]> git.ipfire.org Git - thirdparty/cups.git/blob - doc/help/spec-command.html
ff58d1db382f77db7acb6711b40faf2bcee7e2e4
[thirdparty/cups.git] / doc / help / spec-command.html
1 <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">
2 <html>
3 <!-- SECTION: Specifications -->
4 <head>
5 <title>CUPS Command File Format</title>
6 <meta name='keywords' content='Programming, CUPS Command File Format'>
7 <link rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' href='../cups.css'>
8 </head>
9 <body>
10 <!--
11 "$Id$"
12
13 CUPS command file format specification for the Common UNIX Printing
14 System (CUPS).
15
16 Copyright 2007-2008 by Apple Inc.
17 Copyright 1997-2006 by Easy Software Products.
18
19 These coded instructions, statements, and computer programs are the
20 property of Apple Inc. and are protected by Federal copyright
21 law. Distribution and use rights are outlined in the file "LICENSE.txt"
22 which should have been included with this file. If this file is
23 file is missing or damaged, see the license at "http://www.cups.org/".
24 -->
25
26 <h2 class='title'><a name='INTRODUCTION'>Introduction</a></h2>
27
28 <p>This specification describes the CUPS command file format
29 (application/vnd.cups-command) which is used to send printer
30 maintenance commands to a printer in a device-independent way.
31 The current specification supports basic maintenance functions
32 such as head cleaning and self-test pages and query functions
33 such as auto-configure, report supply levels, and report status.</p>
34
35 <p>Printer drivers advertise support for the CUPS command file
36 format by providing a filter for the
37 <var>application/vnd.cups-command</var> file type. Applications
38 can determine if a printer supports printing of CUPS command
39 files by checking the <code>printer-type</code> attribute for the
40 <code>CUPS_PRINTER_COMMANDS</code> capability bit.</p>
41
42 <p>In addition, the PPD file for a printer can contain a
43 <code>cupsCommands</code> keyword that provides a list of supported
44 commands separated by spaces, for example:</p>
45
46 <pre class='command'>
47 *cupsCommand: "AutoConfigure Clean PrintSelfTestPage ReportLevels ReportStatus"
48 </pre>
49
50 <p>If no <code>cupsCommands</code> keyword is provided, the command filter
51 must support <a href='#AutoConfigure'><code>AutoConfigure</code></a>,
52 <a href='#Clean'><code>Clean</code></a>,
53 <a href='#PrintSelfTestPage'><code>PrintSelfTestPage</code></a>,
54 and <a href='#ReportLevels'><code>ReportLevels</code></a>. The scheduler also
55 provides the <code>printer-commands</code> attribute containing the list of
56 supported commands.</p>
57
58
59 <h2 class='title'><a name='SYNTAX'>File Syntax</a></h2>
60
61 <p>CUPS command files are ASCII text files. The first line of a
62 CUPS command file MUST contain:</p>
63
64 <pre class='command'>
65 #CUPS-COMMAND
66 </pre>
67
68 <p>After that, each line is either a command or a comment.
