lp - Print files or modify queued print jobs

The lp command is used to print files or modify queued print jobs in Linux. It is a command-line tool that is used to send print jobs to printers or print servers.

Overview

The lp command is used to print files and manage print jobs. It is used to send print jobs to printers or print servers. The lp command can be used to print files in various formats such as text, PostScript, PDF, and image files.

Syntax

The syntax of the lp command is as follows:

lp [options] [filename]

Examples

Here are some examples of how to use the lp command:

Print a file:

lp filename.txt

Print a file with multiple copies:

lp -n 3 filename.txt

Print a file in landscape mode:

lp -o landscape filename.txt

Print a file in duplex mode:

lp -o sides=two-sided-long-edge filename.txt

Print a file to a specific printer:

lp -d printername filename.txt

Cancel a print job:

cancel jobnumber

Specific use cases

The lp command is commonly used in the following scenarios:

Printing text files
Printing PDF files
Printing images
Printing from the command line
Printing from scripts

Options

Here is a list of available options for the lp command:

Option	Description
`-d printername`	Specify the printer to use
`-n copies`	Specify the number of copies to print
`-o option`	Specify print options
`-q priority`	Set the priority of the print job
`-s`	Print silently
`-U username`	Specify the username of the person who submitted the print job
`-P`	Show the status of print jobs
`-a`	Add a print job to the queue
`-r`	Remove a print job from the queue
`-t`	Move a print job to the top of the queue
`-i`	Print the job ID
`-H`	Print the hostname
`-M`	Print the class name
`-S`	Print the job size
`-T`	Print the job time
`-u`	Print the username

Troubleshooting tips

Here are some troubleshooting tips for the lp command:

If the printer is not working, check the printer status using the lpstat command.
If the printer is not responding, check the printer connection and make sure it is turned on.
If the print job is stuck in the queue, try cancelling the job and resubmitting it.
If the print job is not printing correctly, check the printer configuration and make sure it is set up correctly.

Notes

The lp command is available on most Linux distributions.
The lp command can be used to print to both local and network printers.
The lp command can be used to manage print jobs on a print server.

lp – Print files or modify queued print jobs