README - CUPS v1.6.1 - 2012-07-27
---------------------------------
Looking for compile instructions? Read the file "INSTALL.txt"
instead...
INTRODUCTION
CUPS is a standards-based, open source printing system developed by Apple
Inc. for OS® X and other UNIX®-like operating systems. CUPS uses the
Internet Printing Protocol ("IPP") and provides System V and Berkeley
command-line interfaces, a web interface, and a C API to manage printers and
print jobs. It supports printing to both local (parallel, serial, USB) and
networked printers, and printers can be shared from one computer to another,
even over the Internet!
Internally, CUPS uses PostScript Printer Description ("PPD") files to
describe printer capabilities and features and a wide variety of generic
and device-specific programs to convert and print many types of files.
Sample drivers are included with CUPS to support many Dymo, EPSON, HP,
Intellitech, OKIDATA, and Zebra printers. Many more drivers are available
online and (in some cases) on the driver CD-ROM that came with your printer.
CUPS is licensed under the GNU General Public License and GNU Library
General Public License versions 2. See the file "LICENSE.txt" for more
information.
READING THE DOCUMENTATION
Once you have installed the software you can access the documentation (and
a bunch of other stuff) online at:
http://localhost:631/
If you're having trouble getting that far, the documentation is located
under the "doc/help" directory.
Please read the documentation before asking questions.
GETTING SUPPORT AND OTHER RESOURCES
If you have problems, READ THE DOCUMENTATION FIRST! We also provide many
discussion forums which are available at:
http://www.cups.org/newsgroups.php
See the CUPS web site at "http://www.cups.org/" for other resources.
SETTING UP PRINTER QUEUES USING YOUR WEB BROWSER
CUPS includes a web-based administration tool that allows you to manage
printers, classes, and jobs on your server. Open the following URL in your
browser to access the printer administration tools:
http://localhost:631/admin/
DO NOT use the hostname for your machine - it will not work with the default
CUPS configuration. To enable administration access on other addresses,
check the "Allow Remote Administration" box and click on the "Change
Settings" button.
You will be asked for the administration password (root or any other user in
the sys/system/root/admin/lpadmin group on your system) when performing any
administrative function.
SETTING UP PRINTER QUEUES FROM THE COMMAND-LINE
CUPS works best with PPD (PostScript Printer Description) files. In a pinch
you can also use System V style printer interface scripts.
CUPS includes several sample PPD files you can use:
Driver PPD Name
----------------------------- ------------------------------
Dymo Label Printers drv:///sample.drv/dymo.ppd
Intellitech Intellibar drv:///sample.drv/intelbar.ppd
EPSON Stylus Color Series drv:///sample.drv/stcolor.ppd
EPSON Stylus Photo Series drv:///sample.drv/stphoto.ppd
EPSON Stylus New Color Series drv:///sample.drv/stcolor2.ppd
EPSON Stylus New Photo Series drv:///sample.drv/stphoto2.ppd
EPSON 9-pin Series drv:///sample.drv/epson9.ppd
EPSON 24-pin Series drv:///sample.drv/epson24.ppd
Generic PCL Laser Printer drv:///sample.drv/generpcl.ppd
Generic PostScript Printer drv:///sample.drv/generic.ppd
HP DeskJet Series drv:///sample.drv/deskjet.ppd
HP LaserJet Series drv:///sample.drv/laserjet.ppd
OKIDATA 9-Pin Series drv:///sample.drv/okidata9.ppd
OKIDATA 24-Pin Series drv:///sample.drv/okidat24.ppd
Zebra CPCL Label Printer drv:///sample.drv/zebracpl.ppd
Zebra EPL1 Label Printer drv:///sample.drv/zebraep1.ppd
Zebra EPL2 Label Printer drv:///sample.drv/zebraep2.ppd
Zebra ZPL Label Printer drv:///sample.drv/zebra.ppd
Run the "lpinfo -m" command to list the available drivers:
lpinfo -m
Run the "lpinfo -v" command to list the available printers:
lpinfo -v
Then use the correct URI to add the printer using the "lpadmin" command:
lpadmin -p printername -E -v device-uri -m ppd-name
Network printers typically use "socket" or "lpd" URIs:
lpadmin -p printername -E -v socket://11.22.33.44 -m ppd-name
lpadmin -p printername -E -v lpd://11.22.33.44/ -m ppd-name
The sample drivers provide basic printing capabilities, but generally do not
exercise the full potential of the printers or CUPS. The CUPS web site
provides links and drivers:
http://www.cups.org/ppd.php PPD files
http://www.cups.org/links.php Links to other drivers
PRINTING FILES
CUPS provides both the System V "lp" and Berkeley "lpr" commands for
printing:
lp filename
lpr filename
Both the "lp" and "lpr" commands support printing options for the driver:
lp -o media=A4 -o resolution=600dpi filename
lpr -o media=A4 -o resolution=600dpi filename
CUPS recognizes many types of images files as well as PDF, PostScript,
HP-GL/2, and text files, so you can print those files directly rather than
through an application.
If you have an application that generates output specifically for your
printer then you need to use the "-oraw" or "-l" options:
lp -o raw filename
lpr -l filename
This will prevent the filters from misinterpreting your print
file.
LEGAL STUFF
CUPS is Copyright 2007-2012 by Apple Inc. CUPS and the CUPS logo are
trademarks of Apple Inc.
The MD5 Digest code is Copyright 1999 Aladdin Enterprises.
This software is based in part on the work of the Independent JPEG Group.
CUPS is provided under the terms of version 2 of the GNU General Public
License and GNU Library General Public License. This program is distributed
in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even
the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
See the "doc/help/license.html" or "LICENSE.txt" files for more information.