lp: can't open default destination file

[George Broadrick]

Hi. I have an HPUX 11.0 box that I configured two network printers for. When I do an lpstat everything looks okay, but neither printer is set as default. When I do 'lp ' I get:

lp: can't open default destination file

I think this is an easy fix, I just can't find out how....

Thanks!

[A. Clay Stephenson]

Your are missing the file /var/spool/lp/default. The simplest answer is to run lpadmin -dmyprinter and create a default destination. It is also possible that the mode or ownership of this file is wrong eventhough the file exists.

It should be 644, owner lp, group lp.

[V. Nyga]

Hi,

if you a prefer graphical user interface, you also can use 'sam' - under 'Printers and Plotters' you can find a list of the configured printers. Mark one and define it under 'Actions' as default printer.

HTH
Volkmar

[Bill Hassell]

This is exactly what you want on a server, that is, no default destination. The reason is that unless you are the only user, no one will agree on what the default printer should be. However, there is a VERY useful variable: LPDEST which can be set to your favorite printer. Just set LPDEST to thye name you'd like to use and now lp won't need the -d command. It is ideal in that you can set this up in .profile so every user can have their own default printer:

export LPDEST=prn22