Linux lp command

Updated: 05/04/2019 by Computer Hope
lp command

On Unix-like operating systems, the lp command prints files.

Description

lp submits files for printing, or alters a pending print job. Use a file name of "-" to specify printing from the standard input.

Default Destination

lp uses the common printing system CUPS, providing many ways to set the default destination. The LPDEST and PRINTER environment variables are checked first. If neither are set, the current default set using the lpoptions command is used, followed by the default set using the lpadmin command.

Syntax

lp -i request-ID [-c] [-m] [-p] [-s] [-w] [-d destination] [-f form-name] 
   [-H special-handling] [-n number] [-o options] [-p pagenumbers] 
   [-q priority-level] [-S character-set | print-wheel] [-t title] 
   [-T content-Type [-r]] [-y mode-list]

Options

-- Marks the end of options; use this to print a file whose name begins with a dash (-).
-E Forces encryption when connecting to the server.
-U username Specifies the username to use when connecting to the server.
-c This option is provided for backward compatibility only. On systems that support it, this option forces the print file to be copied to the spool directory before printing. In CUPS, print files are always sent to the scheduler via IPP which has the same effect.
-d destination Prints files to the destination printer.
-h hostname[:port] Chooses an alternate server.
-i job-id Specifies an existing job to modify.
-m Sends an e-mail when the job is completed.
-n copies Sets the number of copies to print from 1 to 100.
-o "name=value [name=value ...]" Sets one or more job options.
-q priority Sets the job priority from 1 (lowest) to 100 (highest). The default priority is 50.
-s Do not report the resulting job IDs (silent mode.)
-t "name" Sets the job name.
-H hh:mm

-H hold

-H immediate

-H restart

-H resume
Specifies when the job should be printed. A value of immediate prints the file immediately, a value of hold holds the job indefinitely, and a UTC time value (HH:MM) holds the job until the specified UTC (not local) time. Use a value of resume with the -i option to resume a held job. Use a value of restart with the -i option to restart a completed job.
-P page-list Specifies which pages to print in the document. The list can contain a list of numbers and ranges (#-#) separated by commas (e.g., 1,3-5,16). The page numbers refer to the output pages and not the document's original pages - options like "number-up" can affect the numbering of the pages.

Options

Aside from the printer-specific options reported by the lpoptions command, the following generic options are available:

-o media=size Sets the page size to size. Most printers support at least the size names "a4", "letter", and "legal".
-o landscape

-o orientation-requested=4
Prints the job in landscape orientation (rotated 90 degrees).
-o sides=one-sided

-o sides=two-sided-long-edge -o sides=two-sided-short-edge
Prints on one or two sides of the paper. The value "two-sided-long-edge" is normally used when printing portrait (unrotated) pages, while "two-sided-short-edge" is used for landscape pages.
-o fit-to-page Scales the print file to fit on the page.
-o number-up=2

-o number-up=4

-o number-up=6

-o number-up=9

-o number-up=16
Prints multiple document pages on each output page.
-o cpi=N Sets the number of characters per inch to use when printing a text file. The default is 10.
-o lpi=N Sets the number of lines per inch to use when printing a text file. The default is 6.
-o page-bottom=N

-o page-left=N

-o page-right=N

-o page-top=N
Sets the page margins when printing text files. The values are in points - there are 72 points to the inch.

Examples

lp -d myprinter -o media=legal -o sides=two-sided-long-edge file name

Prints the double-sided legal document file name to printer myprinter.

lp -d myprinter -o scaling=200 file name

Print document file name across 4 pages.

lp -d myprinter -o cpi=12 -o lpi=8 -o page-left=72 file name

Print a text file with 12 characters per inch, 8 lines per inch, and a 1 inch left margin.

cancel — Cancels a print job under the System V operating system.
enable — Enable and disable LP printers.
lpq — List the status of available printers.
lpr — Submit print requests.
lprm — Remove requests from the print queue.
lpstat — List the status of the LP print services.
mail — Read, compose, and manage mail.
pr — Format a text file for printing.
stty — Set options for your terminal display.