README - CUPS v1.3svn - 2007-01-03 ---------------------------------- 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 1993-2007 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.