aliasing LP commands in the .profile

[rmueller58]

All

I am trying to dummy proof printing for a group of my users.. We have an app on our UX box that make it possible for them to use a default printer.. Simple enough, I at the
export LPDEST= in the .profile..

Now I need to alias or have some way for them to print compressed and vsi7.27


my normal lp command for the printer would be
lp -d -oc -ovsi7.27

I've tried defining the lp as an alias to itself by doing an alias in the .profile and all in a script that would be ran from the .profile.

alias lp='lp -ovsi7.27 -oc'

I thought would work, tried is several ways.. Could someone point in a direction?? Thanks in advance..

Rex M

[Marlou Everson · Accepted solution]

Rex,

Another option is to create another print queue just to do the compressed print. If this is a LaserJet, create the print queue and then you can modify the script in /etc/lp/interface/model.orig. Edit the options line:

from options="$5"
to options=$5" vsi7.27 c"

I've got dozens of print queues set up this way. It works well.

Marlou

[Biswajit Tripathy]

That should work.
Try changing the alias to
alias lp='/usr/bin/lp -ovsi7.27 -oc'

- Biswajit

[rmueller58]

Bis,

I didn't think of placing the full path to the executable.. I will try it..

Thanks ..

Rex

[rmueller58]

Tried both marlou's and bis's in the .profile to no avail..

here is the .profile I am using as a template.


# Set up the terminal:
if [ "$TERM" = "" ]
then
eval ` tset -s -Q -m ':?hp' `
else
eval ` tset -s -Q `
fi
stty erase "^?" kill "^U" intr "^C" eof "^D"
stty hupcl ixon ixoff
tabs

# Set up the search paths:
PATH=$PATH:.

# Set up the shell environment:
set -u
trap "echo 'logout'" 0
trap "" 1 2 3
# Set up the shell variables:
EDITOR=vi
export EDITOR

export FGLGUI=1

# Define Default Printer
export LPDEST=elkadm8150

# "setcompprint calls an alias for LP"
# alias lp='/usr/bin/lp -ovsi7.27 -oc'
. setcompprint

## Application
. menufpsadm

[RAC_1]

alias lp='lp -delkadm8150 -ovsi7.27 -oc'

Anil

[rmueller58]

RAC

then remove the LPDEST VARIABLE Correct?

[Marlou Everson]

Rex,

Is your . menu... at the end going to a subshell? You may need alias -x.

Marlou

[RAC_1]

No need to do that, What that variable does, is if you do not specify printer name -d option on lp command, it takes that as default.

The way, would be defining default printer with lpadmin -d "xxss"
and setting an alias as follows.

lp='/usr/bin/lp -ovsi7.27 -oc' - tis should work after defining default printer.

Anil

[rmueller58]

Tried alias -x lp='lp .............'
Tried alias lp='lp -d ............'

nothing seems to be clicking and my brain isn't functioning too well, it must be friday. Maybe it will come to me when I am out metal detecting this weekend..

[Marlou Everson]

Perhaps you need to explain what exactly is not working. For a LaserJet, there is a banner page that lists the options. My tests show Options:vsi7.27 c on the banner page.

You can also look in /var/adm/lp/log for more information.

Marlou

[rmueller58]

marlou,

Changing the model script is not an option because they may have 4 other orientations that need to be ran through the device..

[Stuart Browne]

You're trying to use an 'app' of which is running on the Unix box to do this aren't you?

I assume the app is a compiled binary and thus is probably using a 'system()' or 'exec()' type call to call the LP binary directly, of which wouldn't be affected by any shell aliases.

This leaves you with making the printer interface more intelligent to automatically set the options based on the input file.

Well, that's my take on what you've said so far.

[rmueller58]

Stuart,

The App is a "4gl" program that has defined printers in the database. However in lieu of printing through the select a printer they use can print to "default" printer. It still requires a "unix" que defined as LPDEST variable.

Can one define "LPDEST" with the command line switches?

ie:
export LPDEST=quename -ovsi7.27 -oc

??

[RAC_1]

LPDEST can not have any args. It should just be "printer_queue" name.

Now, does your app, use lp?? You sure about it??
type lp. What does it return??

Anil

[rmueller58]

Yes it uses lp..

the app makes calls to the lp subsystem, (or other wise defines output devices), It also CAN parse through PDF, EZ Spool, Optio and other various types of output.

[Pete Randall]

Rex,

What does "whence -v lp" report?


Pete

[rmueller58]

# whence -v lp
lp is /usr/bin/lp

[Pete Randall]

That doesn't sound like your alias is set. It should report something like:
"lp is an alias for lp -ovsi7.27 -oc"


Pete

[rmueller58]

Pete,

I can define the alias from the Command line, but when I put it in the .profile, it fails.

[Pete Randall]

Rex,

Have you tried putting it in the rc file for whichever shell you're using?


Pete

[rmueller58]

haven't tried the rc file yet.. I do have a couple other things I need to test.. Will try it..

[Pete Randall]

Rex,

We use korn shell so we set aliases in the .kshrc file.

$ more .kshrc
alias bdf="/usr/local/bin/bdfmegs"
alias lp="lp -o nb"

$ whence -v lp
lp is an alias for lp -o nb

That seems to work for us.


Pete

[rmueller58]

Thanks for the heads on the kshrc. Dummy proofing several accoutns now.. Thanks all for the assist.

[rmueller58]

pete's da Man!!

Thanks..