lp printing depending on line length

[eric stewart]

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

[Rick Garland]

There is the 'wc' command as well.

[Alan Riggs]

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.

[Tommy Palo]

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

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

[Dan Hetzel]

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