• 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 landscape : rotate 90⁰
  • -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
  In addition most printers have more options, like duplexing, transparency options etc. 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: lpoptions -p ps01/duplex -o Duplex=DuplexNoTumble 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 print transparencies: Each printer that is capable of printing transparencies has a special transparency queue associated with it. For example:
  • lpr -Ppsjet1_trans filename - print transparencies on psjet1
  • lpr -Ppsjet1 filename - print a paper copy on psjet1
  The following printers can print transparencies: psjet1, jet6000, jet6000b, jet6025, jet6010
• To use duplex printing: ps01: lpr -o Duplex=DuplexNoTumble