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[thirdparty/cups.git] / README.txt

README - CUPS v1.2.0 - 2006-05-08
---------------------------------

Looking for compile instructions?  Read the file "INSTALL.txt"
instead...


INTRODUCTION

    CUPS provides a portable printing layer for UNIX(r)-based
    operating systems.  It has been developed by Easy Software
    Products to promote a standard printing solution for all UNIX
    vendors and users.  CUPS provides the System V and Berkeley
    command-line interfaces.

    CUPS uses the Internet Printing Protocol ("IPP") as the basis
    for managing print jobs and queues.  The Line Printer Daemon
    ("LPD") Server Message Block ("SMB"), and AppSocket (a.k.a.
    JetDirect) protocols are also supported with reduced
    functionality.  CUPS adds network printer browsing and
    PostScript Printer Description ("PPD") based printing options
    to support real-world printing under UNIX.

    CUPS includes an image file RIP that supports printing of
    image files to non-PostScript printers.  A customized version
    of GPL Ghostscript for CUPS called ESP Ghostscript is
    available separately to support printing of PostScript files
    within the CUPS driver framework.  Sample drivers for Dymo,
    EPSON, HP, OKIDATA, and Zebra printers are included that use
    these filters.

    Drivers for thousands of printers are provided with our ESP
    Print Pro software, available at:

	    http://www.easysw.com/printpro/

    CUPS is licensed under the GNU General Public License and GNU
    Library General Public License.  Please contact Easy Software
    Products for commercial support and "binary distribution"
    rights.


READING THE DOCUMENTATION

    Once you have installed the software you can access the
    documentation (and a bunch of other stuff) on-line 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

    Commercial support (with a guaranteed response time) is
    available from Easy Software Products.  For more information
    see:

	http://www.easysw.com/cups/

    See the CUPS web site at "http://www.cups.org/" for other
    site links.


SETTING UP PRINTER QUEUES USING YOUR WEB BROWSER

    CUPS 1.2 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 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 File
	-----------------------------  ------------
	Dymo Label Printers            dymo.ppd
	EPSON Stylus Color Series      stcolor.ppd
	EPSON Stylus Photo Series      stphoto.ppd
	EPSON Stylus New Color Series  stcolor2.ppd
	EPSON Stylus New Photo Series  stphoto2.ppd
	EPSON 9-pin Series             epson9.ppd
	EPSON 24-pin Series            epson24.ppd
	HP DeskJet Series              deskjet.ppd
	HP New DeskJet Series          deskjet2.ppd
	HP LaserJet Series             laserjet.ppd
	OKIDATA 9-Pin Series           okidata9.ppd
	OKIDATA 24-Pin Series          okidat24.ppd
	Zebra CPCL Label Printer       zebracpl.ppd
	Zebra EPL1 Label Printer       zebraep1.ppd
	Zebra EPL2 Label Printer       zebraep2.ppd
	Zebra ZPL Label Printer        zebra.ppd

    Run the "lpinfo" 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 URI -m filename.ppd

    Network printers typically use "socket" or "lpd" URIs:

        lpadmin -p printername -E -v socket://11.22.33.44 -m filename.ppd
        lpadmin -p printername -E -v lpd://11.22.33.44/ -m filename.ppd

    The sample drivers provide basic printing capabilities, but
    generally do not exercise the full potential of the printers
    or CUPS.  For fully-functional commercial printer drivers
    check out our ESP Print Pro software at:

	http://www.easysw.com/printpro/


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 -omedia=A4 -oresolution=600dpi filename
	lpr -omedia=A4 -oresolution=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 -oraw filename
	lpr -l filename

    This will prevent the filters from misinterpreting your print
    file.


LEGAL STUFF

    CUPS is Copyright 1993-2006 by Easy Software Products.  CUPS,
    the CUPS logo, and the Common UNIX Printing System are the
    trademark property of Easy Software Products.

    The MD5 Digest code is Copyright 1999 Aladdin Enterprises.

    The PDF filter (pdftops) is based on the Xpdf software,
    Copyright 1996-2005 by Derek B. Noonburg.

    This software is based in part on the work of the Independent
    JPEG Group.

    CUPS is provided under the terms 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.

    For commercial licensing information, please contact:

	Attn: CUPS Licensing Information
	Easy Software Products
	44141 Airport View Drive, Suite 204
	Hollywood, Maryland 20636 USA

	Voice: +1.301.373.9600
	Email: cups-info@cups.org
	WWW: http://www.cups.org/

    Note that commercial licensors may also require a license from
    Derek B. Noonburg who developed the Xpdf software used to print
    PDF files.