lpoptions Command in Linux
The lpoptions command in Linux is a versatile tool used to manage printer options and defaults within the Common Unix Printing System (CUPS). It allows you to configure various settings that affect how print jobs are processed and output.
The lpoptions command in Linux is a powerful tool for managing printer options and settings. It allows you to query, set, and modify various parameters associated with a specific printer or print job, providing granular control over your printing process.
Table of Contents
Here is a comprehensive guide to the options available with the lpoptions command −
- Understanding the lpoptions Command
- How to Use lpoptions Command in Linux?
- Syntax of lpoptions Command
- lpoptions Command Options
Understanding the lpoptions Command
The lpoptions command in Linux is a versatile tool used to manage various printer options and settings within the CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) environment. It allows you to query, set, and modify options associated with specific printers or print jobs.
By effectively using the lpoptions command, you can customize your printing experience, optimize resource usage, and ensure that your print jobs are processed according to your preferences.
How to Use lpoptions Command in Linux?
The lpoptions command in Linux is used to display or set printer options and defaults. It's part of the Common UNIX Printing System (CUPS) and is particularly useful for managing printer settings from the command line.
Syntax of lpoptions Command
The basic syntax for the lpoptions command is −
lpoptions [options]
lpoptions Command Options
| Options | Description |
|---|---|
| -E | Enables encryption when communicating with the CUPS server. |
| -o option[=value] | Specifies a new option for the named destination. |
| -l | Lists the printer-specific options and their current settings. |
| -h server[:port] | Uses an alternate server. |
| -d destination[/instance] | Sets the user default printer to destination. If an instance is supplied, that particular instance is used. This option overrides the system default printer for the current user. |
| -p destination[/instance] | Sets the destination and instance, if specified, for any options that follow. If the named instance does not exist, it is created. Destinations can only be created using the lpadmin command. |
| -r option | Removes the specified option from the named destination. |
| -x destination[/instance] | Removes the options for the named destination and instance, if specified. If the named instance does not exist, this does nothing. Destinations can only be removed using the lpadmin command. |
| ~/.cups/lpoptions | User defaults and instances created by non-root users. |
| /etc/cups/lpoptions | System-wide defaults and instances created by the root user. |
| -d | Resets all options to their default values. |
| -o option=value | Sets a specific option to a given value. |
| -i job-id | Specifies the job ID to modify. |
| -p printer-name | Specifies the printer to modify. |
| -E | Enables encryption when communicating with the CUPS server. |
| -U | Specifies an alternative username for authentication. |
| -h | Specifies an alternate CUPS server to use. |
| -d | Sets the default printer. |
| -l | Lists printer-specific options. |
| -o | Sets a specific option for the printer. |
Setting Default Printer − To set a default printer, you can use the following command −
lpoptions -d printer_name
Replace printer_name with the actual name of your desired printer.
Listing Printer Options − To list all available options for a specific printer, use −
lpoptions -l printer_name
Setting Specific Options − You can set specific options for a printer using the -o flag. For example, to set the number of copies to 2 −
lpoptions -p printer_name -o number-of-copies=2
Creating Printer Instances − Printer instances allow you to create multiple configurations for the same physical printer. This is useful for different print jobs with specific requirements. You can create an instance using −
lpoptions -p printer_name/instance_name -o option1=value1 -o option2=value2
Querying Printer Options − To list all available options for a printer named "myprinter" −
lpoptions -p myprinter
Setting Printer Options − To set the number of copies for all print jobs sent to "myprinter" to 2 −
lpoptions -p myprinter -o number-of-copies=2
To set the paper size to A4 for a specific print job −
lp -d myprinter -o page-size=A4 my_document.pdf
Modifying Job Options − To change the priority of a print job with ID 123 to high −
lpoptions -i 123 -o job-priority=high
Resetting Options to Default − To reset all options for a printer to their default values −
lpoptions -p myprinter -d
Set the Default Printer − This command sets printer_name as the default printer for the current user.
lpoptions -d printer_name
List Printer Options − This command lists all the printer-specific options and their current settings.
lpoptions -l
Remove a Printer Option − This command removes a specific option from printer_name.
lpoptions -p printer_name -r option
Use an Alternate Server − This command uses an alternate CUPS server specified by server_name and port.
lpoptions -h server_name:port
Enable Encryption − This command enables encryption when communicating with the CUPS server.
lpoptions -E
Specify target printer or job ID − To use lpoptions, you typically need to specify the target printer or job ID. For example, to list all available options for a printer named "my_printer," you would use −
lpoptions -d my_printer -l
Set the Number of Copies − Once you know the available options, you can set them using the -o flag. For instance, to set the number of copies to 2 for a specific job, you would use −
lpoptions -p 123 -o number-of-copies=2
Customize Your Printing Experience − The lpoptions command offers a wide range of options to customize your printing experience. You can set parameters like paper size, paper type, orientation, color mode, print quality, and more. For example, to print a document in landscape orientation, you could use −
lpoptions -d my_printer -o orientation=landscape
Query the Current Settings of a Printer − In addition to setting options, you can also query the current settings of a printer or job using the -S flag. This is useful for troubleshooting or verifying configurations. For example, to see the current settings for "my_printer," you would use −
lpoptions -d my_printer -S
By effectively utilizing the lpoptions command, you can fine-tune your printing process, optimize resource usage, and ensure consistent, high-quality output.
Additional Options and Considerations − It's important to note that the available options and their syntax can vary depending on the specific printer driver and configuration. To get a comprehensive list of options for a particular printer, use the lpoptions -p printer-name command.
Conclusion
By effectively using the lpoptions command, you can fine-tune your printing experience, optimize resource usage, and ensure that your print jobs are processed according to your specific requirements.
The lpoptions command in Linux is a versatile tool used to manage printer options and settings. It allows you to query, set, and modify various parameters associated with a specific printer or print job.