69 Comments begin with the # character, e.g.:</p>
70
71 <pre class='command'>
72 # This is a comment
73 </pre>
74
75 <p>Commands are any sequence of letters, numbers, and punctuation characters
76 optionally followed by parameters separated by whitespace, e.g.:</p>
77
78 <pre class='command'>
79 Clean all
80 PrintSelfTestPage
81 </pre>
82
83 <p>Command names are case-insensitive, so "PRINTSELFTESTPAGE",
84 "printselftestpage", and "PrintSelfTestPage" are equivalent. Vendor-specific
85 commands should use a domain name prefix, e.g.:</p>
86
87 <pre class='command'>
88 com.vendor.foo
89 com.vendor.bar param param2 ... paramN
90 </pre>
91
92
93 <h2 class='title'><a name='COMMANDS'>Standard Commands</a></h2>
94
95 <p>The following are the standard commands supported by the format. The only
96 required command is
97 <a href='#PrintSelfTestPage'><code>PrintSelfTestPage</code></a>.</p>
98
99
100 <h3><a name='AutoConfigure'>AutoConfigure</a></h3>
101
102 <p class='summary'>AutoConfigure</p>
103
104 <p>The <code>AutoConfigure</code> command updates the printer's PPD file
105 and driver state information to reflect the current configuration of the
106 printer. There are no arguments for this command.</p>
107
108 <p>Example:</p>
109
110 <pre class='command'>
111 #CUPS-COMMAND
112 AutoConfigure
113 </pre>
114
115
116 <h3><a name='Clean'>Clean</a></h3>
117
118 <p class='summary'>Clean <i>colorname</i></p>
119
120 <p>The <code>Clean</code> command performs a standard print head cleaning. The
121 "colorname" parameter specifies which color or head to clean. If a printer does
122 not support cleaning of individual colors or cartridges, then all colors are
123 cleaned. Command filters MUST support the "all" colorname. Other standard color
124 names include "black", "color", "photo", "cyan", "magenta", "yellow",
125 "light-cyan", "light-magenta", "light-black", "light-gray", and "dark-gray".</p>
126
127 <p>Example:</p>
128
129 <pre class='command'>
130 #CUPS-COMMAND
131 Clean all
132 </pre>
133
134
135 <h3><a name='PrintAlignmentPage'>PrintAlignmentPage</a></h3>
136
137 <p class='summary'>PrintAlignmentPage pass</p>
138
139 <p>The <code>PrintAlignmentPage</code> command prints a head alignment page on
140 the printer. The "pass" parameter provides a pass number from 1 to N. The number
141 of passes is device-dependent.</p>
142
143 <p>Example:</p>
144
145 <pre class='command'>
146 #CUPS-COMMAND
147 PrintAlignmentPage 1
148 </pre>
149
150
151 <h3><a name='PrintSelfTestPage'>PrintSelfTestPage</a></h3>
152
153 <p class='summary'>PrintSelfTestPage</p>
154
155 <p>The <code>PrintSelfTestPage</code> command prints a self-test page on the
156 printer. Typically this page shows whether all jets on a print head are
157 functioning and that the print feed mechanisms are working properly.</p>
158
159 <p>Example:</p>
160
161 <pre class='command'>
162 #CUPS-COMMAND
163 PrintSelfTestPage
164 </pre>
165
166
167 <h3><a name='ReportLevels'>ReportLevels</a></h3>
168
169 <p class='summary'>ReportLevels</p>
170
171 <p>The <code>ReportLevels</code> command queries the supply levels on a printer
172 and reports "marker-colors", "marker-levels", "marker-names", and
173 "marker-types" attributes using "ATTR:" messages sent to the scheduler. This
174 command should also report the current printer status using "STATE:" messages
175 like the <a href='#ReportStatus'><code>ReportStatus</code></a> command.</p>
176
177 <p>Example:</p>
178
179 <pre class='command'>
180 #CUPS-COMMAND
181 ReportLevels
182 </pre>
183
184
185 <h3><a name='ReportStatus'>ReportStatus</a></h3>
186
187 <p class='summary'>ReportStatus</p>
188
189 <p>The <code>ReportStatus</code> command queries the printer for its current
190 status and reports it using "STATE:" messages sent to the scheduler.</p>
191
192 <p>Example:</p>
193
194 <pre class='command'>
195 #CUPS-COMMAND
196 ReportLevels
197 </pre>
198
199
200 <h3><a name='SetAlignment'>SetAlignment</a></h3>
201
202 <p class='summary'>SetAlignment pass value ... valueN</p>
203
204 <p>The <code>SetAlignment</code> command sets print head alignment values. The
205 "pass" parameter is a number from 1 to N. All parameters are
206 device-dependent.</p>
207
208 <p>Example:</p>
209
210 <pre class='command'>
211 #CUPS-COMMAND
212 SetAlignment 1 14
213 </pre>
214
215
216 </body>
217 </html>