README.txt

   1 README - CUPS v1.4b1 - 2008-10-10
   2 ---------------------------------
   3
   4 **********************************************************************
   5 **********************************************************************
   6 **********                                                  **********
   7 **********  THIS IS BETA-RELEASE SOFTWARE.  DO NOT USE ON   **********
   8 **********  PRODUCTION SYSTEMS!  REPORT PROBLEMS TO THE     **********
   9 **********  CUPS FORUMS OR BUG REPORTING PAGES:             **********
  10 **********                                                  **********
  11 **********    http://www.cups.org/newsgroups.php (FORUMS)   **********
  12 **********    http://www.cups.org/str.php        (BUGS)     **********
  13 **********                                                  **********
  14 **********************************************************************
  15 **********************************************************************
  16
  17 Looking for compile instructions?  Read the file "INSTALL.txt"
  18 instead...
  19
  20
  21 INTRODUCTION
  22
  23     CUPS provides a portable printing layer for UNIX(r)-based
  24     operating systems.  It was developed by Easy Software Products
  25     and is now owned and maintained by Apple Inc. to promote a
  26     standard printing solution for all UNIX vendors and users.  CUPS
  27     provides the System V and Berkeley command-line interfaces.
  28
  29     CUPS uses the Internet Printing Protocol ("IPP") as the basis
  30     for managing print jobs and queues.  The Line Printer Daemon
  31     ("LPD") Server Message Block ("SMB"), and AppSocket (a.k.a.
  32     JetDirect) protocols are also supported with reduced
  33     functionality.  CUPS adds network printer browsing and
  34     PostScript Printer Description ("PPD") based printing options
  35     to support real-world printing under UNIX.
  36
  37     CUPS includes an image file RIP that supports printing of
  38     image files to non-PostScript printers.  GPL Ghostscript now
  39     includes the "cups" driver to support printing of PostScript
  40     files within the CUPS driver framework.  Sample drivers for
  41     Dymo, EPSON, HP, OKIDATA, and Zebra printers are included that
  42     use these filters.
  43
  44     CUPS is licensed under the GNU General Public License and GNU
  45     Library General Public License versions 2.
  46
  47
  48 READING THE DOCUMENTATION
  49
  50     Once you have installed the software you can access the
  51     documentation (and a bunch of other stuff) on-line at:
  52
  53         http://localhost:631/
  54
  55     If you're having trouble getting that far, the documentation
  56     is located under the "doc/help" directory.
  57
  58     Please read the documentation before asking questions.
  59
  60
  61 GETTING SUPPORT AND OTHER RESOURCES
  62
  63     If you have problems, READ THE DOCUMENTATION FIRST!  We also
  64     provide many discussion forums which are available at:
  65
  66         http://www.cups.org/newsgroups.php
  67
  68     See the CUPS web site at "http://www.cups.org/" for other
  69     site links.
  70
  71
  72 SETTING UP PRINTER QUEUES USING YOUR WEB BROWSER
  73
  74     CUPS 1.3 includes a web-based administration tool that allows
  75     you to manage printers, classes, and jobs on your server.
  76     Open the following URL in your browser to access the printer
  77     administration tools:
  78
  79         http://localhost:631/admin/
  80
  81     DO NOT use the hostname for your machine - it will not work
  82     with the default CUPS configuration.  To enable
  83     administration access on other addresses, check the "Allow
  84     Remote Administration" box and click on the "Change Settings"
  85     button.
  86
  87     You will be asked for the administration password (root or
  88     any other user in the sys/system/root group on your system)
  89     when performing any administrative function.
  90
  91
  92 SETTING UP PRINTER QUEUES FROM THE COMMAND-LINE
  93
  94     CUPS works best with PPD (PostScript Printer Description)
  95     files.  In a pinch you can also use System V style printer
  96     interface scripts.
  97
  98     CUPS includes several sample PPD files you can use:
  99
 100         Driver                         PPD File
 101         -----------------------------  ------------------------------
 102         Dymo Label Printers            drv:///sample.drv/dymo.ppd
 103         Intellitech Intellibar         drv:///sample.drv/intelbar.ppd
 104         EPSON Stylus Color Series      drv:///sample.drv/stcolor.ppd
 105         EPSON Stylus Photo Series      drv:///sample.drv/stphoto.ppd
 106         EPSON Stylus New Color Series  drv:///sample.drv/stcolor2.ppd
 107         EPSON Stylus New Photo Series  drv:///sample.drv/stphoto2.ppd
 108         EPSON 9-pin Series             drv:///sample.drv/epson9.ppd
 109         EPSON 24-pin Series            drv:///sample.drv/epson24.ppd
 110         HP DeskJet Series              drv:///sample.drv/deskjet.ppd
 111         HP LaserJet Series             drv:///sample.drv/laserjet.ppd
 112         OKIDATA 9-Pin Series           drv:///sample.drv/okidata9.ppd
 113         OKIDATA 24-Pin Series          drv:///sample.drv/okidat24.ppd
 114         Zebra CPCL Label Printer       drv:///sample.drv/zebracpl.ppd
 115         Zebra EPL1 Label Printer       drv:///sample.drv/zebraep1.ppd
 116         Zebra EPL2 Label Printer       drv:///sample.drv/zebraep2.ppd
 117         Zebra ZPL Label Printer        drv:///sample.drv/zebra.ppd
 118
 119     Run the "lpinfo -m" command to list the available drivers:
 120
 121         lpinfo -m
 122
 123     Run the "lpinfo -v" command to list the available printers:
 124
 125         lpinfo -v
 126
 127     Then use the correct URI to add the printer using the
 128     "lpadmin" command:
 129
 130         lpadmin -p printername -E -v URI -m filename.ppd
 131
 132     Network printers typically use "socket" or "lpd" URIs:
 133
 134         lpadmin -p printername -E -v socket://11.22.33.44 -m filename.ppd
 135         lpadmin -p printername -E -v lpd://11.22.33.44/ -m filename.ppd
 136
 137     The sample drivers provide basic printing capabilities, but
 138     generally do not exercise the full potential of the printers
 139     or CUPS.
 140
 141
 142 PRINTING FILES
 143
 144     CUPS provides both the System V "lp" and Berkeley "lpr"
 145     commands for printing:
 146
 147         lp filename
 148         lpr filename
 149
 150     Both the "lp" and "lpr" commands support printing options for
 151     the driver:
 152
 153         lp -omedia=A4 -oresolution=600dpi filename
 154         lpr -omedia=A4 -oresolution=600dpi filename
 155
 156     CUPS recognizes many types of images files as well as PDF,
 157     PostScript, HP-GL/2, and text files, so you can print those
 158     files directly rather than through an application.
 159
 160     If you have an application that generates output specifically
 161     for your printer then you need to use the "-oraw" or "-l"
 162     options:
 163
 164         lp -oraw filename
 165         lpr -l filename
 166
 167     This will prevent the filters from misinterpreting your print
 168     file.
 169
 170
 171 LEGAL STUFF
 172
 173     CUPS is Copyright 2007-2008 by Apple Inc.  CUPS, the CUPS logo,
 174     and the Common UNIX Printing System are trademarks of Apple Inc.
 175
 176     The MD5 Digest code is Copyright 1999 Aladdin Enterprises.
 177
 178     This software is based in part on the work of the Independent
 179     JPEG Group.
 180
 181     CUPS is provided under the terms of version 2 of the GNU General
 182     Public License and GNU Library General Public License. This program
 183     is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY
 184     WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
 185     FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the "doc/help/license.html"
 186     or "LICENSE.txt" files for more information.