleared by the xc field and set by the xs field are those in the "local flags" word, as set by the TIOCLSET ioctl() call. See <sys/termio.h> for a description of these flags.

For example, to set exactly the flags 06300 in the fs field, which specifies that the EVENP, ODDP, and XTABS modes are to be set and that all other flags are to be cleared, do:

:fc#0177777:fs#06300:

The same process applies to the xc and xs fields. Alternatively, you can use the ms field to specify modes to be set and cleared. These modes are specified as stty modes; you can specify any mode supported by stty, except for the baud rate (which you must specify with the br field).

For example, to set the terminal port (to which the printer is attached) to even parity, TAB expansion, no NEWLINE to RETURN/LINEFEED translation, and RTS/CTS flow control enabled, do the following:

:ms=evenp,-tabs,nl,crtscts:

The tc field must appear last in the list of capabilities. Each type of printer should have a general entry describing common capabilities. Then an individual printer can be defined with its particular capabilities, plus a tc field that points to the general entry for that type of printer.

For information about setting up the printcap file, see the Printing chapter of the Neutrino User's Guide.

`/etc/printcap`

Name:

Description:

Capabilities

See also: