LP(1)

NAME
lp, lpd - copy a file to the line printer

SYNOPSIS
lp [file ...]

DESCRIPTION
Each file argument to lp is send to the line printer to be printed. Standard input is read and printed if there are no arguments. Lp executes /usr/lib/lpd with each file as input. Lpd puts the file in /usr/spool/lpd and starts printing the jobs on /dev/lp unless another lpd is already running. If lpd finds any character in the input that it doesn't know how to handle then it will print the rest of the file without any special treatment. This also means that no formfeed is sent after the file has been printed to force out the page. Lpd simply assumes that you know what you are doing. (dumb, eh?)

Note: Don't do anything with a file until it is printed, lpd only makes a copy of a file in the spool directory when it is not world readable. If it can be read then it is printed directly.

FILES

/usr/spool/lpd/jobXXXXX
    Information about a job.

/usr/spool/lpd/tmpXXXXX
    Associated file to be printed.

/etc/termcap
    The 'lp' entry describes the printer by the "li#" and "co#" fields. By default 66 lines (li#66), and 80 columns (co#80).

SEE ALSO
lp(4), termcap(5), termcap(7).

BUGS
Not spooling a world readable file may not be such a smart idea.

A formfeed should be printed and the printer reset after a job full of escape codes, but this may cost paper.

No banner page.

AUTHOR
Kees J. Bot (kjb@cs.vu.nl)