More than one default printer?

[Chad Holcutt]

Hi,

Is it possible to define more than one default printer on the system? I would like the default printer to depend on the account. Is there a way to do this?

Thank you,
Chad

[A. Clay Stephenson · Accepted solution]

No, there can be but one system-wide default printer for the lp subsystem. However, it is possible to override the default by setting and exporting the LPDEST environment variable and this can be done on a user by user basis. In fact, a good place to set it would be in the users' .profile's.

I should add that if a destination is specified in the lp command that it takes precedence over the LPDEST printer.

Specifically,
if LPDEST=pluto

'echo "Test" | lp -dmickey' would send the output to queue "mickey" whereas 'echo "Test" | lp' would send the output to queue "pluto".

[Patrick Wallek]

You can set an individuals default printer with the PRINTER environment variable.

In their .profile (if using sh or ksh) do:

export PRINTER=

where is the name of the printer you want them to use.

[A. Clay Stephenson]

Oh, and if an environment variable "PRINTER" is set, it too will override the default destination but has a lower precedence than LPDEST. By the way, a "man lp" would have told you all of this.

[Fern H2O]

Hey Chad,

Unfortunately You Cannot Have more than one default printer at a time. You can change it exporting the LPDEST variable but then the old default printer will be replaced by the one you choose there.

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

default means one. You can't have two default anythings. Default by dictionary definition and Unix use implies this.

SEP

[Chad Holcutt]

Hi,

Wow! I was on the phone for 5 minutes and the next thing I know I have 5 answers! Defining LPDEST in .profile looks like the way to go.

Thank you,
Chad