Unix Printing at UCO/Lick

NICS has implemented a new print server, which went live as of October 2003. Here's some tips to printing under this new system.

Basics

By default, all jobs will be printed from the bottom or largest capacity tray, double-sided. For NICS-managed machines (mambo, for example) use lpr syntax. Example:

lpr -Pfloor2color <filename>.ps

Formats Supported

You can send the following file types directly to the printer (pretty cool, no?)

Postscript (.ps)
Adobe Portable Document format (.pdf)
Several kinds of image files, including .jpg, .gif.
HP GL/2 files
text files

Transparencies (lprmf)

Here's how to print them:

1. Submit your job you'd like printed like so:

lprmf -Pfloor2color <filename.ps>

2. Trot on down to your printer. Your username and file name should appear on the LCD display. It will be waiting for you to insert a single transparency sheet in the manual feed tray. Continue to insert pages as needed one at a time.

Xerox 7750: can handle several sheets of transparencies in the manual feed tray. Don't exceed the fill line.

NOTE: The lprmf command sets the printer to expect transparency weight media. Be sure the transparencies you use are Xerox brand and labeled specifically for laser printer use (and not copiers).

11x17 Size (lprbig)

1. Available on cfaoxerox and floor2

2. Submit your job you'd like printed like so:

lprbig -Pfloor2 <filename.ps>

3. Trot on down to your printer. It will be waiting for you to insert paper in the manual feed tray.

Xerox: It should begin printing as soon as the paper touches the front of the tray.

HP8000: Press the green "GO" button to print.

Single-Sided (lpr1s)

1. Submit your job like so:

lpr1s -Pfloor2color <filename.ps>

2-up (lpr2up)

Prints two pages to each landscape-oriented page. Syntax goes like this:

lpr2up -Pfloor2color <filename.ps>

For 4 pages per sheet, there's also a lpr4up command.

Legal (lprlegal)

1. Submit your job:

lprlegal -Pfloor2color <filename.ps>

2. Trot down to your favorite printer and insert pages in the manual feed tray

3. NICS can configure any or all printers to use a different tray, if this becomes too tedious. Just send us a request.

If there's trouble

If you send a job and you don't see your printout, please check the following before sending off a request to nics:

1. Check the printer. Does it have paper, toner? See the display (I know this sounds stupid, but it happens . . . )

2. Power cycle the printer.

3. Email trouble nics@ucolick.org. The lpc restart command no longer works with our new print server. If the server requires attention, NICS will help directly.

4. If NICS is not available (i.e., it is after office hours), check the queue:

lpq -P<printer name>

If another job is listed, contact the owner and ask if they can delete their job (using the lprm command) and/or try another printer. Floor2color and floor3color are probably the best bets.