LASERWRITER(1) Impressario LASERWRITER(1)NAMElaserwriter - driver for PostScript printers
SYNOPSISlaserwriter [-P printername] [-L logfilename]
[-D] [-S papersize] [-s] [-e]
[-w] [-t] [inputfile]
DESCRIPTIONlaserwriter is a System V printer driver for PostScript printers. The
laserwriter driver communicates with the printer via a serial interface
port.
DESCRIPTION
The laserwriter driver is a driver for Apple LaserWriter-compatible
printers attached to the built-in (/dev/ttyd*) serial ports. laserwriter
uses libpod(3) functions to keep the printer object database (POD)
current, provide feedback on any engine errors encountered.
The driver opens and maintains the POD files for the specified printer.
The file <printername>.config contains the detailed information on the
printer's capabilities, <printername>.status contains the information on
operational status of the printer, and <printername>.log contains the
information on print job history. For more information on printer
database files refer to the libpod(3) man page.
While laserwriter has the port open, it performs an advisory file lock on
the parallel port, thereby ensuring that only one laserwriter accesses
the printer at a time.
-P printername
Required: Specifies the printer name, as installed under the
SGI spooler, and as visible in the printer manager.
-L logfilename
Specify the name of the file for writing the print spool log
information. If logfilename is not specified, then the driver
writes the information to standard error. The logfilename is
not the same as the printer database log file in
/var/spool/lp/pod. This option is provided only for
compatibility with the System V spooler architecture.
-D Turns on debugging information. Four levels of debugging
information are supported: none, coarse detail, medium detail,
and fine detail. These correspond to 0, 1, 2, and 3 or more -D
switches given on the command line. That is, multiple -D
Page 1
LASERWRITER(1) Impressario LASERWRITER(1)
options given on the command line result in progressively more
detailed debugging information.
-S papersize
Specify the paper size. The default page size is A. The legal
values are A, A4, Legal and B5. The driver defaults to A size
paper if the papersize value is invalid.
-s specifies that the driver should exit after ascertaining
printer status and updating the POD status file. If an error
is encountered, however, laserwriter will block unless the -e
switch is given as well. If a quick status update is what you
want, invoke laserwriter with both the -s and the -e options to
insure that laserwriter exits promptly.
-e Specify this flag to exit immediately on fault. In the absence
of this flag, the driver waits indefinitely for faults to
clear.
-w Specify this flag to suppress warning messages in the printer
status file. By default the warning messages are written to the
printer status file.
-t Print a test page. When this option is specified the input file
and standard error are ignored and a test page is printed.
[inputfile]
Specify the name of the file to be printed. If inputfile is not
specified, then the driver reads the input from its standard
input.
SEE ALSOimpressario(1), printstatus(1), printpanel(1), printers(1), libpod(3).
Page 2
