*BSD News Article 80502


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From: Ken Bigelow <kbigelow@www.play-hookey.com>
Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc
Subject: Re: How to set up lpr properly
Date: Fri, 11 Oct 1996 17:17:50 +0000
Organization: Erol's Internet Services
Lines: 57
Message-ID: <325E813E.5F00@www.play-hookey.com>
References: <53go2i$d16@taco.cc.ncsu.edu>
Reply-To: kbigelow@www.play-hookey.com
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Bob Keys wrote:
> 
> I have set up the FreeBSD 2.1.5 stable system on a machine locally, and
> have used the net install, and basically have it up and running, except
> I can't get anything to print to a postscript printer on the standard
> parallel printer port.  Since I am not a unix guru, this is a problem.
> I know enough to get the system to install, but not enough to sysadmin
> it very well.  But, we fools have to start somewhere......
> 
> How is the printer system properly set up, to, for example:
> 
>           cat filename.ps | lpr
> 
>    or     lpr filename.ps
> 
>    and get it to print.
> 
> I am close but no joy yet....(:+{{.....
> 
> 1.  I uncommented /etc/printcap to set up the lp printer.  The default
>     lp as came with the FreeBSD installation was used.  It was:
> 
>     lp:local line printer:\
>             :lp=/dev/lpt0:sd=/var/spool/output/lpd:lf=/var/log/lpd-errs:
> 
> 2.  I rebooted cold the machine.
> 
> 3.  I created /var/spool/output/lpd directory manually because it was not
>     there by default in installation --- why not?
> 
> 4.  A 10 line groff file was used to generate a simple postscript
>     printer file.  The identical file was used on dos troff to
>     make a similar file.
> 
>     The FreeBSD and the dos files were printed fine on dos to the printer.
> 
>     The FreeBSD box file flushed both the dos and FreeBSD generated
>     postscript files when sent to the printer (same printer).
> 
> Alas, something is still not right on the FreeBSD box, but almost.....
> 
> Thanks and pardon the fool's question, but I can't get the manpages or
> the handbook or the faq to print otherwise.....(:+{{.....
> 
> Still learning.....
> 

I'm afraid I can't help you specifically with PostScript. However, will
your printer handle ASCII text as well? And will it insert a CR if fed
an LF? If so, you can do "man whatever > /dev/lpt0" to at least get
something on paper. That's how I managed it.
-- 
Ken

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