README.txt

   1 README - CUPS v1.2b2 - 2006-03-09
   2 ---------------------------------
   3
   4 Looking for compile instructions?  Read the file "INSTALL.txt"
   5 instead...
   6
   7
   8 INTRODUCTION
   9
  10     CUPS provides a portable printing layer for UNIX(r)-based
  11     operating systems.  It has been developed by Easy Software
  12     Products to promote a standard printing solution for all UNIX
  13     vendors and users.  CUPS provides the System V and Berkeley
  14     command-line interfaces.
  15
  16     CUPS uses the Internet Printing Protocol ("IPP") as the basis
  17     for managing print jobs and queues.  The Line Printer Daemon
  18     ("LPD") Server Message Block ("SMB"), and AppSocket (a.k.a.
  19     JetDirect) protocols are also supported with reduced
  20     functionality.  CUPS adds network printer browsing and
  21     PostScript Printer Description ("PPD") based printing options
  22     to support real-world printing under UNIX.
  23
  24     CUPS includes an image file RIP that supports printing of
  25     image files to non-PostScript printers.  A customized version
  26     of GPL Ghostscript for CUPS called ESP Ghostscript is
  27     available separately to support printing of PostScript files
  28     within the CUPS driver framework.  Sample drivers for Dymo,
  29     EPSON, HP, and OKIDATA printers are included that use these
  30     filters.
  31
  32     Drivers for thousands of printers are provided with our ESP
  33     Print Pro software, available at:
  34
  35             http://www.easysw.com/printpro/
  36
  37     CUPS is licensed under the GNU General Public License and GNU
  38     Library General Public License.  Please contact Easy Software
  39     Products for commercial support and "binary distribution"
  40     rights.
  41
  42
  43 READING THE DOCUMENTATION
  44
  45     Once you have installed the software you can access the
  46     documentation (and a bunch of other stuff) on-line at:
  47
  48         http://localhost:631/
  49
  50     If you're having trouble getting that far, the documentation
  51     is located under the "doc/help" directory.
  52
  53     Please read the documentation before asking questions.
  54
  55
  56 GETTING SUPPORT AND OTHER RESOURCES
  57
  58     If you have problems, READ THE DOCUMENTATION FIRST!  We also
  59     provide many discussion forums which are available at:
  60
  61         http://www.cups.org/newsgroups.php
  62
  63     Commercial support (with a guaranteed response time) is
  64     available from Easy Software Products.  For more information
  65     see:
  66
  67         http://www.easysw.com/cups/
  68
  69     See the CUPS web site at "http://www.cups.org/" for other
  70     site links.
  71
  72
  73 SETTING UP PRINTER QUEUES USING YOUR WEB BROWSER
  74
  75     CUPS 1.2 includes a web-based administration tool that allows
  76     you to manage printers, classes, and jobs on your server.
  77     Open the following URL in your browser to access the printer
  78     administration tools:
  79
  80         http://localhost:631/admin/
  81
  82     DO NOT use the hostname for your machine - it will not work
  83     with the default CUPS configuration.  To enable
  84     administration access on other addresses, check the "Allow
  85     Remote Administration" box and click on the "Change Settings"
  86     button.
  87
  88     You will be asked for the administration password (root or
  89     any other user in the sys/system/root group on your system)
  90     when performing any administrative function.
  91
  92
  93 SETTING UP PRINTER QUEUES FROM THE COMMAND-LINE
  94
  95     CUPS works best with PPD (PostScript Printer Description)
  96     files.  In a pinch you can also use System V style printer
  97     interface scripts.
  98
  99     CUPS includes several sample PPD files you can use:
 100
 101         Driver                         PPD File
 102         -----------------------------  ------------
 103         Dymo Label Printers            dymo.ppd
 104         EPSON Stylus Color Series      stcolor.ppd
 105         EPSON Stylus Photo Series      stphoto.ppd
 106         EPSON Stylus New Color Series  stcolor2.ppd
 107         EPSON Stylus New Photo Series  stphoto2.ppd
 108         EPSON 9-pin Series             epson9.ppd
 109         EPSON 24-pin Series            epson24.ppd
 110         HP DeskJet Series              deskjet.ppd
 111         HP LaserJet Series             laserjet.ppd
 112         OKIDATA 9-Pin Series           okidata9.ppd
 113         OKIDATA 24-Pin Series          okidat24.ppd
 114         Zebra EPL1 Label Printer       zebraep1.ppd
 115         Zebra EPL2 Label Printer       zebraep2.ppd
 116         Zebra ZPL Label Printer        zebra.ppd
 117
 118     Run the "lpinfo" command to list the available printers:
 119
 120         lpinfo -v
 121
 122     Then use the correct URI to add the printer using the
 123     "lpadmin" command:
 124
 125         lpadmin -p printername -E -v URI -m filename.ppd
 126
 127     Network printers typically use "socket" or "lpd" URIs:
 128
 129         lpadmin -p printername -E -v socket://11.22.33.44 -m filename.ppd
 130         lpadmin -p printername -E -v lpd://11.22.33.44/ -m filename.ppd
 131
 132     The sample drivers provide basic printing capabilities, but
 133     generally do not exercise the full potential of the printers
 134     or CUPS.  For fully-functional commercial printer drivers
 135     check out our ESP Print Pro software at:
 136
 137         http://www.easysw.com/printpro/
 138
 139
 140 PRINTING FILES
 141
 142     CUPS provides both the System V "lp" and Berkeley "lpr"
 143     commands for printing:
 144
 145         lp filename
 146         lpr filename
 147
 148     Both the "lp" and "lpr" commands support printing options for
 149     the driver:
 150
 151         lp -omedia=A4 -oresolution=600dpi filename
 152         lpr -omedia=A4 -oresolution=600dpi filename
 153
 154     CUPS recognizes many types of images files as well as PDF,
 155     PostScript, HP-GL/2, and text files, so you can print those
 156     files directly rather than through an application.
 157
 158     If you have an application that generates output specifically
 159     for your printer then you need to use the "-oraw" or "-l"
 160     options:
 161
 162         lp -oraw filename
 163         lpr -l filename
 164
 165     This will prevent the filters from misinterpreting your print
 166     file.
 167
 168
 169 LEGAL STUFF
 170
 171     CUPS is Copyright 1993-2006 by Easy Software Products.  CUPS,
 172     the CUPS logo, and the Common UNIX Printing System are the
 173     trademark property of Easy Software Products.
 174
 175     The MD5 Digest code is Copyright 1999 Aladdin Enterprises.
 176
 177     The PDF filter (pdftops) is based on the Xpdf software,
 178     Copyright 1996-2005 by Derek B. Noonburg.
 179
 180     This software is based in part on the work of the Independent
 181     JPEG Group.
 182
 183     CUPS is provided under the terms of the GNU General Public
 184     License and GNU Library General Public License. This program
 185     is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
 186     WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
 187     MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
 188     "doc/help/license.html" or "LICENSE.txt" files for more
 189     information.
 190
 191     For commercial licensing information, please contact:
 192
 193         Attn: CUPS Licensing Information
 194         Easy Software Products
 195         44141 Airport View Drive, Suite 204
 196         Hollywood, Maryland 20636 USA
 197
 198         Voice: +1.301.373.9600
 199         Email: cups-info@cups.org
 200         WWW: http://www.cups.org/
 201
 202     Note that commercial licensors may also require a license from
 203     Derek B. Noonburg who developed the Xpdf software used to print
 204     PDF files.