LPRng-HOWTO: 17 Jan 2003 (For LPRng-3.8.20)
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# 12.9. Parallel Printer

The parallel printer printcap is very simple.

        # parallel printer
        lp:
           :lp=/dev/lpr

1. The `lp=/dev/lpr` specifies that lpd should open the device for APPEND and simply transfer job files to it.

2. The `sh` and `sf` will prevent lpd from trying to generate banner pages or put form feeds between jobs.

If you discover that UNIX print jobs result in a staircase appearance, then you need to force your printer to do LF (linefeed) to `CR/LF` (carriage return/line feed) translation, or do the translation yourself.

        # Simple parallel printer
        lp:
           :lp=/dev/lpr
           :filter=/usr/local/bin/lpf

By using the `if=...lpf` filter, the job will be passed through the lpf filter, which will do the LF to `CR/LF` translation.

If you have a more complex printer that handles PostScript, PCL, and PJL, then you will need to use the more powerful ifhp filter:

        # Simple parallel printer
        lp:
           :lp=/dev/lpr
           :ifhp=model=hp4,status@
           :of=/usr/local/libexec/filters/ifhp
           :filter=/usr/local/libexec/filters/ifhp

See ifhp Filter for details. This entry will specify that the printer is an HP4, and that no status information is available. This is usually the case with a parallel port.

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