README - CUPS v1.6.0 - 2012-07-16 --------------------------------- Looking for compile instructions? Read the file "INSTALL.txt" instead... INTRODUCTION CUPS is a standards-based, open source printing system developed by Apple Inc. for OS® X and other UNIX®-like operating systems. CUPS uses the Internet Printing Protocol ("IPP") and provides System V and Berkeley command-line interfaces, a web interface, and a C API to manage printers and print jobs. It supports printing to both local (parallel, serial, USB) and networked printers, and printers can be shared from one computer to another, even over the Internet! Internally, CUPS uses PostScript Printer Description ("PPD") files to describe printer capabilities and features and a wide variety of generic and device-specific programs to convert and print many types of files. Sample drivers are included with CUPS to support many Dymo, EPSON, HP, Intellitech, OKIDATA, and Zebra printers. Many more drivers are available online and (in some cases) on the driver CD-ROM that came with your printer. CUPS is licensed under the GNU General Public License and GNU Library General Public License versions 2. See the file "LICENSE.txt" for more information. READING THE DOCUMENTATION Once you have installed the software you can access the documentation (and a bunch of other stuff) online 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 See the CUPS web site at "http://www.cups.org/" for other resources. SETTING UP PRINTER QUEUES USING YOUR WEB BROWSER CUPS 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/admin/lpadmin 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 Name ----------------------------- ------------------------------ Dymo Label Printers drv:///sample.drv/dymo.ppd Intellitech Intellibar drv:///sample.drv/intelbar.ppd EPSON Stylus Color Series drv:///sample.drv/stcolor.ppd EPSON Stylus Photo Series drv:///sample.drv/stphoto.ppd EPSON Stylus New Color Series drv:///sample.drv/stcolor2.ppd EPSON Stylus New Photo Series drv:///sample.drv/stphoto2.ppd EPSON 9-pin Series drv:///sample.drv/epson9.ppd EPSON 24-pin Series drv:///sample.drv/epson24.ppd Generic PCL Laser Printer drv:///sample.drv/generpcl.ppd Generic PostScript Printer drv:///sample.drv/generic.ppd HP DeskJet Series drv:///sample.drv/deskjet.ppd HP LaserJet Series drv:///sample.drv/laserjet.ppd OKIDATA 9-Pin Series drv:///sample.drv/okidata9.ppd OKIDATA 24-Pin Series drv:///sample.drv/okidat24.ppd Zebra CPCL Label Printer drv:///sample.drv/zebracpl.ppd Zebra EPL1 Label Printer drv:///sample.drv/zebraep1.ppd Zebra EPL2 Label Printer drv:///sample.drv/zebraep2.ppd Zebra ZPL Label Printer drv:///sample.drv/zebra.ppd Run the "lpinfo -m" command to list the available drivers: lpinfo -m Run the "lpinfo -v" 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 device-uri -m ppd-name Network printers typically use "socket" or "lpd" URIs: lpadmin -p printername -E -v socket://11.22.33.44 -m ppd-name lpadmin -p printername -E -v lpd://11.22.33.44/ -m ppd-name The sample drivers provide basic printing capabilities, but generally do not exercise the full potential of the printers or CUPS. The CUPS web site provides links and drivers: http://www.cups.org/ppd.php PPD files http://www.cups.org/links.php Links to other drivers 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 -o media=A4 -o resolution=600dpi filename lpr -o media=A4 -o resolution=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 -o raw filename lpr -l filename This will prevent the filters from misinterpreting your print file. LEGAL STUFF CUPS is Copyright 2007-2012 by Apple Inc. CUPS and the CUPS logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. The MD5 Digest code is Copyright 1999 Aladdin Enterprises. This software is based in part on the work of the Independent JPEG Group. CUPS is provided under the terms of version 2 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.