PRINTERS(5) File Formats and Configurations PRINTERS(5)

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(5). 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(8), 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 can 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 terminated
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(8). Specify the destination using atomic, URI-style
(scheme://endpoint), or POSIX-style (server:destination) names. See
printers.conf(5) for information regarding the naming conventions for
destination names.

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, URI-style (scheme://endpoint),
or POSIX-style (server:destination) names. See printers.conf(5) for
information regarding the naming conventions for destination 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, URI-style
(scheme://endpoint), or POSIX-style (server:destination) names. See
printers.conf(5) for information regarding the naming conventions for
destination names. The default destination can 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
nsswitch.conf(5).

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,lpd://server/printers/queue

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 using
IPP:


insecure ipp://server/printers/legal_ps

FILES

/etc/printers.conf
System printer configuration database


$HOME/.printers
User-configurable printer database


ou=printers
LDAP version of /etc/printers.conf


printers.conf.byname
NIS version of /etc/printers.conf

ATTRIBUTES

See attributes(7) for descriptions of the following attributes:


+--------------------+-----------------+
| ATTRIBUTE TYPE | ATTRIBUTE VALUE |
+--------------------+-----------------+
|Interface Stability | Stable |
+--------------------+-----------------+

SEE ALSO

cancel(1), lp(1), lpstat(1), lpq(1B), lpr(1B), lprm(1B),
nsswitch.conf(5), printers.conf(5), attributes(7), standards(7),
lpadmin(8), lpget(8)


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 different
systems. This could cause output to be sent to an unintended destination
if the user is logged in to a different system.

February 25, 2017 PRINTERS(5)