IFHP(8)IFHP(8)NAME
ifhp - Almost Universal LPRng Print Filter
SYNOPSIS
ifhp
[-F format] [-s statusfile] [-?value (other LPRng filter
options)]
[-Z[options[,options]*]*
[-T[options[,options]*]*
[accountingfile]
ofhp(symbolic link to ifhp)
banner_pr(symbolic link to ifhp)
DESCRIPTION
The ifhp is a general purpose filter for allmost all
PostScript, PJL, PCL, and text based line printers.
ifhp can be used as print spooler filter or as a banner
page generator. The -Fo option or ofhp executable name
selects the OF operation, and the banner executable name
or -Tbanner_only option selects banner printing.
When used as a print filter, ifhp resets and synchronizes
the printer, gets accounting information, and then checks
the file to determine its format. Based on the format, it
will do PCL, PostScript, or other initializations, and
then transfer the file to the printer. Next, termination
sequences are sent, followed by getting accounting infor-
mation.
OPTIONS AND CONFIGURATION
Options controlling ifhp operations are specified by -Top-
tion or -Zoption values. These options have the form:
Form Same As
flag flag=1
flag@ flag=0
flag=str
flag#str
The complete set of options and their effect on operation are detailed
in the IFHP-HOWTO document.
The following is a brief list of the more important ones that will
have a dramatic effect on printer operation.
model =modelid
Specifies the printer modelid information.
This is used to select an appropriate configuration from the ifhp configuration file.
config=path,path,...
pathnames of configuration files to read to obtain printer configuration information.
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banner_only
Operate in banner only mode.
This will generate a banner that can be used on other printers.
banner=type
The type of banner to generate.
Type can be pcl, ps, or text.
debug=debuglevel
Set the debugging level.
A larger number causes more verbose error messages.
You have been warned.
trace
Sends out debugging and tracing information on STDERR as well as to the status
log file.
stty=options
Sets serial line configuration when a dev entry specified.
STATUS AND ACCOUNTING
The IFHP filter will generate status information and
appends it to the status file specified by the -s command
line flag or the configuration file statusfile=/path
entry. The trace flag will cause the information to be
printed on STDERR. If the status file does not exist, it
will not be created.
During normal operation, accounting information will be
put into the accounting file specified on the command
line. If the accounting file does not exist, it will not
be created.
Z OPTIONS
The PLP and LPRng software lpr programs pass the -Z option
to the filter. These are recognized when printing a non-
binary file. For example if duplex printing and a font
needs to be downloaded, this can be requested with the -Z
option as:
lpr -P<printer> -Z'duplex,font=/absolutepath' <file>
For a complete list of the options recognized by LPRng,
see the IFHP Documentation.
BANNERS AND OF MODE
The ifhp filter can also be used as an OF printer. If
invoked with the name ofhp or with the -Fo option, it will
assume that it is being used as an OF filter and scan the
input for a special stop sequence \031\011. When it finds
the sequence it will suspend itself; the spooler will
restart the filter when it has more output for it.
When running in OF mode, the ifhp filter can also print
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banners. The first line sent to the OF filter will cause
a banner to be printed. The banner information will be
obtained from either the command line options or the first
line sent to the printer. This line should have the for-
mat:
class:username option:value option:value value ...
option:value ....
Example:
host: hostname user: username job: job information class:
class
In addition, the ifhp printer can be used as a banner page
generator. By using the -Tbanner_only option or invoking
it with a command name of banner, only the command line
information is used to produce a banner.
FILES
/etc/ifhp.conf
Configuration files
/usr/libexec/lpr/ifhp, ofhp, banner
/usr/libexec/lpr/accounting.sh
Executables.
/usr/libexec/lpr/banner.ps
PostScript banner file
SEE ALSO
The IFHP-HOWTO document, which is included as part of the
IFHP distribution. This is the principle reference for
this filter.
lpd(8), lpq(1), lpr(1), lprm(1), hosts(5), printcap(5),
lpc(8).
FTP sites: ftp://ftp.astart.com/pub/LPRng
WEB sites: http://www.astart.com/pub/LPRng
Mailing List. Send email to lprng-request@iona.ie
with the word 'subscribe' in the boyd.
BUGS
They are not bugs. They are mis-documented features.
AUTHOR
The IFHP filter was inspired by the LPRng CTI-ifhp filter,
which was a descendent of the print filters developed by
the CTI-Print project at the Division of Computing Facili-
ties of the Computer Technology Institute (CTI), Patras,
Greece.
AUTHORS
Patrick Powell,
Astart Technologies,
San Diego, CA
<papowell@astart.com>
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