8.3 Printer Configuration

    The printer configuration tool maintains /etc/printcap, print spool directories, and print filters. The filters use GhostScript (gs) and nenscript to allow you to print plain text as well as PostScript files.

While configuring your printers, keep in mind that lpr prints to the printer named lp by default. You will probably want lp to be one of your printer queue names.

Needless to say, ghostscript and nenscript should be installed.    

To add a new printer, click on Add. This will bring up a dialog box where you indicate if you are adding a remote printer or a local one. If your printer is connected to your machine's parallel or serial port, select local. If it is somewhere on the network, select remote. The printer configuration tool maintains /etc/printcap,  

For a local printer, you need to fill in the following values:

Names

Enter the names you want to give to this printer (queue). You can have multiple names, separated by a ``|'' character, eg, lp|lp0|PostScript.

Spool Directory

Enter a unique directory to hold documents queued for printing on this printer. For example, /var/spool/lpd/lp0.

File Limit

If you want to limit the size of documents printed, enter a size in KB here. A 0 indicates no limit.

Printer Device

This is the physical device to which your printer is connected. For example, /dev/lp1.

Input Filter

If you have a custom filter, enter the file name (full path) here. Otherwise, you should click on Select. This will bring up a dialog box where you select your Printer Type, Resolution, Paper Size, and you indicate if your printer requires an EOF character to be sent to it at the end of each job (many printers used under DOS require this).

Suppress Headers

If you select this, no header pages will be printed for each job.

 

For a remote printer, you will fill in the following values:

Names

See local printer.

Spool Directory

See local printer.

File Limit

See local printer.

Remote Host

Enter the host name of the machine that has the printer. For example, printer.foo.com.

Remote Queue

Enter the name of the queue on the remote machine for the remote printer. For example, PostScript.

Click on Ok and your new printer is added. Some versions of the lpd printer daemon may need to be restarted before they will recognize the new printer. To do this select Restart lpd from the lpd menu.