topic lp printing depending on line length in Operating System - HP-UX

lp printing depending on line length

eric stewart — Tue, 05 Dec 2000 19:42:10 GMT

If I want to use different printer classes via an option to the lp command depending on the line length of the file to be printed. What would the easiest way to determine the maximum line length of the file to be printed?
If the line length < 80 I want to print portrait. If the line length < 132 but > 80, I wnat to print landscape. If the line length > 132 I want to use a different printer option.
I know I can write an awk script to print the max length. Any other suggestions?
TIA

Re: lp printing depending on line length

Rick Garland — Tue, 05 Dec 2000 19:58:34 GMT

There is the 'wc' command as well.

Re: lp printing depending on line length

Alan Riggs — Tue, 05 Dec 2000 22:11:10 GMT

You could do something like:

if [ `cut -c 80- ` ]
then
if [ `cut -c 128- ` ]
then
lp -d LINEPRINTER
else
lp -d LANDSCAPE
fi
else
lp -d PORTRAIT
fi

But doing it with awk is more elegant.

Re: lp printing depending on line length

Tommy Palo — Wed, 06 Dec 2000 07:49:30 GMT

You could also use "fold" maybe in combination with "wc", but still the easiest is awk.

wc vs. fold | wc
awk 'length > 80'

Re: lp printing depending on line length

Dan Hetzel — Wed, 06 Dec 2000 07:59:43 GMT

Hi Eric,

As 'wc' won't report the longest line length,
'awk' would be a lot more practical to use.
You can use 'fold' as well to fold your lines so that they will fit on your printed document.

Best regards,

Dan