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1README - CUPS v2.3.3 - 2020-04-24
2=================================
3
4INTRODUCTION
5------------
6
7CUPS is a standards-based, open source printing system developed by Apple Inc.
8for macOS® and other UNIX®-like operating systems.  CUPS uses the Internet
9Printing Protocol ("IPP") and provides System V and Berkeley command-line
10interfaces, a web interface, and a C API to manage printers and print jobs.  It
11supports printing to both local (parallel, serial, USB) and networked printers,
12and printers can be shared from one computer to another, even over the Internet!
13
14Internally, CUPS uses PostScript Printer Description ("PPD") files to describe
15printer capabilities and features and a wide variety of generic and device-
16specific programs to convert and print many types of files.  Sample drivers are
17included with CUPS to support many Dymo, EPSON, HP, Intellitech, OKIDATA, and
18Zebra printers.  Many more drivers are available online and (in some cases) on
19the driver CD-ROM that came with your printer.
20
21CUPS is licensed under the Apache License Version 2.0.  See the file
22"LICENSE" for more information.
23
24
25READING THE DOCUMENTATION
26-------------------------
27
28Initial documentation to get you started is provided in the root directory of
29the CUPS sources:
30
31- `CHANGES.md`: A list of changes in the current major release of CUPS.
32- `CONTRIBUTING.md`: Guidelines for contributing to the CUPS project.
33- `CREDITS.md`: A list of past contributors to the CUPS project.
34- `DEVELOPING.md`: Guidelines for developing code for the CUPS project.
35- `INSTALL.md`: Instructions for building and installing CUPS.
36- `LICENSE`: The CUPS license agreement (Apache 2.0).
37- `NOTICE`: Copyright notices and exceptions to the CUPS license agreement.
38- `README.md`: This file.
39
40Once you have installed the software you can access the documentation (and a
41bunch of other stuff) online at <http://localhost:631/> and using the `man`
42command, for example `man cups`.
43
44If you're having trouble getting that far, the documentation is located under
45the `doc/help` and `man` directories.
46
47Please read the documentation before asking questions.
48
49
50GETTING SUPPORT AND OTHER RESOURCES
51-----------------------------------
52
53If you have problems, *read the documentation first!*  We also provide two
54mailing lists which are available at <https://lists.cups.org/mailman/listinfo>.
55
56See the CUPS web site at <https://www.cups.org/> for other resources.
57
58
59SETTING UP PRINTER QUEUES USING YOUR WEB BROWSER
60------------------------------------------------
61
62CUPS includes a web-based administration tool that allows you to manage
63printers, classes, and jobs on your server.  Open <http://localhost:631/admin/>
64in your browser to access the printer administration tools:
65
66*Do not* use the hostname for your machine - it will not work with the default
67CUPS configuration.  To enable administration access on other addresses, check
68the `Allow Remote Administration` box and click on the `Change Settings` button.
69
70You will be asked for the administration password (root or any other user in the
71"sys", "system", "root", "admin", or "lpadmin" group on your system) when
72performing any administrative function.
73
74
75SETTING UP PRINTER QUEUES FROM THE COMMAND-LINE
76-----------------------------------------------
77
78CUPS currently uses PPD (PostScript Printer Description) files that describe
79printer capabilities and driver programs needed for each printer.  The
80`everywhere` PPD is used for nearly all modern networks printers sold since
81about 2009.  For example, the following command creates a print queue for a
82printer at address "11.22.33.44":
83
84    lpadmin -p printername -E -v ipp://11.22.33.44/ipp/print -m everywhere
85
86CUPS also includes several sample PPD files you can use for "legacy" printers:
87
88   Driver                         | PPD Name
89   -----------------------------  | ------------------------------
90   Dymo Label Printers            | drv:///sample.drv/dymo.ppd
91   Intellitech Intellibar         | drv:///sample.drv/intelbar.ppd
92   EPSON 9-pin Series             | drv:///sample.drv/epson9.ppd
93   EPSON 24-pin Series            | drv:///sample.drv/epson24.ppd
94   Generic PCL Laser Printer      | drv:///sample.drv/generpcl.ppd
95   Generic PostScript Printer     | drv:///sample.drv/generic.ppd
96   HP DeskJet Series              | drv:///sample.drv/deskjet.ppd
97   HP LaserJet Series             | drv:///sample.drv/laserjet.ppd
98   OKIDATA 9-Pin Series           | drv:///sample.drv/okidata9.ppd
99   OKIDATA 24-Pin Series          | drv:///sample.drv/okidat24.ppd
100   Zebra CPCL Label Printer       | drv:///sample.drv/zebracpl.ppd
101   Zebra EPL1 Label Printer       | drv:///sample.drv/zebraep1.ppd
102   Zebra EPL2 Label Printer       | drv:///sample.drv/zebraep2.ppd
103   Zebra ZPL Label Printer        | drv:///sample.drv/zebra.ppd
104
105You can run the `lpinfo -m` command to list all of the available drivers:
106
107    lpinfo -m
108
109Run the `lpinfo -v` command to list the available printers:
110
111    lpinfo -v
112
113Then use the correct URI to add the printer using the `lpadmin` command:
114
115    lpadmin -p printername -E -v device-uri -m ppd-name
116
117Current network printers typically use `ipp` or `ipps` URIS:
118
119    lpadmin -p printername -E -v ipp://11.22.33.44/ipp/print -m everywhere
120    lpadmin -p printername -E -v ipps://11.22.33.44/ipp/print -m everywhere
121
122Older network printers typically use `socket` or `lpd` URIs:
123
124    lpadmin -p printername -E -v socket://11.22.33.44 -m ppd-name
125    lpadmin -p printername -E -v lpd://11.22.33.44/ -m ppd-name
126
127The sample drivers provide basic printing capabilities, but generally do not
128exercise the full potential of the printers or CUPS.  Other drivers provide
129greater printing capabilities.
130
131
132PRINTING FILES
133--------------
134
135CUPS provides both the System V `lp` and Berkeley `lpr` commands for printing:
136
137    lp filename
138    lpr filename
139
140Both the `lp` and `lpr` commands support printing options for the driver:
141
142    lp -o media=A4 -o resolution=600dpi filename
143    lpr -o media=A4 -o resolution=600dpi filename
144
145CUPS recognizes many types of images files as well as PDF, PostScript, and text
146files, so you can print those files directly rather than through an application.
147
148If you have an application that generates output specifically for your printer
149then you need to use the `-oraw` or `-l` options:
150
151    lp -o raw filename
152    lpr -l filename
153
154This will prevent the filters from misinterpreting your print file.
155
156
157LEGAL STUFF
158-----------
159
160Copyright © 2007-2019 by Apple Inc.
161Copyright © 1997-2007 by Easy Software Products.
162
163CUPS is provided under the terms of the Apache License, Version 2.0 with
164exceptions for GPL2/LGPL2 software.  A copy of this license can be found in the
165file `LICENSE`.  Additional legal information is provided in the file `NOTICE`.
166
167Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software distributed
168under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR
169CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
170specific language governing permissions and limitations under the License.
171