12.15. Locations of Printcap Files

Options used:

The printcap_path and lpd_printcap_path configuration options (see lpd.conf(5) ) specify a set of paths for the printcap information. If the lpd_printcap_path is nonblank then the lpd server uses it, otherwise it uses the printcap_path information. Client programs use only printcap_path. The path names can be separated with whitespace, commas, semicolons, or colons. The default values are:

printcap_path      ${sysconfdir}/printcap
lpd_printcap_path  (blank or empty)

12.15.1. Separate Server and Client Printcap Files

Since only the lpd server uses the printcap file specified by the lpd_printcap_path, you can place server specific information there. If this file is used it must also contain any required information in the printcap_path file.

12.15.2. all Printcap Entry

The all printcap name and all option is reserved to provide a list of printers available for use by the spooling software. This is a desperation, last ditch, back to the wall option for administrators with systems that do not have ways to provide a list of printcap entries. The 'all' printcap entry has the form:

all:all=pr1,pr2,...

The value of the all option should be a list of printcap names whose values will then be extracted.