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:

  • Letter

  • Legal

  • A4

  • B5

  • Env10

• InputSlot

  Examples of available choices include:

  • Tray1

  • Tray2

  • Tray3

  • Manual

• 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

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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>