Printer Alias in Applications

Support knowledgebase (jsmeix_print-aliasnamen)
Applies to

SuSE Linux: Versions up to (including) 7.3

Symptom

Although you can print from the command line with the command 'lpr' and the print queue is correctly displayed with 'lpc status', the queue names are not properly represented or not represented at all when printing directly from certain applications. This makes printing from these applications impossible, since you cannot select any correct print queue.

Cause

In addition to the actual print queue names, the so-called alias names are also defined in the printer configuration file /etc/printcap. This may pose a problem for some applications.

Solution

Please edit /etc/printcap and remove all alias names as follows:

Before (with alias names): 

lp-ascii|lp1|y2prn_lp.upp--ascii-lp|y2prn_lp.upp ascii:\
        :lp=/dev/lp0:\
        :sd=/var/spool/lpd/y2prn_lp.upp--ascii-lp:\
        :lf=/var/spool/lpd/y2prn_lp.upp--ascii-lp/log:\
        :af=/var/spool/lpd/y2prn_lp.upp--ascii-lp/acct:\
        :if=/var/lib/apsfilter/bin/y2prn_lp.upp--ascii-lp:\
        :la@:mx#0:\
        :tr=:cl:sh:
#
lp|lp2|y2prn_lp.upp--auto-lp|y2prn_lp.upp auto:\
        :lp=/dev/lp0:\
        :sd=/var/spool/lpd/y2prn_lp.upp--auto-lp:\
        :lf=/var/spool/lpd/y2prn_lp.upp--auto-lp/log:\
        :af=/var/spool/lpd/y2prn_lp.upp--auto-lp/acct:\
        :if=/var/lib/apsfilter/bin/y2prn_lp.upp--auto-lp:\
        :la@:mx#0:\
        :tr=:cl:sh:
After (without alias names(: 
lp-ascii:\
        :lp=/dev/lp0:\
        :sd=/var/spool/lpd/y2prn_lp.upp--ascii-lp:\
        :lf=/var/spool/lpd/y2prn_lp.upp--ascii-lp/log:\
        :af=/var/spool/lpd/y2prn_lp.upp--ascii-lp/acct:\
        :if=/var/lib/apsfilter/bin/y2prn_lp.upp--ascii-lp:\
        :la@:mx#0:\
        :tr=:cl:sh:
#
lp:\
        :lp=/dev/lp0:\
        :sd=/var/spool/lpd/y2prn_lp.upp--auto-lp:\
        :lf=/var/spool/lpd/y2prn_lp.upp--auto-lp/log:\
        :af=/var/spool/lpd/y2prn_lp.upp--auto-lp/acct:\
        :if=/var/lib/apsfilter/bin/y2prn_lp.upp--auto-lp:\
        :la@:mx#0:\
        :tr=:cl:sh:
See also:
o Installing a Printer
o Printing from Applications
Keywords: PRINT, PRINTER, APPLICATIONS, APPLICATION, ALIAS NAME, PRINTCAP
Categories: Frequently asked Questions , Documentation , Printer
SDB-jsmeix_print-aliasnamen, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany - Version: 26. Mär 2002
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 28. Mär 2002 by glazzar (sdb_gen 1.40.0)