Service-Center Informatik

Tips and Tools

UNIX (Linux)



  1. Most important note:
    Please print only text and PostScript files on laser printers!
    All files ending in .zip or .gz or .Z, unpack first.
    Print all files ending in .pdf only from within the acroread program by clicking the print function (!)
    Under no circumstances print Binary files.


  2. Easiest method to print out:

    lp   -d  printer  textfile
    lp   -d  printer  textfile.ps


  3. Useful print programs:

    genscript   -d  printer  textfile { with header and page numbering }
    mpage   -2f -Pprinter   textfile { with 2 pages on one sheet }
    mpage   -2f -Pprinter   textfile.ps { with 2 pages on one sheet }
    psnup  -2   textfile.ps  |  lp  -d  printer { with 2 pages on one sheet }
    { for dup-printers 4 pages on one sheet }
    acroread   textfile.pdf { after display by clicking on the print function! }


  4. Useful printer check:

    lpstat  -a { shows available printers }
    lpstat  -t { shows utilization (queue) of available printers }
    lpstat  -o  sci2 { shows utilization (queue) of the printer   sci2  }
    cancel  sci2-779 { removes print job 779 from sci2 queue }
    { only own print jobs can be removed! }