LPRng-HOWTO: 15 Oct 2001 (For LPRng-3.7.9)
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# 4.6. Selecting the Print Queue

In the previous section we used the default print queue. How does LPRng determine what print queue to use? First, you can explicitly specify the printer using the `lpq -Pprintqueue` option and the `lpq -a` or `lpq -Pall` to select all print queues:

        h4: {111} % lpq -Plp
        Printer: lp@h4
         Queue: no printable jobs in queue
        h4: {112} % lpq -Plp2
        Printer: lp2@h4
         Queue: no printable jobs in queue
        h4: {113} % lpq -a
        Printer: lp@h4
         Queue: no printable jobs in queue
        Printer: lp2@h4
         Queue: no printable jobs in queue

You can combine the `lpq -a` with the `lpq -s` option for a summary listing:

        h4: {114} % lpq -a
        Printer: lp@h4
         Queue: no printable jobs in queue
        Printer: lp2@h4
         Queue: no printable jobs in queue
        h4: {115} % lpq -s -a
        lp@h4  0 jobs
        lp2@h4  0 jobs

There is another way to explicitly specify the printqueues listed by `lpq -a`; see the `all` Printcap Entry for details.

Users can set their default printer by using the `PRINTER` (highest priority), `LPDEST` (next), `NPRINTER` (next), and `NGPRINTER` (lowest priority), environment variables. For example:

        h4: {116} % setenv PRINTER lp2
        h4: {117} % lpq
        Printer: lp2@h4
         Queue: no printable jobs in queue
        h4: {118} % unsetenv PRINTER
        h4: {119} % lpq
        Printer: lp@h4
         Queue: no printable jobs in queue

If the printer is not specified on the command line or by the environment variables, then the first printer in the printcap database will be used and then the default printer in the configuration database, and finally the compile time default. Printer and Server Information for details.

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Printing a File and Checking Status | Up | Controlling the Print Queue