NAME

printcap − printer capability data base

SYNOPSIS

/etc/printcap

DESCRIPTION

Printcap is a simplified version of the termcap(5) data base used to describe line printers.  The spooling system accesses the printcap file every time it is used, allowing dynamic addition and deletion of printers.  Each entry in the data base is used to describe one printer.  This data base may not be substituted for, as is possible for termcap, because it may allow accounting to be bypassed.

The default printer is normally lp, though the environment variable PRINTER may be used to override this.  Each spooling utility supports an option, −Pprinter, to allow explicit naming of a destination printer. 

Refer to the 4.2BSD Line Printer Spooler Manual for a complete discussion on how setup the database for a given printer. 

CAPABILITIES

Refer to termcap(5) for a description of the file layout. The printcap format extends the termcap format as follows: if a numeric field contains a leading zero, the field is interpreted as an octal integer; otherwise, the field is interpreted as a decimal integer. 

 NameTypeDefault Description
afstrNULLname of accounting file
brnumnoneif lp is a tty, set the baud rate (ioctl call)
cfstrNULLcifplot data filter
dfstrNULLtex data filter (DVI format)
fcnum0if lp is a tty, clear flag bits (sgtty.h)
ffstr“\f”string to send for a form feed
foboolfalseprint a form feed when device is opened
fsnum0like ‘fc’ but set bits
gfstrNULLgraph data filter (plot (3X) format)
icboolfalsedriver supports (non standard) ioctl to indent printout
ifstrNULLname of text filter which does accounting
lfstr“/dev/console”error logging file name
lostr“lock”name of lock file
lpstr“/dev/lp”device name to open for output
mxnum1000maximum file size (in BUFSIZ blocks), zero = unlimited
ndstrNULLnext directory for list of queues (unimplemented)
nfstrNULLditroff data filter (device independent troff)
ofstrNULLname of output filtering program
plnum66page length (in lines)
pwnum132page width (in characters)
pxnum0page width in pixels (horizontal)
pynum0page length in pixels (vertical)
rfstrNULLfilter for printing FORTRAN style text files
rmstrNULLmachine name for remote printer
rpstr“lp”remote printer name argument
rsboolfalserestrict remote users to those with local accounts
rwboolfalseopen the printer device for reading and writing
sbboolfalseshort banner (one line only)
scboolfalsesuppress multiple copies
sdstr“/usr/spool/lpd”spool directory
sfboolfalsesuppress form feeds
shboolfalsesuppress printing of burst page header
ststr“status”status file name
tfstrNULLtroff data filter (cat phototypesetter)
trstrNULLtrailer string to print when queue empties
vfstrNULLraster image filter
xcnum0if lp is a tty, clear local mode bits (tty (4))
xsnum0like ‘xc’ but set bits

Error messages sent to the console have a carriage return and a line feed appended to them, rather than just a line feed. 

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

SEE ALSO

termcap(5), lpc(8), lpd(8), pac(8), lpr(1), lpq(1), lprm(1)
4.2BSD Line Printer Spooler Manual

4BSD