Administering Printers That Are Associated With PPD Files (Task Map)
During the process of setting up a print queue, a PPD file
that describes the print queue's capabilities can be associated with that print queue.
Often, the default values that are described in the PPD file do not
match the preferred settings for your site. For example, you might want the
duplex feature always turned on, or you might want to always print to
A4 sized paper. To modify these default values, you can edit the PPD
file directly. However, the easiest and fastest method is to make the changes
by using the lpadmin command with the -o option.
Some common PPD file values include:
PageSize
Examples of available choices include:
InputSlot
Examples of available choices include:
Duplex
Examples of available choices include:
None
DuplexNoTumble
DuplexTumble
How to Set Default Values for Print Queues That Are Associated With PPD Files
This procedure shows how to set default values for a print queue
that uses PPD files to describe its capabilities.
Before You Begin
Check the PPD file first to determine which values can be overridden. To
view the PPD file, use the more or less command, or open the
file in a text editor.
For example:
% more /etc/lp/ppd/print-queue.ppd
- Become superuser or assume an equivalent role.
Roles contain authorizations and privileged commands. For more information about roles, see Configuring RBAC (Task Map) in System Administration Guide: Security Services.
- Set the desired option.
# lpadmin -p print-queue -o key=value
- -p
Specifies the printer name or print queue where the value is to be changed.
- -o
Specifies the options for adjusting printer capabilities, adjusting printer port characteristics, configuring network printers, and controlling the use of banner.
- key=value
Specifies the key/value pair for the option.
The set of key/value pairs that can be used for a particular printer depends on the content of the PPD file that is associated with the print queue.
For example, to set the duplex feature, type:
# lpadmin -p print-queue -o Duplex=DuplexNoTumble
To change the input tray setting, type:
# lpadmin -p print-queue -o InputSlot=Tray2
You can set the default value this way for any PPD file/foomatic
option.
- Verify that the option was set to the correct value by checking the
print queue's capabilities.
# lpstat -p print-queue -l
Example 5-20 Setting Values for Print Queues That Use PPD Files
# lpadmin -p hp4550 -o Media=A4 -o InputSlot=Tray2
# lpadmin -p hp4550 -o PageSize=A4
# lpstat -p hp4550 -l
printer hp4550 idle. enabled since December 5, 2006 6:38:50 PM CET. available.
Form mounted:
Content types: application/postscript
Description:
Connection:
Interface: /usr/lib/lp/model/netstandard_foomatic
PPD: /usr/lib/lp/model/ppd/system/foomatic/ \
HP/HP-Color_LaserJet_4550-Postscript.ppd.gz
On fault: write root
After fault: continue
Users allowed:
(all)
Forms allowed:
(none)
Media supported:
Letter
A4
11x17
A3
A5
B5
Env10
EnvC5
EnvDL
EnvISOB5
EnvMonarch
Executive
Legal
Banner not required
Character sets:
(none)
Default pitch:
Default page size:
Default port setting:
Options: PageSize=A4, Media=A4, InputSlot=Tray2, \
dest=192.168.245.62:9100, protocol=tcp
uname -a
SunOS shuttle 5.11 snv_52 i86pc i386 i86pc
# lpstat -p hp4550 -l
printer hp4550 idle. enabled since December 5, 2006 6:38:50 PM CET. available.
Form mounted:
Content types: application/postscript
Description:
Connection:
Interface: /usr/lib/lp/model/netstandard_foomatic
PPD: /usr/lib/lp/model/ppd/system/foomatic/ \
HP/HP-Color_LaserJet_4550-Postscript.ppd.gz
On fault: write root
After fault: continue
Users allowed:
(all)
Forms allowed:
(none)
Media supported:
Letter
A4
11x17
A3
A5
B5
Env10
EnvC5
EnvDL
EnvISOB5
EnvMonarch
Executive
Legal
Banner not required
Character sets:
(none)
Default pitch:
Default page size:
Default port setting:
Options: dest=192.168.245.62:9100, protocol=tcp
Determining Whether a PPD File Is Associated With a Print Queue
If a PPD file was used during the creation of a print
queue, the PPD file that the specified queue is configured to use is
listed in the lpstat command output. If you do not specify a
PPD file when creating a new print queue, the lpstat command continues to
display the same output as it did previously. For an example of the
lpstat command output that shows the use of PPD files, see How to Check the Status of Printers.
You can use Solaris Print Manager to modify queues that were created without
the use of PPD files. In such cases, Solaris Print Manager uses
the previous printer definitions, which do not include the printer make, printer model, and
printer driver definitions.
For tasks that are associated with expanded printer support, seeSetting Up Printers That are Associated With PPD Files.
Example 5-21 lpstat Command Output When Using PPD Files
In this example, the lpstat command output indicates that the print queue was
configured by using the PPD file, Mitsubishi-CP50_Color_Printer-cp50.ppd.gz.
# lpstat -l -p paper
printer paper is idle. enabled since Tue 30 Mar 2004 01:48:38 PM PST
available.
Form mounted:
Content types: any
Printer types: unknown
Description:
Connection: direct
Interface: /usr/lib/lp/model/standard_foomatic
PPD:
/path/Mitsubishi-CP50_Color_Printer-cp50.ppd.gz
After fault: continue
Users allowed:
(all)
Forms allowed:
(none)
Banner required
Character sets:
(none)
Default pitch:
Default page size:
Default port settings# lpstat l p <queue>