Oi,
I have now uploaded a new version of CUPS. Besides bugfixes in HPGL
printing it contains two handy little C programs which make creating
installation and configuration scripts easier and which help also the
user/administrator who accesses to CUPS via the command line:
- poll_ppd_base
This program shows a list of all installed PPD files
(printer drivers). It shows the file name, the
manufacturer, the model, and the language in which the
option names in the files are written. One can choose
to display all PPD files, only the ones for printers
of a given manufacturer, or a list of all manufacturers
for which there are PPD files. Much more sophisticated
than "lpinfo -m". Enter "poll_ppd_base" at the command
prompt for more info.
- lphelp
This is what the command-line-loving user is missing in
CUPS, a program which shows which printer-specific
options (the PPD options which appear under "configure
printer" in the web interface of CUPS) one can give with
an "lp", "lpr", or "lpoptions" command. One can give
both names of installed printers or names of PPD files
(do not need to belong to an installed printer) as
argument (enter "lphelp" without arguments at the
command prompt for help). The latter way of using
"lphelp" makes it possible to include a preview of the
adjustable options of a driver/PPD file in a program for
installing/configuring CUPS. So the user can choose more
easily when there are two or more drivers for the same
printer.
I hope, these tools will make the daily life for Mandraking CUPS users
easier and that they will also help for getting a CUPSy printerdrake.
Till
PS 1: To get the possible printer connection types on the current system
from an installation/configuration script, use "lpinfo -v".
PS 2: The two tools mentioned above, "lpinfo", and "lpoptions" should be
mentioned in the CUPS section of the Mandrake manual.
