Items of Interest

Printing via the command line on Linux Desktops in the Physics Division

• Get a list of available printers: lpstat -p
• Print a file: lpr [-Pprinter] filename if -Pprinter is omitted the file is send to the default printer.
• Get the queue status: lpq [-a] [-Pprinter] -a lists all active jobs and -Pprinter lists the queue for the indicated printer.
• lprm -Pprinter jobnumber : dequeues a printjob.
• Passing options to the printer: lpr [-Pprinter] -o option filename options available for most printers are:
  • -o media=size : sets the page size. i.e. "A4", "letter"
  • -o landscape : rotate 90⁰
  • -o sides=one-sided : print on one side
  • -o sides=two-sided-long-edge : print on both sides (opens like a book)
  • -o sides=two-sided-short-edge : print on both sides (opens like a flip chart)
  • -o fitplot : scales the print file to fit on the page
  • -o scaling=number : scale image where number is percent
  • -o cpi=N : sets number of characters per inch to use for text file
  • -o lpi=N : sets number of lines per inch to use for text file
  • -o job-sheets=none to suppress the banner page
  • -o page-ranges=1-4,7,9-12 (or similar) : select pages to print
  • -o number-up=[1,2,4] : allows to print 1, 2 or 4 pages on one sheet of paper
  • -o prettyprint : puts a header at the top of each page with the page number, job title (usually the filename), and the date. C and C++ keywords are highlighted, and comment lines are italicized
  • -o page-bottom=N : bottom margin (72=1 inch)
  • -o page-left=N : left margin (72=1 inch)
  • -o page-right=N : right margin (72=1 inch)
  • -o page-top=N : top margin (72=1 inch
  In addition some printers have additional options like duplexing and stapleing. These options are used exactly as the one listed above. To see the options available for a given printer: lpoptions -p printer -l if -p printer is omitted, options are shown for the default printer.
• Set default printer : lpoptions -d printer
• Setting personal preferences for a printer: lpoptions [-pprinter] -o option sets the desired options for the indicated printer for later use.
• Printer instances: For example: To create a print queue for a printer named ps01 with the default behavior of printing on both sides
• lpoptions -p ps01/duplex -o sides=two-sided-long-edge Then: lpr -P ps01/duplex filename will print in duplex mode to ps01.
• Options can be removed via: lpoptions -x

Commonly used options for some printers

• To use duplex printing: ps01: lpr -o sides=two-sided-long-edge